Laser adjusting device

Abstract

To irradiate an object region with a laser beam with a high degree of precision.SOLUTION: A laser adjusting device 1 adjusts the position of a laser beam with which an object region is irradiated from a medical laser device through an optical fiber 100. The laser adjusting device 1 includes a housing 2 having a grip part 6 formed so as to be gripped by an operator and a cover part 3 for surrounding the tip of the optical fiber 100, actuators 4a-4c stored in the housing 2 for changing the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the cover part 3, and a control part for controlling the actuators 4a-4c. A tip part 3a of the cover part 3 is provided so as to abut against the surface of a region including the object region. The control part controls the actuators 4a-4c so that the object region is irradiated with the laser beam from the optical fiber 100 in the state that the tip part 3a of the cover part 3 is abutting against the surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a laser adjustment device that adjusts the position of laser light irradiated from a medical laser device to a target site via an optical fiber.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, it has been known to apply a medical laser device to the field of dentistry (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes an orthodontic method in which laser light is irradiated onto the alveolar bone.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when using a medical laser device in the field of dentistry or the like, since the operator needs to operate the tip of the optical fiber, it is difficult to accurately irradiate the target site with laser light.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A laser adjustment device according to an aspect of the present invention adjusts the position of laser light irradiated from a medical laser device to a target site via an optical fiber. The laser adjustment device includes a housing having a grip portion formed to be grippable by an operator and a cover portion surrounding the tip of the optical fiber, an actuator housed in the housing for changing the position of the tip of the optical fiber relative to the cover portion, and a control portion for controlling the actuator. The tip portion of the cover portion is provided so as to be able to contact the surface of the region including the target site. The control portion controls the actuator so that laser light is irradiated from the optical fiber to the target site in a state where the tip portion of the cover portion is in contact with the surface.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, a target site can be accurately irradiated with laser light.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. The laser adjustment device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to procedures (treatments) in dentistry and dermatology, and adjusts the position of the laser light irradiated from a medical laser device to a target site (operative field) via an optical fiber for performing the procedure. Hereinafter, an example using a Nd:YAG laser will be particularly described.

[0009] The medical laser device mainly includes a laser oscillator that generates laser light with a predetermined wavelength (1064 nm) and a predetermined pulse width, an optical fiber that transmits the generated laser light, an operation unit that adjusts the oscillation period and output of the laser light, and a foot switch that turns the laser oscillator on and off. The laser light generated by the laser oscillator includes guide laser light in the visible region as well as laser light in the non-visible region (near-infrared region) for the procedure. The operator finely operates the tip of the optical fiber that irradiates the laser light in an appropriate manner according to the procedure content, and irradiates the target site with the laser light.

[0010] The Nd:YAG laser is a laser with tissue permeability, and the energy of the laser light reaches inside the tissue according to the irradiation mode. The Nd:YAG laser can be used in the field of dentistry for pain relief and promotion of tooth movement during orthodontics, and in the field of dermatology for removal of freckles and the like. In orthodontics where teeth are moved by continuously applying force to the teeth with an orthodontic device, although it takes a long time for the teeth to move, by using the Nd:YAG laser treatment in combination, the pain associated with tooth movement can be alleviated, tooth movement can be promoted, and the period related to orthodontics can be shortened.

[0011] However, when manually operating the tip of the optical fiber, since the irradiation mode varies from operator to operator, it is impossible to accurately irradiate the target site with the laser beam, and the treatment effect may not be reproducible. In addition, since the relationship between the irradiation mode and the treatment effect cannot be organized, it is difficult to grasp the optimal irradiation mode for enhancing the treatment effect. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, by standardizing the irradiation mode, the laser beam can be accurately irradiated to the target site regardless of the operator, and the optimal irradiation mode can be grasped. The laser adjustment device is configured as follows.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a laser adjustment device (hereinafter referred to as the device) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing an example of the internal configuration of the device 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an application example of the device 1. Hereinafter, the front-rear direction, the up-down direction, and the left-right direction will be defined as shown in the drawings with reference to the extending direction of the device 1 and described.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the device 1 adjusts the position of the laser beam irradiated to the target site 200 to be treated via the optical fiber 100 from a medical laser device. The device 1 has a housing 2 formed so as to be grippable by an operator. The housing 2 is formed so as to be insertable with an optical fiber 100 that irradiates the target site 200 with a laser beam and a cooling air line 300 that supplies cooling air to the target site 200 from the rear. The laser beam irradiated from the optical fiber 100 is turned on and off on the side of a medical laser device (not shown), and the cooling air supplied from the cooling air line 300 is turned on and off on the side of an air compressor (not shown).

