JPH08111B2 - Laser irradiation device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a laser beam homogenizing means (a device for uniformly irradiating a laser beam over a specific range (hereinafter, referred to as “uniform light irradiation rod”)). The present invention relates to the laser irradiation device used.

[Technical Background of the Invention and Problems Thereof] A laser beam is light having a narrow Gaussian distribution and a high energy density, and by utilizing this property, a human body is incised like a laser knife.

However, for example, when treating bruise of a human body, it is difficult to uniformly cauterize bruise cells or capillaries on the surface layer of the skin with a laser beam having a Gaussian distribution over a wide area.

Therefore, an apparatus (for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-83973) that irradiates a laser beam uniformly over a specific range of the human body has been proposed.

This device, as shown in FIG.
A lens 2 for converting a laser beam emitted from the laser generator 1 into a parallel beam or a focused beam; and an indirect light guide path for guiding the laser beam passing through the lens 2 (a combination of an optical fiber or a reflecting mirror). 3, a lens 4 that refocuses the laser light from the indirect light guide 3, and a uniform light irradiation rod 5 that is arranged at a substantially focal position of the lens 4. The flattened laser beam is outputted from the end face on the output side.

FIG. 7A shows the intensity distribution of the input light with respect to the uniform light irradiation rod 5, and FIG. 7B shows the intensity distribution of the output light. The figures (a) and (b) show the intensity distribution of the laser light on the X and Y axes (mm units) that are orthogonal to each other in dB units in the direction (biaxial direction) orthogonal to these X and Y axes. is there.

The input light having the non-uniform intensity distribution shown in FIG. 7A is converted into the flattened output light as shown in FIG. 7B by passing through the uniform light irradiation rod 5.

When treating bruise with such a device, the uniform light irradiation rod 5 is directly brought into contact with the surface of the human body to emit laser light to cauterize the cells and capillaries of the bruise, but at this time vapor of burned skin. Adheres to the end face of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 and reduces the light transmittance of the end face, and in extreme cases, the uniform light irradiation rod 5 itself is damaged.

In order to prevent such a decrease in light transmittance and damage, a thin plate made of a laser light transmissive material (glass, acrylic, etc.) is arranged on the end surface of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 so that the burned skin portion has a uniform light irradiation rod end surface. Attempts have also been made to prevent the adherence to the.

However, even in this case, since the burned skin part adheres to the surface of the thin plate, it is necessary to replace the thin plate each time the uniform light irradiation rod is used, and at the same time, the skin burns from the end face between the thin plate and the uniform light irradiation rod. Since the accompanying vapor enters and adheres to the end face, there is a problem that the end face is contaminated by several times of laser light irradiation, the light transmittance is lowered, and the end face is damaged.

Further, in any of the above-mentioned conventional devices, since the laser beam is radiated while directly contacting the skin, the irradiation surface cannot be directly observed, and the operability when performing repeated irradiation is poor. was there.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the operability at the time of irradiating a laser beam onto a surface to be irradiated does not occur in which the light transmittance of the laser beam uniformizing means is lowered or damaged. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser irradiating device with improved laser.

[Outline of the Invention] An outline of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a laser uniformizing means for outputting a laser having a flattened intensity distribution from an end face, and a laser output from the laser light uniformizing means. A lens that forms an image and a plate-shaped irradiation end face portion that is in contact with the subject and has a hole for laser irradiation larger than the size of the image formation, and an imaging range of the laser attached to the irradiation end face portion. And a holder that holds the laser light uniformizing means, the lens, and the irradiation end face at a distance, and the holder is an object to be irradiated that is in contact with the emission end face. The lens and the irradiation end face are held with a gap so that the surface coincides with the image formation position of the laser emitted from the lens, and the irradiation target face is in contact with the irradiation end face. Surface, with the marker The laser irradiation device is characterized by having an opening for visually recognizing.

[Examples of the Invention] Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. This laser irradiation apparatus includes a uniform light irradiation rod 5 for outputting laser output light having a flattened intensity distribution from an end face 5a,
The projection irradiation means 6 is composed of a lens 6a arranged at a predetermined distance in front of the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5.

