Treatment support system and laser output method

Abstract

To provide a treatment support system, a treatment support device, and a laser output method that allow an operator to easily grasp whether a treatment laser beam is being emitted onto a treatment target part accurately while protecting the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam.SOLUTION: A treatment support system 100 includes a treatment support device 20 including an image processing part 4, and a display device 10 for displaying a display image P. The image processing part 4 is configured to output to the display device 10 the display image P reconfigured by changing one color component corresponding to a treatment laser beam Lc in a visible light image Pv to another color component other than the one color component when treatment of a treatment target part 103 is being performed by the treatment laser beam Lc.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medical treatment support system. Muo and a laser output method, and in particular, a treatment support system that irradiates a treatment target area in a subject to which a fluorescent agent has been administered with therapeutic light. Muo and a laser output method. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, photoimmunotherapy has attracted attention as a cancer treatment. In photoimmunotherapy, a drug containing a photochemically reactive fluorescent substance and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells is first administered to a cancer patient. The administered drug circulates throughout the patient's body and selectively binds to antigens on the cancer cells. Next, the cancer cells are irradiated with light of a specific wavelength range corresponding to the fluorescent substance. The fluorescent substance in the drug that has bound to the cancer cells emits fluorescence and undergoes a photochemical reaction, changing the chemical structure of the fluorescent substance. This change in the chemical structure of the fluorescent substance induces a conformational change in the antibody. This conformational change in the antibody that has bound to the cancer cells then damages the cell membrane of the cancer cells, destroying (killing) them. Light of a specific wavelength range (therapeutic light) corresponding to the fluorescent substance, such as near-infrared laser light, is irradiated. This laser light is guided from a therapeutic light source into an optical fiber with a diffuser attached to its tip, diffused by the diffuser, and then emitted to the affected area.

[0003] As described above, a conventional treatment support system is known that irradiates a treatment target area in a subject to which a fluorescent agent has been administered with therapeutic light (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 discloses a treatment support system that irradiates a treatment target site in a subject to which a fluorescent agent has been administered with therapeutic light. The treatment support system includes a treatment support device and a display device.

[0005] The treatment support device is a device for capturing an image of a treatment target site in a subject during treatment and providing treatment support. The treatment support device includes an imaging unit and a control unit. The imaging unit has a visible light detection unit that detects light within a range that includes the wavelength band of visible light. The control unit is configured to generate a visible image based on a detection signal output by the visible light detection unit. The display device is configured to display the visible image. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 215905 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Although not explicitly mentioned in Patent Document 1, the therapeutic light used in cancer treatment is a high-intensity laser. Therefore, when irradiating a treatment target area in a subject administered with a fluorescent agent with therapeutic light, the operator likely wears protective glasses that block light in the wavelength band corresponding to the therapeutic light to protect the operator's eyes from the therapeutic light irradiating the affected area. This prevents the operator from visually identifying the irradiation position of the therapeutic light (laser light spot) on the affected area through the protective glasses. Furthermore, although the irradiation position of the therapeutic light on the treatment target area is displayed in a visible image on a display device, the protective glasses block the wavelengths of the color components of the therapeutic light in the visible image, preventing the operator from visually identifying the irradiation position of the therapeutic light (laser light spot) through the protective glasses. Therefore, the operator's inability to see the color components of the therapeutic light in the visible image due to the protective glasses makes it difficult to determine whether the therapeutic light is accurately irradiating the affected area. Therefore, in a treatment support system such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is desirable to realize a system that can easily determine whether the treatment light (treatment laser light) is being accurately irradiated onto the affected area (treatment target area) while protecting the operator's eyes from the treatment light (treatment laser light).

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one object of the present invention is to provide a treatment support system that can easily determine whether or not the treatment laser light is being accurately irradiated onto the treatment target site while protecting the eyes of the operator from the treatment laser light. Muo and a laser output method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention provides a treatment support system that is used with light-shielding glasses and that provides treatment support when administering to a subject a fluorescent agent comprising a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing therapeutic light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and irradiating a treatment target site in the subject with the therapeutic light. The treatment support system includes a light source unit that outputs a therapeutic laser beam of a first wavelength as therapeutic light that is blocked by the light-shielding glasses, and a guide laser beam of a second wavelength that has a lower output than the therapeutic laser beam and is transmitted through the light-shielding glasses, and a control unit that controls the light source unit to simultaneously output the therapeutic laser beam and the guide laser beam. The treatment support device has a visible light detection unit that detects visible light, includes an imaging unit that can capture a visible light image of a treatment target site by the visible light detection unit, and further includes a display device that displays the visible light image, and the control unit is configured to perform control to display the visible light image on the display device and to display an area of ​​the guide laser light in a color of a second wavelength that transmits through the light-blocking glasses on the visible light image displayed on the display device. do.

