JPH11332902A - Laser treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate the laser beams of a pulse wave and a continuous wave by means of one device by providing the device with a selecting means for selecting the continuous wave or the pulse wave as the laser beam to be used for treatment and controlling the operation of a pulse wave converting means or a continuous wave converting means based on the selecting signal. SOLUTION: The mode selecting switch 50 of a controlling part 36 is operated in accordance with treatment contents at the time of medically treating a lesion and the treatment laser beam for an irradiation is selected to be the pulse wave or the continuous wave. When a pulse wave mode is selected, a driving device 32 is driving-controlled by a control part 30, a rotary plate 8 is moved so as to permit a recessing/projecting part formed on the rotary plate 8 to be arranged on the resonance optical path of a laser and the plate 8 is rotated by a motor 31. Thus, the laser beam of the pulse wave is emitted from a laser beam source 1. In the meantime, when a continuous wave mode is selected, the rotary plate 8 is moved to a position without the shielding of the recessing/ projecting part on the resonance optical path and the laser beam of the continuous wave is emitted from the laser beam source 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser treatment apparatus for performing treatment by irradiating a treatment laser beam from a laser light source onto a diseased part to conduct treatment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A rotating plate having an opening and a shield on a circumference is arranged in a resonance optical system in a laser oscillator, and a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator is pulsed by continuously rotating the rotating plate. Devices for obtaining waves are known. The pulsed laser light obtained in this way has a higher peak power than continuous wave laser light from a laser oscillator without a rotating plate, and a different therapeutic effect can be obtained for continuous wave laser light. It has been known.

[0003] For example, in dermatology, a wavelength of 1064 nm by an Nd: YAG laser is converted into 532 nm, which is a second harmonic, and is used for removing capillaries in the face, hands and feet.

[0004]

However, as described above, the apparatus for obtaining a pulsed laser beam and the apparatus for obtaining a continuous wave laser beam using a rotating plate are each configured as a dedicated device. Was uniform. In order to perform different treatments using pulsed and continuous wave laser light, respective devices must be prepared, which is economically disadvantageous.

[0005] In addition, the AOQ
A method of inserting a switch to obtain a pulse wave is generally known. However, the pulse wave generated by the AOQ switch has a high peak power, and therefore has a strong destructive effect, which limits the therapeutic application range. Also, controlling the peak power is not easy and requires an AOQ switch and its driving circuit. Furthermore, since the AOQ switch is inserted into the optical path of the resonator, an optical loss occurs, which causes a reduction in the conversion efficiency of the laser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laser treatment apparatus capable of obtaining pulsed and continuous wave laser light with a simple configuration using a single apparatus.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration. (1) In a laser treatment apparatus that performs treatment by guiding a treatment laser beam to an affected part by light irradiation, a laser oscillation unit having a resonance optical system for oscillating the laser beam and a resonance optical path of the resonance optical system are cut off. A pulse wave generating means for rotating a rotary plate in which a cut-off region and a non-cut-off region are formed on concentric circles to make a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillation means a pulse wave; Continuous wave means for making the laser light emitted from the laser oscillation means a continuous wave by being positioned outside the optical path, and selecting means for selecting whether the laser light used for treatment is to be a continuous wave or a pulse wave And control means for controlling the operation of the pulse wave forming means and the continuous wave forming means based on the selection signal of the selection means.

(2) The continuous wave conversion means of (1) is based on a position detection means for detecting a position where the non-blocking area is placed in the resonance optical path by rotation of the rotary plate, and a detection signal from the position detection means. And a drive control means for driving the rotary plate to rotate.

(3) The continuous wave forming means of (1) is characterized by comprising moving means for moving the rotating plate such that the cut-off region formed in the rotating plate is separated from the resonance optical path.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical system and a control system of the apparatus of the embodiment.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a laser light source for emitting a therapeutic laser beam, and Nd which oscillates a fundamental wave having a wavelength of 1064 nm is provided therein.
The solid-state laser medium of the YAG rod 2 is arranged, and N
d: The YAG rod 2 is irradiated with excitation light by the excitation lamp 3. An output mirror 4 and a total reflection mirror 5 are arranged at both ends of the Nd: YAG rod 2 in the axial direction.
The output mirror 4 has a characteristic of transmitting a wavelength of 532 nm, which is a second harmonic of 1064 nm, and totally reflecting a wavelength of 1064 nm. The total reflection mirror 5 has a characteristic of totally reflecting light having a wavelength of 1064 nm. On the optical path between the Nd: YAG rod 2 and the output mirror 4, KTP (Potassium Titanyl Phosphat) converts a few percent of 1064 nm light into a wavelength of 532 nm, which is the second harmonic.
e) and the like, and a cavity lens 6 for condensing light from the Nd: YAG rod 2 side to the nonlinear crystal 7 is arranged.