In this case, when the light from the uniform light irradiation rod 5 is enlarged or reduced by the lens 6a, the relationship with the focal length of the lens 6a is as follows.

Set the distance between the end face of the uniform light irradiation rod and the center of the lens 6a to the fifth
As shown in the figure, a, the focal length of the lens 6a is f, and the image magnification is n
Then, a = [(n + 1) / n] f On the other hand, the opening angle is θ, one side of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 is A (square), and the distance from the center to the end face when projected onto the lens 6a is L. Then, Generally, the lens diameter D is less than the focal length f (D <f). Therefore, <F / 2 A = 3, n = 3.3, θ = 7.56 °, f = 25, On the other hand, f / 2 = 25/2 = 12.5 ∴6.44 <12.5 Therefore, the combination of these numerical values is possible. In addition, lens 6a
Since the light will be distorted when light is incident on the entire surface,
I can't go to use the entire surface of lens 6a. Therefore, it is sufficient to use up to about 1/2 of the focal length f of the lens 6a. That is, L <f / 4.

However, if A = 5 and n = 2 in the above numerical values, In this case, compared to the lens diameter, L> f / 3, and the magnified projection image has barrel distortion.

Considering the above, when the light emitted from the uniform light irradiation rod 5 reaches the lens 6a and is focused and formed as an image enlarged or reduced on the reflection side, the light emitted from the uniform light irradiation rod 5 The uniform light irradiating rod 5 and the lens 6a at a position where does not spread over 2/3 of the focal length f of the lens 6a
It is necessary to determine the size and position of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 so that

According to the laser irradiation apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration, the laser output light having the uniform intensity distribution output from the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 is focused by the lens 6a which is the projection irradiation means 6, and the focal length of this lens 6a is adjusted. The irradiation surface 7 having a uniform intensity distribution is formed by being projected onto a specific position defined by f.

Therefore, by operating this laser irradiation device so that the irradiation surface 7 matches the skin surface, it is possible to treat bruise and the like without directly contacting the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 with the skin surface. In this case, the burnout material of the skin does not adhere to the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 or the lens 6a which is the projection irradiation means 6.

FIG. 2 shows the second embodiment of the present invention having the same functions as those shown in FIG.

This laser irradiation apparatus is composed of a uniform light irradiation rod 5 and a projection irradiation means 6A including a lens 6a and a holder 8.

The holder 8 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and accommodates a uniform light irradiation rod 5 at one end thereof and a lens 6a at an intermediate position thereof, and has a rectangular irradiation hole 9 at the other end thereof. It has an irradiation end face portion 10 made of a light-transmissive (for example, transparent) material. The distance between the irradiation end face portion 10 and the lens 6a is set to match a specific value determined by the focal length f of the lens 6a and the distance between the lens 6a and the end face 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5. .

Further, a transparent plate 11 is arranged on the side surface of the holder 8 in a range from the lens 6a to the irradiation end face portion 10, and the inside of the holder 8 can be observed from the outside through the transparent plate 11. It is like this.

According to the laser irradiation apparatus having the above-described configuration, the laser output light output from the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5 is focused by the lens 6a and is irradiated from the irradiation hole 9 of the irradiation end surface portion 10 to the outside.

Therefore, it is possible to treat the bruise and the like by irradiating the laser output light while abutting the irradiation end face portion 10 on the skin surface, in this case, the transparent plate 11, the skin surface can be visually recognized through the irradiation end face portion 10. Therefore, it is possible to clearly recognize the portion to which the laser output light of the irradiation end face portion 10 has already been irradiated or the portion to be irradiated from now on, and it is possible to irradiate the laser output light adjacent to the skin surface without a gap. . In addition, the lens 6a and the uniform light irradiation rod 5 are disposed in the holder 8 at the irradiation end surface portion.
Since it is stored at a predetermined distance from 10, the burn-out substance of the skin can be generated by this lens 6a or the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5.
Will not adhere to.