[0011] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser output method, wherein a light source unit simultaneously outputs a treatment laser beam of a first wavelength as treatment light blocked by light-blocking glasses and a guide laser beam of a second wavelength that has a lower output than the treatment laser beam and is transmitted through the light-blocking glasses. occurrence and The control unit The method includes a step of displaying a visible light image captured by a visible light detection unit of an imaging unit having a visible light detection unit that detects visible light on a display device, and displaying on the display device an area of ​​the guide laser light in a color of a second wavelength that transmits through the light-blocking glasses on the visible light image. A third aspect of the present invention provides a treatment support system that is used with light-shielding glasses and that provides treatment support when administering to a subject a fluorescent agent comprising a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing therapeutic light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and irradiating a treatment target site in the subject with the therapeutic light. The treatment support system includes a light source unit that outputs a therapeutic laser beam of a first wavelength as therapeutic light that is blocked by the light-shielding glasses, and a guide laser beam of a second wavelength that has a lower output than the therapeutic laser beam and is transmitted through the light-shielding glasses, and a light source unit that outputs the therapeutic laser beam and the guide laser beam to the light source unit. and a control unit that controls simultaneous output of the guide laser light and the first wavelength of the treatment laser light, the second wavelength being a wavelength within the range of visible light other than the first band of the light-blocking glasses that block light of the first band including the first wavelength of the treatment laser light, the treatment support device having a visible light detection unit that detects visible light, including an imaging unit that can capture a visible light image of the treatment target site using the visible light detection unit, and further comprising a display device that displays the visible light image, and the guide laser light is laser light belonging to visible light that is visually recognized on the display device as either blue or green, or a color obtained by mixing blue and green. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In the treatment support system according to a first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the treatment support device includes a light source unit that outputs a treatment laser beam having a first wavelength as treatment light blocked by the light-blocking glasses and a guide laser beam having a second wavelength that is lower in output than the treatment laser beam and transmits through the light-blocking glasses, and a control unit that controls the light source unit to simultaneously output the treatment laser beam and the guide laser beam. Thus, even if the operator wears protective glasses that block light in a wavelength band corresponding to the treatment laser beam to protect his / her eyes from the treatment laser beam, the operator can visually check the irradiation position of the treatment laser beam by viewing the guide laser beam. As a result, the operator can easily determine whether the treatment laser beam is accurately irradiated onto the treatment target area while protecting his / her eyes from the treatment laser beam.

[0014] In the laser output method according to the second aspect of the present invention, as described above, the light source unit simultaneously outputs a treatment laser beam of a first wavelength as treatment light blocked by the light-blocking glasses and a guide laser beam of a second wavelength that has a lower output than the treatment laser beam and is transmitted through the light-blocking glasses. occurrence In this way, even if the operator wears protective glasses that block light in the wavelength band corresponding to the treatment laser beam to protect the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam, the operator can confirm the irradiation position of the treatment laser beam by visually checking the guide laser beam. As a result, a laser output method can be realized that can easily confirm whether the treatment laser beam is accurately irradiated onto the treatment target site while protecting the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a treatment support system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a light source unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a visible light image captured by an imaging unit of the treatment support device of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 3 is a schematic diagram showing an overall view of acquiring a display image based on a visible light image in an image processing unit of the medical treatment support device of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a visible light image is separated into a red image, a blue image, and a green image in the reconstruction unit of the medical treatment support device of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a green image is created by changing the red component of the red image to a green component in the reconstruction unit of the medical treatment support device of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a green image, a blue image, and a green image converted by the reconstruction unit of the medical treatment support device of the first embodiment are synthesized. [Figure 9]3 is a schematic diagram showing a display image reconstructed by a reconstruction unit of the medical treatment support device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a plurality of display images are displayed on the display device of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 4 is a flowchart showing a display image creation method in the medical treatment support device of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a treatment support system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a light source unit of a second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a visible light image captured by an imaging section of the treatment support device of the second embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing a laser output method in the treatment support device of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] [First embodiment] The configuration of a treatment support system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 11. As shown in Figure 1, the treatment support system 100 is configured to administer to a subject a fluorescent drug 101, which combines a substance that emits fluorescence by absorbing excitation light with an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and to provide treatment support by irradiating a treatment target site 103 in the subject that has been administered with the fluorescent drug 101 with therapeutic light.

[0018] Here, cancer treatment using a fluorescent agent 101 is called photoimmunotherapy. In photoimmunotherapy, a fluorescent agent 101 (IRDye® 700Dx) containing a fluorescent substance that undergoes a photochemical reaction and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells (treatment target region 103) is first administered into the body of a cancer patient. The administered fluorescent agent 101 circulates throughout the body of the cancer patient and selectively binds to antigens in the cancer cells. Next, by irradiating the cancer patient with light of a specific wavelength band corresponding to the fluorescent substance, the fluorescent substance of the fluorescent agent 101 bound to the cancer cells emits fluorescence (invisible near-infrared light) and undergoes a photochemical reaction, changing the chemical structure of the fluorescent substance. This change in the chemical structure of the fluorescent substance induces a change in the three-dimensional structure of the antibody. This change in the three-dimensional structure of the antibody bound to the cancer cells then damages the cell membrane of the bound cancer cells, destroying (killing) the cancer cells. Note that the fluorescent agent 101 administered into the patient's body may be a fluorescent agent 101 other than IRDye® 700Dx.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, a treatment support system 100 for supporting such photoimmunotherapy includes a display device 10 and a treatment support device 20.

[0020] The display device 10 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. The display device 10 is configured to display a display image P (see FIG. 5) that has been image-processed by the image processing unit 4. The display device 10 is configured to allow an operator to recognize information about the treatment target site 103 and the area around the treatment target site 103 as an image. The display device 10 is configured to output information about the area around the treatment target site 103, including the diseased area, as a color image using pixel values ​​of a red component set by a red light source, pixel values ​​of a blue component set by a blue light source, and pixel values ​​of a green component set by a green light source.

[0021] The treatment support device 20 is configured to support an operator in performing photoimmunotherapy. Specifically, the treatment support device 20 includes a light source unit 1, an imaging unit 2, an operation unit 3, and an image processing unit 4. The image processing unit 4 includes a control unit 4a, a storage unit 4b, an image collection unit 4c, a reconstruction unit 4d, and a synthesis unit 4e.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 2, the light source unit 1 is configured to output therapeutic laser light Lc of a predetermined wavelength belonging to visible light as therapeutic light to the treatment target area 103. That is, the light source unit 1 is configured to irradiate the therapeutic laser light Lc of the predetermined wavelength as light (therapeutic light) in a specific wavelength band according to the fluorescent substance. More specifically, the light source unit 1 is configured to irradiate near-infrared laser light as the therapeutic laser light Lc. The therapeutic laser light Lc is guided from the therapeutic light source to an optical fiber having a diffuser 15 attached to its tip, diffused by the diffuser 15, and emitted to irradiate the affected area.