[0014] The housing 2 has a cover portion 3 that surrounds the tip of the optical fiber 100, a housing portion 5 that houses actuators 4a to 4c that change the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the cover portion 3, and a grip portion 6 that protrudes from the housing portion 5 and is formed so as to be grippable by an operator.

[0015] The cover part 3 is made of a transparent resin material such as acrylic and is formed in a frustum of a cone shape. The tip part 3a of the cover part 3 is made of a flexible material such as silicon and is provided so as to be able to contact the surface 200a of the region including the target site 200. The operator holds the gripping part 6 and brings the tip part 3a of the cover part 3 into contact with the surface 200a of the region including the target site 200 so that the circular tip part 3a surrounds the target site 200, thereby enabling the operator to accurately aim at the target site 200. Also, through the transparent cover part 3, the trajectory of the laser light (guide laser light) irradiated to the target site 200 and the state of the target site 200 during the treatment can be confirmed.

[0016] In the housing part 5, in addition to the actuators 4a to 4c, a detection part 7 that detects the height (unevenness) of the surface 200a in the front-rear direction, a regulation part 8 that regulates the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 along the front-rear direction, and a controller 10 that controls the actuators 4a to 4c are also housed. The detection part 7 is configured as, for example, a stereo camera and is fixed to the inner wall of the housing part 5.

[0017] The regulation part 8 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction along the guide rail and physically fixes the optical fiber 100 at a plurality of positions. FIG. 2 shows a state when the regulation part 8 has moved to the most forward end. In this case, the tip of the optical fiber 100 can be moved to the contact surface between the surface 200a of the region including the target site 200 and the tip part 3a of the cover part 3. In other words, the closest distance between the tip of the optical fiber 100 and the contact surface can be regulated to 0 mm. When the regulation part 8 is moved backward, the closest distance between the tip of the optical fiber 100 and the contact surface can be changed. In the housing part 5, an indicator 8a such as an LED that indicates the set distance between the tip of the optical fiber 100 and the target site 200 is also provided.

[0018] In the gripping part 6, a battery 9 that supplies power to the actuators 4a to 4c, the controller 10, and the indicator 8a is housed. In the gripping part 6, a switch 9a for turning on and off the power supply from the battery 9 is also provided.

[0019] Figures 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of the target trajectory of the laser light irradiated from the optical fiber. In the controller 10, information on the target trajectory of the laser light determined in advance according to the treatment content is stored. The information on the target trajectory also includes information on the moving speed of the position of the laser light. The controller 10 controls the actuators 4a to 4c based on the stored information on the target trajectory and the height of the surface 200a detected by the detection unit 7. More specifically, with the tip 3a of the cover part 3 in contact with the surface 200a of the region including the target part 200, the actuators 4a to 4c are controlled so that the laser light is irradiated from the optical fiber 100 to the target part 200 along the target trajectory.

[0020] In the examples of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the region surrounded by the tip 3a of the cover part 3 coincides with the target part 200 where the treatment is performed, but a narrower region may be used as the target part 200. For example, a part with a stain or a marked part may be used as the target part 200. FIG. 4A shows a target trajectory that moves back and forth in the left - right direction from the upper end to the lower end of the target part 200. FIG. 4B shows a target trajectory that moves in a spiral shape from the center to the outer end of the target part 200.

[0021] The actuators 4a to 4c in FIG. 2 include a first actuator 4a, a second actuator 4b, and a third actuator 4c. FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing an example of the first actuator 4a and the second actuator 4b. FIG. 6A is a front view showing the first plate 40a on which the first actuator 4a is provided, and FIG. 6B is a front view showing the second plate 40b on which the second actuator 4b is provided.