The excitation light from the excitation lamp 3 is Nd: YA
When the G rod 2 is irradiated, the light of 1064 nm from the Nd: YAG rod 2 resonates between the output mirror 4 and the total reflection mirror 5, passes through the nonlinear crystal 7, and is converted into the light of 532 nm in wavelength. After passing through the output mirror 4, the laser light is emitted from the laser light source 1 as a continuous wave (CW).

In the resonance optical path between the Nd: YAG rod 2 and the total reflection mirror 5, a rotary plate 8 used when a laser beam is converted into a pulse wave is disposed so as to be insertable and removable.
Is inserted into and removed from the resonance optical path by the driving device 32.
As shown in FIG. 2, on the outer periphery of the rotating plate 8, a plurality of convex portions 8a sized to block the resonance optical path of the laser and concave portions 8b sized to open (unblock) the resonance optical path are formed in a gear shape. The rotating plate 8 is rotated by a motor 31.

When it is desired to obtain a pulsed laser beam, as shown in FIG. 2A, the driving device is so arranged that the projections 8a and the depressions 8b are intermittently arranged on the resonance optical path L of the laser. The rotary plate 8 is moved by driving the drive device 32 (the drive device 32).
Is controlled by the control unit 30 in accordance with a laser type selection signal from the control unit 36). When the rotation of the rotating plate 8 causes the concave portion 8b to be positioned on the resonance optical path L, resonance occurs between the output mirror 4 and the total reflection mirror 5, and laser light is emitted from the laser light source 1. Convex part 8a
Is located on the resonance optical path L, no resonance occurs due to the cutoff between the output mirror 4 and the total reflection mirror 5, and no laser light is emitted. Therefore, the rotating plate 8
, The resonance in the laser light source 1 is performed intermittently, and the emitted laser light becomes a pulse wave. In the pulsed laser emitted at this time, energy is accumulated in the Nd: YAG rod while the projection 8a blocks the resonance optical path, and the energy changes from the projection 8a to the recess 8b on the resonance optical path L. In addition, since the energy stored in the Nd: YAG rod causes stimulated emission and resonates, a laser beam having a higher peak power than the above-described CW laser beam can be obtained.

The laser light emitted from the laser light source 1 is partially reflected by the beam splitter 9 and
After passing through 0, the light enters the output sensor 11. The output sensor 11 detects a laser output emitted from the laser light source 1.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a first safety shutter. When the foot switch 38 is depressed and a command to irradiate the therapeutic laser beam is issued, the control unit 30 drives the driving device 33 to control the first safety shutter 12. The laser beam is separated from the optical path to allow passage of the laser light, and is inserted into the optical path to cut off the laser light when an abnormality occurs. This first safety shutter 1
2 is detected by the shutter sensor 12a.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a dichroic mirror. The red aiming laser light from the visible semiconductor laser 14 is made coaxial with the treatment laser light via a collimator lens 15. Reference numeral 16 denotes a second safety shutter,
4 is inserted into the optical path for safety when the aiming laser beam is cut off or when the aiming beam is not emitted. Opening and closing of the second safety shutter 16 is detected by a shutter sensor 16a. Reference numeral 17 denotes a condensing lens, which condenses each laser beam on the incident end face 18a of the optical fiber 18 and makes the laser beam incident on the optical fiber 18.

The laser light incident and guided on the optical fiber 18 is guided to a scanner 19 which is a laser irradiation unit. Galvanometer mirrors 20 a and 20 are provided in the optical path inside the scanner 19.
b, and each galvanomirror 20a, 20b
Are individually driven and controlled, so that scan irradiation is performed from the irradiation port 19a to a set range (region) of the affected part.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a scanner controller, which drives and controls the galvanomirrors 20a and 20b in the scanner 19 via a cable 37a so that laser irradiation is performed in accordance with the scanning area set by the control unit 36.

The actual treatment operation of the apparatus having the above configuration will be briefly described. The operator selects a mode of irradiating the treatment laser beam with a pulse wave or a continuous wave by using the mode selection switch 50 arranged in the control unit 36 according to the treatment content. By operating various switches disposed on the control unit 36,
The aiming light emission and light amount adjustment, the treatment laser output, and the scanning area are set in advance.