[0023] Specifically, the light source unit 1 includes a laser unit 11, an optical element 12, a light receiving unit 13, a light guide member 14, and a diffuser 15.

[0024] The laser unit 11 outputs a treatment laser beam Lc using a semiconductor laser. The treatment laser beam has a laser intensity of Class 3 or Class 4 as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission. Therefore, the operator must wear protective glasses (see FIG. 3) because the laser intensity of the treatment laser beam cannot be directly observed. The laser unit 11 is configured to output near-infrared light (approximately 690 nm) as the laser beam, which is a specific wavelength band corresponding to the fluorescent substance. Note that the laser unit 11 may output laser beams using a method other than a semiconductor laser.

[0025] The optical element 12 is a beam splitter. The optical element 12 is configured to split the treatment laser light Lc output from the laser unit 11. A part of the treatment laser light Lc is split by the optical element 12 and enters the input end of the light-guiding member 14. A part of the treatment laser light Lc is split by the optical element 12 and enters the light-receiving unit 13. The light-receiving unit 13 is a photodiode. The light-receiving unit 13 outputs a voltage according to the intensity of the incident treatment laser light Lc.

[0026] The light-guiding member 14 is configured to guide the treatment laser beam Lc incident from the input end to the diffuser 15. The light-guiding member 14 is made of a multi-core fiber. However, the light-guiding member 14 may be made of a material other than a multi-core fiber. The diffuser 15 is configured to diffuse the treatment laser beam Lc output from the light-guiding member 14.

[0027] 1, the imaging unit 2 is configured to capture an image of a treatment target area 103 and the vicinity of the treatment target area 103 during treatment by an operator. Specifically, the imaging unit 2 has a zoom lens 21, a prism 22, a visible light source 23, an excitation light source 24, a visible light detection unit 25, and a fluorescence detection unit 26.

[0028] The zoom lens 21 is a lens for focusing the imaging unit 2 on the treatment target area 103. The prism 22 is configured to separate the visible light and the fluorescence that are reflected from the subject and passed through the zoom lens 21. The prism 22 is configured to guide the visible light to the visible light detection unit 25. The prism 22 is configured to guide the fluorescence to the fluorescence detection unit 26.

[0029] The visible light source 23 and the excitation light source 24 are composed of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The visible light source 23 is configured to generate visible light, for example, white light including multiple (all) wavelengths in the visible range. The excitation light source 24 is configured to generate excitation light in a wavelength band corresponding to the fluorescent agent 101. The excitation light is near-infrared light with a peak wavelength of approximately 700 nm. The excitation light is confirmation light for confirming the area where the fluorescent agent 101 has been administered. The excitation light is configured to have a lower irradiation intensity than the therapeutic laser light Lc for treating cancer.

[0030] The visible light detection unit 25 and the fluorescence detection unit 26 are each composed of an image sensor (imaging element) using, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The visible light detection unit 25 is configured to detect visible light. The visible light detection unit 25 has an imaging element that detects light in a range that includes the wavelength band of visible light. The imaging element of the visible light detection unit 25 is an element that can capture the visible light image Pv as a color image. The fluorescence detection unit 26 is configured to detect fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent agent 101. The fluorescence detection unit 26 has an imaging element that detects light in a range that includes the wavelength band of the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent agent 101.

[0031] In this way, the imaging unit 2 is configured to capture an image of the treatment laser light Lc reflected on the treatment target area 103, the treatment target area 103, and the periphery of the treatment target area 103 as a visible light image Pv (see FIG. 4) using the visible light detection unit 25. The imaging unit 2 is configured to capture an image of the fluorescence of the fluorescent agent 101 generated in the treatment target area 103 as a fluorescence image using the fluorescence detection unit 26.

[0032] The operation unit 3 is configured to receive input for operating the treatment support device 20 via the control unit 4a.

[0033] (Control unit) The control unit 4a is configured to control the display device 10, the light source unit 1, the zoom lens 21, the memory unit 4b, the image acquisition unit 4c, the reconstruction unit 4d, and the synthesis unit 4e. The control unit 4a has a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory unit 4b is a storage device having memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0034] The video acquisition unit 4c, reconstructor 4d, and synthesizer 4e are each functional blocks of software (programs) executed by the controller 4a. The video acquisition unit 4c has a function of storing the visible light image Pv and the fluorescent image captured by the imaging unit 2 as data (information) in the memory unit 4b. The reconstructor 4d has a function of reconstructing the visible light image Pv received from the video acquisition unit 4c into a display image P to be displayed on the display device 10. The reconstructor 4d has a function of synthesizing the fluorescent image received from the video acquisition unit 4c with the display image P reconstructed by the reconstructor 4d. The reconstructor 4d and synthesizer 4e are described in detail below.

[0035] <Reconstruction part> Here, when an operator performs treatment by irradiating a treatment target site 103 in a subject administered with a fluorescent agent 101 with a treatment laser beam Lc, the operator wears protective glasses 102 (see FIG. 3 ) having light-blocking lenses 102a that block light in the near-infrared wavelength band corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to protect the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam Lc. The protective glasses 102 also block the wavelengths of the color components of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10. That is, the protective glasses 102 have a blocking band within the wavelength band and a transmission band other than the blocking band. The treatment laser beam Lc in the near-infrared wavelength band is included in the blocking band.