[0022] The actuators 4a to 4c are configured as, for example, nut-rotating type actuators. Each of the actuators 4a to 4c includes motors 41a to 41c, rotary shafts 42a to 42c formed with male threads and connected to the output shafts of the motors 41a to 41c, and movable parts 43a to 43c including nuts screwed onto the rotary shafts 42a to 42c. When the motors 41a to 41c and the rotary shafts 42a to 42c rotate in response to commands from the controller 10, the movable parts 43a to 43c move along the rotary shafts 42a to 42c according to the rotation direction and rotation speed.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the housing part 5 houses a first plate 40a and a second plate 40b arranged parallel to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber 100 is inserted into a guide pipe 100a and extends in a non-bendable manner by the guide pipe 100a. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first plate 40a and the second plate 40b are each provided with openings 44a and 44b through which the optical fiber 100 and the guide pipe 100a can be inserted. The second plate 40b is also provided with a guide slot for guiding the second plate 40b that moves relative to the first plate 40a in the vertical direction.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the first plate 40a is fixed to the inner wall of the housing part 5, and the first actuator 4a is fixed to the first plate 40a such that the rotary shaft 42a extends in the vertical direction. The second plate 40b is fixed to the movable part 43a of the first actuator 4a. The first actuator 4a moves the second plate 40b along the vertical direction in response to a command from the controller 10.

[0025] On the second plate 40b, the second actuator 4b is fixed such that the rotation axis 42b extends in the left - right direction. A guide pipe 100a through which the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber 100 is inserted is inserted into the movable part 43b of the second actuator 4b. The second actuator 4b moves the guide pipe 100a through which the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber 100 is inserted along the left - right direction in response to a command from the controller 10.

[0026] FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state when the movable part 43a of the first actuator 4a has moved to the uppermost end, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a state when the movable part 43a of the first actuator 4a has moved to the lowermost end. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a state when the movable part 43b of the second actuator 4b has moved to the leftmost end, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a state when the movable part 43b of the second actuator 4b has moved to the rightmost end. By moving the guide pipe 100a within the vertical and horizontal movement ranges shown in FIGS. 7A - 8B by the first actuator 4a and the second actuator 4b, the vertical and horizontal positions of the tip of the optical fiber 100 can be adjusted.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state when the movable part 43c of the third actuator 4c has moved to the foremost end, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state when the movable part 43c of the third actuator 4c has moved to the rearmost end. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, on the inner wall of the housing part 5, the third actuator 4c is fixed such that the rotation axis 42c extends in the front - rear direction. The optical fiber 100 exposed immediately after the guide pipe 100a is fixed to the movable part 43c of the third actuator 4c.

[0028] The third actuator 4c moves the optical fiber 100 inserted through the guide pipe 100a along the front - rear direction in response to a command from the controller 10. By moving the optical fiber 100 within the front - rear movement range shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 by the third actuator 4c, the front - rear position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 can be adjusted.

[0029] In this way, the guide pipe 100a is moved along the vertical and horizontal directions by the first actuator 4a and the second actuator 4b, and the optical fiber 100 inserted into the guide pipe 100a is moved along the front-back direction by the third actuator 4c. Thereby, the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the cover portion 3 can be changed and adjusted along the vertical, horizontal, and front-back directions.

[0030] FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 10, the apparatus 1 includes, as an electrical configuration, a controller 10, a detection unit 7 and actuators 4a to 4c connected to the controller 10, and a user terminal 400 communicably connected to the controller 10. The controller 10 and the user terminal 400 are connected by a wireless LAN network such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0031] The controller 10 is configured as a single-board computer such as a Raspberry Pi on which a control unit 11 such as a CPU, a storage unit 12 such as a ROM and a RAM, and other peripheral circuits such as an I / O interface are mounted on a single substrate. For example, a Raspberry Pi Zero (about 65 mm × about 30 mm) can be used. In the storage unit 12, information on the target trajectory of the laser beam predetermined according to the treatment content is stored.

[0032] The user terminal 400 is, for example, the smartphone of the operator (user) who uses the device 1, and a predetermined application for operating the controller 10 of the device 1 can be installed on the user terminal 400. The operator can operate the controller 10 via the user terminal 400 on which the predetermined application is installed, that is, using the user terminal 400 as a remote controller. For example, the operator can select a target trajectory to be used during the operation from among a plurality of target trajectories stored in the storage unit 12, or set the moving speed of the position of the laser light. Also, the distance between the tip of the optical fiber 100 and the target site 200 can be selected from among a plurality of preset distance settings (for example, 0 mm, 1 mm, 1 cm, 2 cm).