When the pulse wave mode selection signal is input, the control unit 30 controls the driving of the drive unit 32 so that the convex portions 8a and the concave portions 8b formed on the rotary plate 8 are arranged on the resonance optical path L of the laser. Then, the rotating plate 8 and the motor 31 are moved so that the rotating plate 8 is rotated by the motor 31. As a result, the pulsed laser light is emitted from the laser light source 1 as described above.

When the selection signal of the continuous wave mode is input, the control unit 30 controls the driving of the driving device 32 to output the signal shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2B, a convex portion 8a formed on the rotating plate 8 is formed.
Moves the rotary plate 8 and the motor 31 to a position where does not block the resonance optical path L. As a result, the laser light source 1 emits continuous wave laser light.

The operator observes the affected area and observes the irradiation port 19a.
Aiming of the aiming light emitted from the target to the affected area. At this time, the scanner 19 is stably supported by bringing the support shaft 21 of the irradiation port 19a into contact with the skin, and appropriate irradiation can be performed. When aiming with the aiming light and setting of the irradiation range are completed, the foot switch 38 is depressed to transmit a trigger signal. The trigger signal is input to the control unit 30 and the scanner controller 37 by the interface 35. With this signal, the control unit 30 controls the drive of the excitation lamp 3 and
The laser light is emitted from the laser light source 1 based on the setting of 6. The laser light emitted from the laser light source 1 is guided to the scanner 19 via the above-described optical system.

When a trigger signal is input to the scanner controller 37, the scanner controller 37 drives the galvanometer mirrors 20 a and 20 b based on the setting of the scanning area in the control unit 36, and the laser light guided to the scanner 19. To the affected area.

In the embodiment described above, the shape of the rotary plate 8 for obtaining a pulse wave is gear-shaped. However, if the laser oscillation is intermittently performed by rotating the rotary plate, this configuration is adopted. The same effect can be obtained by providing an opening region and a shielding region at appropriate intervals on the same circumference of the rotating plate, for example.

As a method of obtaining continuous wave laser light, the following method may be used without moving the rotating plate 8 and the motor 31 out of the resonance optical path. As shown in FIG. 3, one of the plurality of concave portions 8b of the rotating plate 8 is arranged at the position of the resonance optical path L. This position can be determined by controlling the rotation of the rotating plate 8 so that the position of the shielding plate 8 c provided on the outer periphery of the rotating plate 8 is detected by the photosensor 40. When the continuous wave mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 50, the control unit 30 drives the motor 31 to rotate the rotating plate 8 until the shielding plate 8c shuts off the photo sensor 40. In this case, the moving mechanism of the rotating plate 8 can be simplified.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, 1
Since a continuous wave (CW) laser beam and a pulsed laser beam can be obtained with one laser device, the type can be properly used according to the case, and more appropriate treatment can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical system and a control system of an apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of a rotating plate used in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic external view of a rotating plate shown in a modification of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 laser light source 2 Nd: YAG rod 3 excitation lamp 4 output mirror 5 total reflection mirror 8 rotating plate 30 control unit 31 motor 32 drive unit 36 control unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a laser treatment apparatus for performing treatment by irradiating a treatment laser beam to an affected part by light irradiation, a laser oscillation unit having a resonance optical system for oscillating a laser beam, and a resonance optical path of the resonance optical system are provided. Pulse wave forming means for turning a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillating means into a pulse wave by rotationally driving a rotating plate in which a blocking region and a non-blocking region for blocking are formed on concentric circles; and a blocking region of the rotating plate. A continuous wave means for making the laser light emitted from the laser oscillation means a continuous wave by positioning the laser light outside the resonance optical path, and a selection for selecting whether the laser light used for the treatment is a continuous wave or a pulse wave And a control means for controlling the operation of the pulse wave forming means and the continuous wave forming means based on the selection signal of the selecting means. 2. The continuous wave generating means according to claim 1, wherein said position detecting means detects a position at which said non-blocking region is placed in a resonance optical path by rotation of said rotary plate, and a detection signal from said position detecting means. And a drive control means for driving the rotary plate to rotate. 3. The laser treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the continuous wave generating means includes moving means for moving the rotary plate such that the cutoff region formed in the rotary plate is separated from the resonance optical path.