[0036] 4, the operator cannot see the color components of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10 due to the protective glasses 102, making it difficult for the operator to determine whether the treatment laser beam Lc is being accurately irradiated onto the affected area. The protective glasses 102 are an example of the "light-shielding glasses" in the claims.

[0037] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 4a of the first embodiment is configured to output a reconstructed display image P to the display device 10 while the treatment target area 103 is being treated with the treatment laser beam Lc by using the reconstructor 4d to change a color component in the visible light image Pv corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc into another color component other than the one color component. That is, the control unit 4a is configured to reconstruct the display image P by using the reconstructor 4d to add pixel values ​​of a red component, which is a color component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image Pv, to pixel values ​​of at least one of a blue component and a green component, which are other color components. Here, the other color components are included in the transmission bands other than the blocking band within the wavelength band of the protective glasses 102. Note that the display image P shown in FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which all pixel values ​​of the red component in the visible light image Pv are added to pixel values ​​of the green component.

[0038] This allows the operator to visually recognize the spot position of the treatment laser beam Lc from the display image P displayed on the display device 10 while wearing the protective glasses 102. Here, the wavelengths corresponding to the other color components in the visible light image Pv are wavelengths within the range of visible light other than the first band of the protective glasses 102, which blocks the light of the first band including the predetermined wavelength of the treatment laser beam Lc.

[0039] That is, the wavelength corresponding to the therapeutic laser light Lc including pixel values ​​of other color components in the visible light image Pv is a wavelength of visible light within the wavelength range transmitted by the protective glasses 102. For example, the wavelength corresponding to the pixel values ​​of other color components in the visible light image Pv may be between about 490 nm and about 550 nm (green) rather than between about 590 nm and about 750 nm (red).

[0040] Moreover, instead of irradiating the affected area with the treatment laser beam Lc and observing the affected area, the operator can check the spot position of the treatment laser beam Lc by looking at the image displayed on the display device 10.

[0041] 6 to 9, a method for creating a display image P reconstructed by changing one color component in the visible light image Pv corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to another color component will be described in detail below. For simplicity of explanation, an example in which all pixel values ​​of the red component in the visible light image Pv are added to pixel values ​​of the green component will be used as a reference.

[0042] 6, the control unit 4a is configured to separate, by the reconstruction unit 4d, a red image Pr containing a red component, a blue image Pb containing a blue component, and a green image Pg1 containing a green component from the visible light image Pv. Here, the spot light (indicated by a circle in FIG. 6) of the red treatment laser beam Lc irradiated onto the treatment target site 103 appears in the red image Pr but does not appear in the blue image Pb or the green image Pg1.

[0043] 7, the control unit 4a is configured to change, by the reconstructing unit 4d, pixel values ​​of one color component of the first image, including the color component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image Pv, into pixel values ​​of another color component. Specifically, the control unit 4a is configured to change, by the reconstructing unit 4d, pixel values ​​of the red component of the red image Pr corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image Pv, into pixel values ​​of the green component, thereby obtaining a green image Pg2.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 8, the control unit 4a is configured to convert the red image Pr into a green image Pg2 using the reconstructor 4d, and then synthesize the green image Pg2, the blue image Pb containing the blue component separated from the visible light image Pv, and the green image Pg1 containing the green component separated from the visible light image Pv. That is, the control unit 4a is configured to add the pixel values ​​of the red component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image Pv to the pixel values ​​of the green component as another color component using the reconstructor 4d. As a result, as shown in Fig. 9, the control unit 4a is configured to obtain a display image P. The control unit 4a is configured to output the display image P to the display device 10.

[0045] 10, the control unit 4a is configured to reconstruct a plurality of display images P in which the allocation ratios of red component pixel values ​​to blue component pixel values ​​and green component pixel values ​​are made different from each other, and to switch between and display the plurality of display images P on the display device 10. Here, the display device 10 displays a plurality of display images P. The plurality of display images P are a display image P1, a display image P2, and a display image P3. The plurality of display images P includes a display image P1 in which all of the red component pixel values ​​are added to the green component pixel values.

[0046] That is, the operator selects the most preferable image from among display images P1, P2, and P3 displayed on display device 10 using operation unit 3. Control unit 4a is configured to perform control such that the selected image (P3 in FIG. 10) is enlarged and displayed on display device 10 based on the operator's selection.

[0047] Here, the control unit 4a is configured to reconstruct a display image P2 by causing the reconstruction unit 4d to weight and add pixel values ​​of the red component corresponding to the treatment laser light Lc separated from the visible light image Pv to pixel values ​​of the blue component and the green component as other color components. That is, the display image P2 is an image reconstructed by weighting and adding. Furthermore, the image processing unit 4 is configured to output a display image P3 obtained by superimposing a fluorescent image detected by the fluorescent detection unit 26 onto the display device 10. That is, the display image P3 is an image obtained by combining the display image P with the fluorescent image.

[0048] (How to create images for display) A display image creating method for creating the display image P by the control unit 4a will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 11 , in step S1, the controller 4a controls the light source unit 1 to output the therapeutic laser light Lc. Specifically, the controller 4a controls the light source unit 1 to output the therapeutic laser light Lc of a predetermined wavelength belonging to visible light as therapeutic light to a treatment target site 103 in a subject administered with a fluorescent agent 101, the fluorescent agent 101 being formed by combining a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing excitation light with an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells. In step S2, while the controller 4a controls the light source unit 1 to output the therapeutic laser light Lc in step S1, the controller 4a controls the imaging unit 2 to capture an image of the treatment target site 103 and its surroundings. Specifically, the controller 4a controls the visible light detection unit 25 of the imaging unit 2 to capture a visible light image Pv of the treatment target site 103 and its surroundings. The controller 4a controls the fluorescence detection unit 26 of the imaging unit 2 to capture a fluorescent image of the treatment target site 103 and its surroundings.