[0033] The information on the target trajectory selected via the user terminal 400 is displayed on the display unit of the user terminal 400. Also, corresponding to the set distance between the tip of the optical fiber 100 and the target site 200 selected via the user terminal 400, the indicator 8a of the device 1 lights up.

[0034] The control unit 11 of the controller 10 processes the image signal from the detection unit 7 according to a program stored in the storage unit 12 in advance, and recognizes the region surrounded by the tip portion 3a of the cover portion 3, or a site with a simulation or a marked site as the target site 200. Also, the height of the surface 200a of the target site 200 in the front-rear direction is recognized.

[0035] Based on the information on the selected target trajectory, with the recognized target site 200 as the irradiation range in the vertical and horizontal directions, the control unit 11 controls the first actuator 4a and the second actuator 4b so that the tip of the optical fiber 100 moves along the target trajectory. Also, based on the information on the selected set distance, the control unit 11 controls the third actuator 4c so that the distance between the recognized surface 200a and the tip of the optical fiber 100 is maintained at the set distance.

[0036] As a result, since the irradiation mode is standardized, the target site 200 can be accurately irradiated with laser light regardless of the operator. Further, by organizing the treatment effects for each standardized irradiation mode, the optimal irradiation mode can be grasped.

[0037] According to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be achieved. (1) The apparatus 1 adjusts the position of the laser light irradiated from the medical laser apparatus to the target site 200 via the optical fiber 100 (FIG. 3). The apparatus 1 includes a housing 2 having a grip portion 6 formed so as to be grippable by an operator and a cover portion 3 surrounding the tip of the optical fiber 100, and actuators 4a to 4c housed in the housing 2 and changing the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the cover portion 3, and a control unit 11 for controlling the actuators 4a to 4c (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 10). The tip portion 3a of the cover portion 3 is provided so as to be able to contact the surface 200a of the region including the target site 200 (FIG. 3). The control unit 11 controls the actuators 4a to 4c so that laser light is irradiated from the optical fiber 100 to the target site 200 in a state where the tip portion 3a of the cover portion 3 is in contact with the surface 200a.

[0038] As a result, just by the operator gripping the grip portion 6 and bringing the tip portion 3a of the cover portion 3 into contact with the surface 200a of the region including the target site 200, laser light is irradiated from the optical fiber 100 to the target site 200, so that the target site 200 can be accurately irradiated with laser light.

[0039] (2) The apparatus 1 further includes a storage unit 12 that stores information on a target locus of laser light determined in advance according to the treatment content (FIGS. 4A, 4B, 10). The control unit 11 controls the actuators 4a to 4c based on the information on the target locus stored in the storage unit 12. As a result, the target site 200 can be accurately irradiated with laser light according to the treatment content.

[0040] (3) The actuators 4a to 4c change the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the cover portion 3 along the vertical direction parallel to the surface 200a, the left-right direction parallel to the surface 200a and perpendicular to the vertical direction, and the front-back direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the left-right direction (FIGS. 2, 7A to 9). Thereby, the target site 200 can be irradiated with laser light with higher accuracy.

[0041] (4) The apparatus 1 is housed in the housing 2 and further includes a detection unit 7 that detects the height of the surface 200a in the front-back direction (FIGS. 2, 10). The control unit 11 further controls the actuators 4a to 4c based on the height of the surface 200a detected by the detection unit 7. Thereby, laser light can be irradiated with high accuracy according to the unevenness of the target site 200.

[0042] (5) The detection unit 7 is constituted by a stereo camera (FIG. 2). Thereby, the unevenness of the target site 200 can be accurately recognized, and laser light can be irradiated with higher accuracy according to the unevenness of the target site 200.

[0043] (6) The apparatus 1 further includes a first plate 40a and a second plate 40b housed in the housing 2 parallel to the surface 200a (FIGS. 2, 5). The actuators 4a to 4c include a first actuator 4a fixed to the first plate 40a and moving the second plate 40b along the vertical direction, a second actuator 4b fixed to the second plate 40b and changing the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 along the left-right direction, and a third actuator 4c fixed to the housing 2 and changing the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 along the front-back direction (FIGS. 2, 5). Thereby, the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 can be accurately adjusted, and the target site 200 can be irradiated with laser light with higher accuracy.

