Optical probe

Abstract

To provide an optical probe positioning an optical waveguide member while pressing a contact surface with the optical waveguide member.SOLUTION: An optical probe has: an optical waveguide member transmitting light; an exterior member forming an insertion hole in which the optical waveguide member is inserted; and a positioning member positioning the optical waveguide member in the insertion hole. In the insertion hole, a projection which projects from an inner wall of the insertion hole to support the optical waveguide member, and regulates loosening that causes contact with the inner wall of the optical waveguide member is disposed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical probe. [Background technology]

[0002] A method for detecting dental plaque by detecting fluorescence emitted from fluorescent substances produced by bacteria contained in dental plaque that cause tooth decay and periodontal disease is known. When detecting dental plaque using this method, an optical probe is used that holds an optical waveguide member such as an optical fiber, irradiates light emitted from the optical waveguide member toward the teeth, receives the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance, and outputs it to a processing unit that calculates the presence or absence of dental plaque or the amount of dental plaque (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 60-250308 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If light containing the fluorescence leaks from the optical waveguide member depending on the orientation of the optical waveguide member housed in the optical probe, the measurement accuracy may be reduced due to a decrease in the amount of light, etc.

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide an optical probe that maintains the stored orientation of an optical waveguide member within an optical probe, prevents light from leaking from the optical waveguide member, and suppresses a decrease in measurement accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An optical probe according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an optical waveguide member that transmits light, an exterior member having an insertion hole through which the optical waveguide member is inserted, and a positioning member that positions the optical waveguide member within the insertion hole, and the insertion hole is provided with a convex portion that protrudes from the inner wall of the insertion hole and supports the optical waveguide member, and the convex portion is positioned to prevent slack that would otherwise abut against the inner wall of the optical waveguide member.

[0007] Preferably, the insertion hole has a plurality of protrusions formed along the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide member.

[0008] The plurality of protrusions are preferably formed at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction.

[0009] It is preferable that the exterior member be connected to the optical module at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the positioning member be disposed closer to the optical module than the center of the exterior member in the longitudinal direction.

[0010] The exterior member is preferably formed so that the outer diameter thereof becomes smaller from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction.

[0011] The exterior member preferably has a curved shape.

[0012] The positioning member is preferably an annular member that is fixed to the inner wall of the exterior member and grips the optical waveguide member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] In the optical probe of the present invention, the accommodation position of the optical wave-guiding member within the optical probe is maintained by the convex portion, which prevents loosening that would cause the optical wave-guiding member to abut against the inner wall of the insertion hole, thereby preventing light leakage, positioning the optical wave-guiding member, preventing light leakage from the optical wave-guiding member, and suppressing a decrease in measurement accuracy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical probe portion of the detection device according to the embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the detection device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an optical probe according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exterior member of the optical probe according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a detection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an optical module 2 and an optical probe 3.

[0016] The optical module 2 includes an optical member 21 , an optical splitter 22 , a light source 23 , and a detector 24 .

[0017] The optical member 21 is disposed between the optical probe 3 and the optical splitter 22, and transmits light traveling between the optical probe 3 and the optical splitter 22. The optical member 21 has a lens 211 and a holder 212. The holder 212 is mounted in the optical module 2 and holds the lens 211.

[0018] The light source 23 is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and the detector 24 is, for example, a PD (Photo Diode). The optical splitter 22 reflects the light from the light source 23 and guides it to the optical member 21, and also transmits the light from the optical probe 3 and guides it to the detector 24. The optical splitter 22 is a beam splitter or a dichroic mirror.

[0019] The detection device 1 measures plaque adhering to the teeth of a subject, and when measuring the presence or amount of plaque, an optical probe 3 is inserted into the oral cavity, and light emitted from a light source 23 introduced into the optical probe 3 via a lens 211 is irradiated from the optical probe 3 onto the subject's teeth as excitation light.

[0020] When irradiated with the irradiation light, fluorescent substances contained in the plaque are excited and emit fluorescence. The fluorescence emitted from the plaque is guided to the optical probe 3 and reaches the optical splitter 22 via the lens 211. The fluorescence that has passed through the optical splitter 22 is detected by the detector 24, and the presence or amount of plaque is calculated by performing a predetermined calculation. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the lens 211 is a ball lens, but it may be any lens that transmits the irradiation light from the light source 23 and the fluorescence from the object to be measured.

[0021] The optical probe 3 is connected to the optical module 2. The optical probe 3 has an exterior member 31, an optical waveguide member 32, a positioning member 33, and a reflecting member .

[0022] The exterior member 31 houses the optical waveguide member 32, the positioning member 33, and the reflecting member 34. The exterior member 31 is formed in a substantially L-shape that is bent at a bending portion 311. At least a portion of the exterior member 31 has a curved shape. In the example shown in FIG. 3 , the exterior member 31 is curved on the optical module 2 side from the bending portion 311, and is formed so that the outer diameter becomes thinner from one end connected to the optical module 2 to the other end in the section from one end to the bending portion 311. An operator can easily insert the exterior member 31 into a narrow space, such as the oral cavity of a subject, to perform measurement. The exterior member 31 is formed, for example, from resin.

[0023] The optical waveguide member 32 is housed in the exterior member 31 by being inserted into the insertion hole 312. The optical waveguide member 32 is, for example, a POF (Plastic Optical Fiber).