[0050] In step S3, the control unit 4a causes the reconstructing unit 4d to reconstruct each of the multiple display images P based on the visible light image Pv and the fluorescence image. Specifically, the control unit 4a creates the display image P by adding the red component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to the green (blue) component in the visible light image Pv captured by the imaging unit 2 that captures the image of the treatment target region 103. The control unit 4a creates the display image P2 by weighting and adding the red component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to the green and blue components in the visible light image Pv. The control unit 4a creates the display image P3 by combining the display image P with the fluorescence image.

[0051] In step S4, the control unit 4a outputs a plurality of display images P to the display device 10. In detail, the control unit 4a outputs the display image P1, the display image P2, and the display image P3 to the display device 10, and then ends the display image creation method.

[0052] (Effects of the first embodiment) In the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0053] As described above, in the first embodiment, when the treatment target area 103 is being treated with the treatment laser beam Lc, the image processing unit 4 is configured to output the reconstructed display image P to the display device 10 by changing the red component (one color component) corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv to a green component (another color component) other than the red component (one color component). As a result, even if the operator wears protective glasses 102 that block light in the wavelength band corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to protect the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam Lc, the other color components of the treatment laser beam Lc in the reconstructed display image P are not blocked by the protective glasses 102, allowing the operator to visually recognize the treatment laser beam Lc of the other color components in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10. As a result, the operator's eyes can be protected from the treatment laser beam Lc, and it is possible to easily determine whether the treatment target area 103 is being accurately irradiated with the treatment laser beam Lc.

[0054] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the wavelengths corresponding to the therapeutic laser beam Lc including pixel values ​​of other color components in the visible light image Pv are wavelengths within the range of visible light other than the first band of the protective glasses 102 that block light in the first band including the predetermined wavelength of the therapeutic laser beam Lc. This allows the operator to visually recognize the therapeutic laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10 while wearing the protective glasses 102 (light-blocking glasses). As a result, the operator's eyes are protected from the therapeutic laser beam Lc, and the operator can easily determine whether the therapeutic laser beam Lc is accurately irradiated onto the treatment target region 103.

[0055] In the first embodiment, as described above, the image processor 4 is configured to convert pixel values ​​of the red component (one color component) of the red image Pr (first image) containing the red component (one color component) corresponding to the therapeutic laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image Pv into pixel values ​​of the green component (another color component), and then synthesize the green image Pg2 (first image) containing the green component (one color component) with the blue image Pb (second image containing the other color component) and the green image Pg1 (second image containing the other color component) containing the blue component separated from the visible light image Pv. Thus, the display image P can be obtained by synthesizing the green image Pg2 (first image), the blue image Pb (second image containing the other color component), and the green image Pg1 (second image containing the other color component) to reconstruct the display image P. This allows the display image P to be obtained by converting the red component (one color component) of the therapeutic laser beam Lc in the display device 10 into the green component (another color component). As a result, a visible light image Pv can be acquired in which the operator can visually recognize the treatment laser light Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10 while wearing the protective glasses 102 (light-blocking glasses).

[0056] In the first embodiment, as described above, the treatment laser light Lc having a predetermined wavelength is near-infrared laser light, and the image processing unit 4 is configured to reconstruct the display image P by adding pixel values ​​of a red component, which is one color component corresponding to the treatment laser light Lc separated from the visible light image Pv, to pixel values ​​of a green component, which is another color component (at least one of pixel values ​​of a blue component and pixel values ​​of a green component). This facilitates the reconstruction of the display image P, thereby suppressing an increase in the processing load of the image processing unit 4.

[0057] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the image processing unit 4 is configured to reconstruct the display image P by weighting and adding pixel values ​​of a red component, which is one color component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image Pv, to pixel values ​​of a green component, which is another color component (at least one of the pixel values ​​of the blue component and the green component). This allows the display image P to be reconstructed so that the operator can easily visually recognize the treatment laser beam Lc displayed on the display device 10, and therefore makes it easier to know whether the treatment laser beam Lc is being accurately irradiated onto the treatment target region 103.

[0058] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the image processing unit 4 is configured to reconstruct a plurality of display images P in which the ratios of allocation of red component pixel values ​​to blue component pixel values ​​and green component pixel values ​​are made different from each other, and to switch and display the plurality of display images P on the display device 10. This allows the operator to select a display image P in which the treatment laser beam Lc displayed on the display device 10 can be easily viewed from the plurality of display images P, and therefore, it is possible to more easily grasp whether the treatment target site 103 is accurately irradiated with the treatment laser beam Lc.

[0059] In the first embodiment, the plurality of display images P include either a display image P in which all pixel values ​​of the red component are added to pixel values ​​of the blue component or a display image P in which all pixel values ​​of the red component are added to pixel values ​​of the green component. This allows a display image P in which the therapeutic laser beam Lc is displayed more clearly in comparison with a display image P in which pixel values ​​of the red component are added to pixel values ​​of both the blue component and the green component, thereby enabling the operator to more reliably select a display image P in which the therapeutic laser beam Lc displayed on the display device 10 is easily visible.