[0044] (7) The apparatus 1 further includes a regulation unit 8 that regulates the position of the tip of the optical fiber 100 along the front-back direction (FIGS. 1, 2). Thereby, the safety when irradiating the target site 200 with laser light can be improved.

[0045] (8) The housing 2 further has a housing portion 5 that houses the actuators 4a to 4c (Fig. 2). The gripping portion 6 projects from the housing portion 5 (Figs. 1 and 2). Thereby, the overall shape of the device can be made easy for the operator to grip.

[0046] The above embodiment can be modified into various forms. Hereinafter, modification examples will be described. In the above embodiment, the specific shape of the housing 2 of the device 1 has been described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and the like. However, the shape of the housing of the laser adjustment device is not limited to such a shape. For example, it may be a cylindrical housing extending in the front-rear direction in which the gripping portion 6 is disposed between the cover portion 3 and the housing portion 5.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the specific shape of the cover portion 3 has been described with reference to Fig. 2 and the like. However, the shape of the cover portion is not limited to such a shape. In particular, it is preferable to appropriately change the shape and size of the tip portion 3a of the cover portion 3 according to the target site 200. In this case, it is preferable to configure a plurality of cover portions 3 having different shapes and sizes of the tip portion 3a to be interchangeable.

[0048] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modification examples as long as the features of the present invention are not impaired. It is also possible to arbitrarily combine one or more of the above embodiment and modification examples, and it is also possible to combine the modification examples with each other.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0049] 1 Laser adjustment device (device), 2 housing, 3 cover part, 3a tip part, 4a~4c actuator, 4a first actuator, 4b second actuator, 4c third actuator, 5 accommodation part, 6 gripping part, 7 detection part, 8 regulation part, 8a display part, 9 battery, 9a switch, 10 controller, 11 control part, 12 memory part, 40a first plate, 40b second plate, 41a~41c motor, 42a~42c rotating shaft, 43a~43c movable part, 44a, 44b opening, 100 optical fiber, 100a guide pipe, 200 target part, 300 cooling air line, 400 user terminal

Claims

1. A laser adjustment device for adjusting the position of laser light irradiated from a medical laser device to a target site via an optical fiber, comprising: a housing having a grip portion formed to be grippable by an operator and a cover portion surrounding the tip of the optical fiber; an actuator housed in the housing for changing the position of the tip of the optical fiber relative to the cover portion; a control unit for controlling the actuator; the tip of the cover portion is provided so as to be able to contact the surface of the region including the target site; the control unit controls the actuator such that laser light is irradiated from the optical fiber to the target site in a state where the tip of the cover portion is in contact with the surface. The laser adjustment device is characterized by this.

2. In the laser adjustment device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for storing information on a target locus of laser light determined in advance according to the treatment content, the control unit controls the actuator based on the information on the target locus stored in the storage unit. The laser adjustment device is characterized by this.

3. In the laser adjustment device according to claim 1, the actuator changes the position of the tip of the optical fiber relative to the cover portion along a first direction parallel to the surface, a second direction parallel to the surface and perpendicular to the first direction, and a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The laser adjustment device is characterized by this.

4. In the laser adjustment device according to claim 3, further comprising a detection unit housed in the housing for detecting the height of the surface in the third direction, the control unit further controls the actuator based on the height of the surface detected by the detection unit. The laser adjustment device is characterized by this.

5. In the laser adjustment device according to claim 4, the detection unit is constituted by a stereo camera. The laser adjustment device is characterized by this.

6. In the laser adjustment device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising a first plate and a second plate housed in the housing parallel to the surface, the actuator includes a first actuator fixed to the first plate and moving the second plate along the first direction, a second actuator fixed to the second plate and changing the position of the tip of the optical fiber along the second direction A laser adjustment device, comprising: a third actuator fixed to the housing and configured to change a position of a tip of the optical fiber along the third direction. **Claim 7** The laser adjustment device according to claim 6, further comprising a restricting portion configured to restrict a position of a tip of the optical fiber along the third direction. **Claim 8** The laser adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the housing further has a housing portion configured to house the actuator, and the gripping portion protrudes from the housing portion.

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