FIG. 3 shows an irradiation end surface portion 10A in which an irradiation hole 9A slightly larger than the irradiation surface 7 shown in FIG. 1 is formed. The inner surface of the irradiation end surface portion 10A has upper, lower, left and right sides of the irradiation hole 9A. Are marked with symmetrically arranged marks 12.

When the laser irradiation device is configured using the holder 8 having such an irradiation end face portion 10A, the irradiation end face portion 10A
When A is brought into contact with the skin surface and the laser output light is irradiated, the marks 12 on the upper and lower sides or the left and right sides of the irradiation hole 9A can be used as marks to treat the bruise and the like. From the same idea, the irradiation light 9A may be the same as the laser light irradiation area.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. Components having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The laser irradiation apparatus shown in the same drawing is different from that shown in FIG. 2 in that a cylindrical body 13 for accommodating the uniform light irradiation rod 5 and the lens 6a and an end portion of the cylindrical body 13 in which the lens 6a is accommodated. The holding member 8 is formed by the rod-shaped body 14 protruding from and the irradiation end face portion 10B supported by the tip of the rod-shaped body 14 and having the irradiation hole 9B formed therein.
That is the construction of B.

The laser irradiation device having the above structure can also irradiate the laser output light while visually observing the bruise and the like on the skin surface as in the case shown in FIG. 2, and the burnout material can be applied to the lens 6a and the end surface 5a of the uniform light irradiation rod 5. Does not adhere.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

For example, the lens of the projection irradiating means may be of a zoom type, or the lens and the irradiating end surface portion may be replaced with those of various magnifications.

Further, not only a part of the holder but the entire part may be made of a transparent material. Furthermore, for the purpose of visual recognition, a transparent plate is not particularly used, and one or more holes may be simply formed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the deterioration of the light transmittance or the breakage of the laser beam homogenizing means due to the adhesion of the burnout substance due to the irradiation of the laser beam does not occur. Further, according to the present invention, the laser irradiation range can be accurately aligned with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an irradiation end face portion of the laser irradiation apparatus shown in FIG. And FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the uniform light irradiation rod and the lens, and FIG. Is a perspective view showing a conventional laser light irradiation device, FIG. 7 (a) is a graph showing the intensity distribution of laser input light with respect to the uniform light irradiation rod in the device shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 (b) is the same as above. It is a graph which shows the intensity distribution of laser output light. 5: Uniform light irradiation rod, 6, 6A, 6B: Projection irradiation means, 6
a …… Lens, 7 …… Illumination surface, 8,8B …… Holder, 9,9A, 9B
...... Irradiation hole, 10, 10A, 10B ...... Irradiation end face part, 11 ...... Transparent plate, 12 ...... mark, 13 ...... Cylindrical body, 14 ...... Rod-shaped body.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-59-95039 (JP, A) JP-A-57-148959 (JP, A) JP-A-59-14848 (JP, A) JP-A-57-134150 (JP , A) JP 57-153640 (JP, A) JP 58-48013 (JP, A) Actual opening 57-179423 (JP, U) Actual opening 51-35139 (JP, U) Actual opening 58-41542 (JP, U) US Patent 3670260 (US, A)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A laser homogenizing means for outputting a laser having a flattened intensity distribution from an end surface, a lens for forming an image of the laser output from the laser light homogenizing means, and a lens for contacting a subject. There is a plate-like irradiation end face portion having a hole for laser irradiation larger than the size of the image formation, a marker attached to the irradiation end face portion and indicating the image forming range of the laser, the laser light uniformizing means, the A lens and a holder for holding the irradiation end face portion with a space provided therebetween, wherein the holder has an irradiation position of a subject that is in contact with the emission end face portion, and an irradiation position of a laser emitted from the lens. To hold the lens and the irradiation end face with a space therebetween, and
A laser irradiation apparatus comprising an opening for visually recognizing the irradiation surface and the marker when the irradiation end surface is in contact with the subject. 2. The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holder is made of a transparent member in part or in whole. 3. The holder comprises a tubular body for accommodating the laser beam homogenizing means and the lens, and a rod-like body projecting from the lens side end of the tubular body. The laser irradiation device according to claim 1.