[0060] In the first embodiment, as described above, the imaging unit 2 further includes the fluorescence detection unit 26 that detects fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent agent 101. The image processing unit 4 is configured to output a display image P, in which the fluorescence image detected by the fluorescence detection unit 26 is superimposed, to the display device 10. This allows the operator to confirm not only the treatment laser beam Lc but also the treatment target area 103 in the display image P, thereby enabling the operator to perform treatment smoothly.

[0061] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the display image creating method includes step S4 of outputting the display image P reconstructed by changing a red component (one color component) corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv captured by the imaging unit 2 that captures the treatment target region 103 to a green component (another color component) other than the red component (one color component) to the display device 10. As a result, even if the operator wears protective glasses 102 that block light in the wavelength band corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to protect the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam Lc, the operator can visually recognize the treatment laser beam Lc of the other color components in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10. As a result, a display image creating method can be realized that allows the operator to easily determine whether the treatment laser beam Lc is being accurately irradiated onto the treatment target region 103 while protecting the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam Lc.

[0062] [Second embodiment] Next, a medical treatment support system 200 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 12 to Fig. 15. Specifically, unlike the medical treatment support system 100 according to the first embodiment, the medical treatment support system 200 according to the second embodiment outputs not only a treatment laser beam Lc but also a guide laser beam Lg from the light source unit 1. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 12, the medical treatment support system 200 of the second embodiment includes the display device 10 and a medical treatment support device 220.

[0064] The treatment support device 220 is configured to support the operator in performing photoimmunotherapy. Specifically, the treatment support device 220 includes a light source unit 201, an imaging unit 2, an operation unit 3, and an image processing unit 204. The image processing unit 204 includes a control unit 4a, a storage unit 4b, and an image acquisition unit 4c.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 13 , the light source unit 201 of the second embodiment is configured to output, as therapeutic light, a therapeutic laser beam Lc having a first wavelength belonging to visible light, and a guide laser beam Lg having a second wavelength belonging to visible light, which has a lower output than the therapeutic laser beam Lc and is viewed on the display device 10 as a color component different from one color component of the therapeutic laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv. The therapeutic laser beam Lc has a laser intensity of Class 3 or Class 4 as defined by the International Electrotechnical Standards (IEC). Therefore, the operator must wear protective glasses 102 (see FIG. 3 ) because the laser intensity of the therapeutic laser beam cannot be directly recognized. The guide laser beam Lg has a laser intensity of Class 1 as defined by the International Electrotechnical Standards (IEC). Thus, the guide laser beam Lg has a laser intensity that is visible without the protective glasses 102 (see FIG. 3 ).

[0066] In this way, the light source unit 201 is configured to irradiate the treatment laser light Lc having a predetermined wavelength as light (treatment light) in a specific wavelength band according to the fluorescent substance, and the light source unit 201 is configured to irradiate the guide laser light Lg having a predetermined wavelength as light (guide light) different from the specific wavelength band according to the fluorescent substance.

[0067] The second wavelength is a wavelength within the range of visible light other than the first band of the protective glasses 102 that blocks light of the first band including the first wavelength of the treatment laser light Lc. The first wavelength is a wavelength included in the blocking band of the light-blocking lens 102a of the protective glasses 102. The second wavelength is a wavelength included in the transmission band of the light-blocking lens 102a of the protective glasses 102.

[0068] Here, for example, the second wavelength is a wavelength (about 490 nm or more and about 550 nm or less) within the range of visible light other than the near-infrared band (about 600 nm or more and about 700 nm or less) including about 690 nm. Also, for example, the second wavelength is a wavelength (about 430 nm or more and about 490 nm or less) within the range of visible light other than the near-infrared band (about 600 nm or more and about 700 nm or less) including about 690 nm. In this way, the guide laser light Lg is laser light belonging to visible light that is visually recognized in the display device 10 as either blue or green, or a mixed color of blue and green.

[0069] In the following, a case where the guide laser beam Lg is green will be described as an example.

[0070] The light source unit 201 has a first laser unit 211a, a second laser unit 211b, an optical element 212, an optical element 213, a light receiving unit 13, a light guiding member 14, and a diffuser 15. The first laser unit 211a and the second laser unit 211b are examples of the "first light source unit" and the "second light source unit" in the claims, respectively.

[0071] The first laser unit 211a outputs the treatment laser light Lc using a semiconductor laser. The first laser unit 211a is configured to output near-infrared light (approximately 690 nm) as a specific wavelength band depending on the fluorescent material. The first laser unit 211a may output the laser light using a method other than the semiconductor laser.

[0072] The second laser unit 211b outputs a guide laser beam Lg using a semiconductor laser. The second laser unit 211b is configured to output green light (approximately 490 nm or more and approximately 550 nm or less) that is different from the specific wavelength band as the laser beam. The second laser unit 211b may output the laser beam using a method other than a semiconductor laser.

[0073] The treatment laser beam Lc and the guide laser beam Lg are incident on the same light-guiding member 14. Then, the treatment laser beam Lc and the guide laser beam Lg are simultaneously emitted from the diffuser 15. That is, the treatment laser beam Lc and the guide laser beam Lg are emitted in a mixed state from the diffuser 15. The treatment laser beam Lc and the guide laser beam Lg are irradiated coaxially. That is, the spot position of the treatment laser beam Lc and the spot position of the guide laser beam Lg coincide with each other.

[0074] The optical element 212 is a half mirror. The optical element 212 is configured to transmit the treatment laser beam Lc output from the first laser unit 211a. The optical element 212 is configured to reflect the guide laser beam Lg output from the second laser unit 211b. The treatment laser beam Lc passes through the optical element 212 and enters the input end of the light-guiding member 14. The guide laser beam Lg is reflected by the optical element 212 and enters the light-guiding member 14. The optical element 213 is a beam splitter. The optical element 213 is configured to separate the mixed treatment laser beam Lc and guide laser beam Lg. Part of the treatment laser beam Lc and the guide laser beam Lg are separated by the optical element 12 and enter the input end of the light-receiving unit 13.