[0024] The insertion hole 312 has a protrusion 313 protruding from the inner wall I. The inner diameter of the insertion hole 312 is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the optical waveguide member 32 at the position of the protrusion 313 and is larger than the outer diameter of the optical waveguide member 32 at other positions. Therefore, the optical waveguide member 32 is in contact with the protrusion 313 and is supported by the protrusion 313. The protrusion 313 is arranged to prevent the optical waveguide member 32 from loosening and coming into contact with the inner wall I of the insertion hole 312. The optical waveguide member 32 does not contact the inner wall of the insertion hole 312 at positions other than the protrusion 313. The optical waveguide member 32 is curved with approximately the same curvature as the exterior member 31 and has a shape corresponding to the exterior member 31, so that the optical waveguide member 32 is maintained in a housed position within the exterior member 31. This suppresses light leakage from the optical waveguide member 32 due to contact between the optical waveguide member 32 and the inner wall of the insertion hole 312, preventing a decrease in measurement accuracy. The convex portion 313 may support the optical waveguide member 32 so as to allow the optical waveguide member 32 to move in the longitudinal direction, or may support the optical waveguide member 32 so as to restrict the optical waveguide member 32 from moving in the longitudinal direction by static friction force.

[0025] The positioning member 33 positions the optical waveguide member 32. For example, the positioning member 33 is an annular member formed of a friction material such as an O-ring. The positioning member 33 is fixed to the exterior member 31 by being housed in the recess 314 of the exterior member 31 while gripping the optical waveguide member 32. The positioning member 33 fixed to the exterior member 31 positions the optical waveguide member 32 by static friction force.

[0026] The reflecting member 34 is disposed in contact with the bent portion 311 of the optical waveguide member 32. The reflecting member 34 reflects the excitation light from the light source 23 and the fluorescence from the object to be measured, thereby preventing light from leaking from the optical waveguide member 32.

[0027] The optical probe 3 is connected to the optical module 2 so that the positioned optical waveguide member 32 is close to the lens 211 .

[0028] 4 is a perspective view of the exterior member 31 cut along a plane along the longitudinal direction (cross section III-III in FIG. 1). The multiple protrusions 313 are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide member 32. In the example shown in FIG. 4, among the multiple protrusions 313, the distance L1 between the first protrusion 313a and the second protrusion 313b, the distance L2 between the second protrusion 313b and the third protrusion 313c, and the distance L3 between the third protrusion 313c and the fourth protrusion 313d are all equal. By arranging the multiple protrusions 313 at equal intervals, the optical waveguide member 32 is less likely to slacken between two adjacent protrusions 313, and light leakage from the optical waveguide member 32 due to contact between the optical waveguide member 32 and the inner wall of the insertion hole 312 is suppressed.

[0029] The recess 314 in which the positioning member 33 is housed is formed close to the optical module 2. In this embodiment, the recess 314 is formed closer to the optical module 2 than the center C of the section from the end of the exterior member 31 on the optical module 2 side to the bent portion 311, and the positioning member 33 is disposed closer to the optical module 2 than the center C in the longitudinal direction of the exterior member 31. This makes it difficult for the optical waveguide member 32 to slacken between the positioning member 33 and the optical module 2, and the optical waveguide member 32 is maintained in close proximity to the lens 211.

[0030] In this embodiment, the exterior member 31 is formed by joining the cut surfaces of a pair of parts that are cut along a plane along the longitudinal direction as shown in Fig. 4. The optical probe 3 is formed by laying the optical waveguide member 32, to which the positioning member 33 has been attached in advance, along the insertion hole 312 of one of the parts of the exterior member 31, and then joining the other part.

[0031] In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 313 are formed on the inner wall of the insertion hole 312 at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide member 32. However, as long as loosening of the optical waveguide member 32 that would otherwise abut against the inner wall of the insertion hole 312 is restricted, the intervals between the plurality of protrusions 313 may be different, or there may be only one protrusion 313.

[0032] In the above-described embodiment, the positioning member 33 is arranged on the optical module 2 side of the center C in the longitudinal direction of the exterior member 31, but the positioning member 33 may be arranged on the opposite side of the center C from the optical module 2 as long as the slack of the optical waveguide member 32 that would otherwise come into contact with the inner wall of the insertion hole 312 is restricted and held in place. Furthermore, the positioning member 33 is not limited to an annular member, and may have any shape that contacts at least a part of the outer periphery of the optical waveguide member 32.

[0033] In the above-described embodiment, at least a portion of the outer casing member 31 is curved and formed so that the outer diameter becomes smaller from one end to the other end. However, depending on the object to be measured, the outer casing member 31 may be formed so as to have a uniform outer diameter. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 3 Optical probe 31 Exterior materials 313 Convex 314 Recess 32 Optical waveguide member 33 Positioning member

Claims

1. an optical waveguide member that transmits light; an exterior member having an insertion hole through which the optical waveguide member is inserted; a positioning member for positioning the optical waveguide member within the insertion hole, a protrusion protruding from an inner wall of the insertion hole and supporting the optical waveguide member; The protrusion is arranged to restrict slack of the optical waveguide member that would otherwise come into contact with the inner wall. Optical probe.

2. a plurality of the protrusions are formed in the insertion hole along the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide member; The optical probe according to claim 1 .

3. The plurality of protrusions are formed at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction. The optical probe according to claim 2 .

4. the exterior member is connected to an optical module at one end in a longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide member, the positioning member is disposed closer to the optical module than the center of the exterior member in the longitudinal direction; The optical probe according to claim 1 .

5. The exterior member is formed so that the outer diameter thereof becomes smaller from the one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction. The optical probe according to claim 4 .

6. The exterior member has a curved shape. The optical probe according to claim 1 .

7. the positioning member is an annular member fixed to an inner wall of the exterior member and configured to grip the optical waveguide member; The optical probe according to claim 1 .

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