[0075] (Control unit) The control unit 4a is configured to control the display device 10, the light source unit 201, the zoom lens 21, the storage unit 4b, and the image collection unit 4c. The control unit 4a has a CPU. The storage unit 4b is a storage device having memories such as ROM and RAM.

[0076] Here, when an operator is performing treatment by irradiating a treatment target area 103 in a subject administered with a fluorescent agent 101 with the treatment laser beam Lc, the operator wears protective glasses 102 (see FIG. 3 ) that block light in the near-infrared wavelength band corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to protect his or her eyes from the treatment laser beam Lc. The protective glasses 102 also block the wavelengths of the color components of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 , the protective glasses 102 prevent the operator from seeing the color components of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10, making it difficult for the operator to determine whether the treatment laser beam Lc is being accurately irradiated onto the treatment target area 103.

[0077] Therefore, in the second embodiment, the control unit 4a is configured to control the light source unit 201 to output the guide laser beam Lg when outputting the treatment laser beam Lc. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14 , the operator can visually recognize the green component (another color component) of the guide laser beam Lg instead of the red component (one color component) of the treatment laser beam Lc. Therefore, the operator can confirm the spot position of the treatment laser beam Lc when viewing the display image P and the treatment target region 103. As described above, in the second embodiment, the image processing unit 204 does not convert the red component (one color component) of the treatment laser beam Lc into the green component (another color component) of the guide laser beam Lg, as in the first embodiment.

[0078] Specifically, the control unit 4a is configured to perform control so that the treatment laser beam Lc output from the first laser unit 211a is merged with the guide laser beam Lg output from the second laser unit 211b and output from the light source unit 201. Here, the control unit 4a is configured to perform control so that the guide laser beam Lg is output while the treatment laser beam Lc is being output from the light source unit 201. Other configurations of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0079] (Laser output method) Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 15, a laser output method in which the control unit 4a outputs the treatment laser beam Lc and the guide laser beam Lg will be described.

[0080] 15, in step S201, the control unit 4a causes the light source unit 201 to output the therapeutic laser light Lc. Specifically, the control unit 4a outputs the therapeutic laser light Lc having a first wavelength belonging to visible light as therapeutic light to a treatment target site 103 in a subject administered with a fluorescent agent 101, the fluorescent agent 101 being formed by combining a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing excitation light with an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells. While performing step S201 of outputting the therapeutic laser light Lc having the first wavelength, in step S202, the control unit 4a causes the light source unit 201 to output the therapeutic laser light Lc while the therapeutic laser light Lc is being output. In step S201 of outputting the treatment laser light Lc, the control unit 4a outputs a guide laser light Lg of a second wavelength belonging to visible light that has a lower output than the treatment laser light Lc and is visible on the display device 10 as a color component different from one color component of the treatment laser light Lc in the visible light image Pv captured by the imaging unit 2 that captures the treatment target area 103.

[0081] In step S203, the control unit 4a outputs the visible light image to the display device 10, and then ends the laser output method.

[0082] (Effects of the second embodiment) In the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0083] As described above, in the second embodiment, the treatment support device 220 of the treatment support system 200 includes the light source unit 201 that outputs, as treatment light, a treatment laser beam Lc having a first wavelength belonging to visible light and a guide laser beam Lg having a second wavelength belonging to visible light, which has a lower output than the treatment laser beam Lc and is viewed on the display device 10 as a green component (another color component) different from the red component (one color component) of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv. The treatment support device 220 also includes a control unit 4a that controls the light source unit 201 to output the guide laser beam Lg when outputting the treatment laser beam Lc. This allows the operator to confirm the irradiation position of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10 by visually recognizing the guide laser beam Lg in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10, even if the operator wears protective glasses 102 that block light in a wavelength band corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to protect his / her eyes from the treatment laser beam Lc. As a result, the operator's eyes are protected from the treatment laser beam Lc, and the operator can easily determine whether the treatment target site 103 is being accurately irradiated with the treatment laser beam Lc.

[0084] In the second embodiment, as described above, the light source unit 201 includes the first laser unit 211a (first light source unit) that outputs the treatment laser beam Lc and the second laser unit 211b (second light source unit) that outputs the guide laser beam Lg. The controller 4a is configured to perform control so that the treatment laser beam Lc output from the first laser unit 211a (first light source unit) is merged with the guide laser beam Lg output from the second laser unit 211b (second light source unit) and output from the light source unit 201. By using separate light sources for the treatment laser beam Lc and the guide laser beam Lg, the configuration for outputting the treatment laser beam Lc and the guide laser beam Lg can be simplified, and the structure of the light source unit 201 can be prevented from becoming complicated.

[0085] In the second embodiment, as described above, the second wavelength is a wavelength within the range of visible light other than the first band of the protective glasses 102 (light-blocking glasses) that block light in the first band including the first wavelength of the treatment laser beam Lc. This allows the operator, wearing the protective glasses 102 (light-blocking glasses), to check the irradiation position of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10 using the guide laser beam Lg. As a result, the operator's eyes can be protected from the treatment laser beam Lc, and the operator can easily determine whether the treatment target region 103 is accurately irradiated with the treatment laser beam Lc.

[0086] In the second embodiment, as described above, the treatment laser beam Lc is a near-infrared laser beam that is visually recognized as red on the display device 10. The guide laser beam Lg is a laser beam belonging to visible light that is visually recognized as green (either blue or green, or a mixture of blue and green) on the display device 10. As a result, while performing treatment using the treatment laser beam Lc and the fluorescent agent 101, the irradiation position of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10 can be confirmed by visually recognizing the green guide laser beam Lg in the visible light image Pv. As a result, treatment can be performed in a state where the treatment target region 103 is accurately irradiated with the treatment laser beam Lc, and therefore treatment using the fluorescent agent 101 can be performed effectively.

[0087] As described above, in the second embodiment, the laser output method includes, when outputting the treatment laser beam Lc in step S201, outputting the guide laser beam Lg having a lower output than the treatment laser beam Lc and a second wavelength belonging to visible light that is viewed on the display device 10 as a green component (another color component) different from the red component (one color component) of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv captured by the imaging unit 2 that captures the treatment target region 103. As a result, even if the operator wears protective glasses 102 that block light in the wavelength band corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc to protect the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam Lc, the operator can confirm the irradiation position of the treatment laser beam Lc in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10 by viewing the guide laser beam Lg in the visible light image Pv displayed on the display device 10. As a result, a laser output method can be realized that allows the operator to easily determine whether the treatment laser beam Lc is accurately irradiated to the treatment target region 103 while protecting the operator's eyes from the treatment laser beam Lc. The other effects of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0088] [Variations] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the above description of the embodiments, and further includes all modifications (variations) within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0089] For example, in the first embodiment, the image processing unit 4 is configured to add the pixel values ​​of the red component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image Pv to the pixel values ​​of the green component as another color component by the reconstruction unit 4d, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the treatment support device may add the pixel values ​​of the red component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image to the pixel values ​​of the blue component as another color component.

[0090] In the first embodiment, the image processor 4 is configured to automatically add pixel values ​​of a red component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image Pv to pixel values ​​of a green component as another color component, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the image processor may be configured to add pixel values ​​of one color component corresponding to the treatment laser beam Lc separated from the visible light image to pixel values ​​of another color component based on an operator's selection.

[0091] In the first embodiment, the image processing unit 4 is configured to output the display image P, which is an image obtained by superimposing a fluorescent image detected by the fluorescent detection unit 26, to the display device 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the image processing unit may output a display image, which is not an image obtained by superimposing a fluorescent image, to the display device.

[0092] In the first and second embodiments, the image capturing unit 2 captures the visible light image Pv and the fluorescent light image, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the image capturing unit may capture only the visible light image.

[0093] In the first and second embodiments, the imaging unit 2 includes the visible light source 23 and the excitation light source 24, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the imaging unit does not necessarily have to include the visible light source and the excitation light source.

[0094] In the first embodiment, the plurality of display images P includes an image in which all pixel values ​​of the red component are added to pixel values ​​of the green component, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the plurality of display images may include an image in which all pixel values ​​of the red component are added to pixel values ​​of the blue component.

[0095] In the second embodiment, the light source unit 1 is configured to emit a green laser beam as the guide laser beam, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the light source unit may be configured to emit a blue laser beam as the guide laser beam, or may emit a laser beam of a color obtained by mixing blue and green.

[0096] In the second embodiment, as described above, the controller 4a is configured to control the guide laser beam Lg to be output while the treatment laser beam Lc is being output from the light source unit 201. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the controller may be configured to control the guide laser beam to be output intermittently while the treatment laser beam is being output from the light source unit.

[0097] In the second embodiment, the light source unit 1 includes the first laser unit 211a and the second laser unit 211b, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the light source unit 1 may have a configuration in which one laser unit irradiates laser beams having different peak wavelengths.

[0098] Furthermore, in the above first embodiment, an example was shown in which the image processing unit 4 is configured to reconstruct a plurality of display images P in which the ratios of allocation of red component pixel values ​​to blue component pixel values ​​and green component pixel values ​​are made different from each other, and to switch between and display the plurality of display images P on the display device 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the image processing unit does not have to switch between and display the plurality of display images on the display device.

[0099] In the first and second embodiments, for convenience of explanation, the control processing of the image processing unit 4 and the control unit 4a is explained using a flow-driven flowchart in which processing is performed in order according to a processing flow, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the control processing of the treatment support device and the control unit may be performed by event-driven processing in which processing is performed on an event-by-event basis. In this case, the control processing may be performed completely event-driven, or may be performed in a combination of event-driven and flow-driven.

[0100] [Aspect] (First aspect) It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are specific examples of the first aspect below.

[0101] (Item 1) A therapeutic support system (100) for supporting a treatment when administering to a subject a fluorescent agent (101) comprising a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing excitation light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and irradiating a treatment target area (103) in the subject to which the fluorescent agent has been administered with therapeutic light, comprising: a treatment support device (20) including: a light source unit (1) that outputs a treatment laser beam (Lc) having a predetermined wavelength belonging to visible light as the treatment light to the treatment target area; an imaging unit (2) that has a visible light detection unit (25) that detects visible light and that is capable of capturing an image of the treatment laser beam reflected from the treatment target area and the treatment target area as a visible light image (Pv) using the visible light detection unit; and an image processing unit (4) that creates a display image (P) by performing image processing on the visible light image; a display device (10) that displays the display image, the image processing unit is configured to output, to the display device, the display image reconstructed by changing a color component in the visible light image corresponding to the treatment laser beam to another color component other than the color component when the treatment target area is being treated with the treatment laser beam.

[0102] (Item 2) Item 1. The treatment support system according to item 1, wherein the wavelength corresponding to the therapeutic laser beam including the pixel values ​​of the other color components in the visible light image is a wavelength within a range of visible light other than the first band of light-blocking glasses (102) that block light of a first band including the predetermined wavelength of the therapeutic laser beam.

[0103] (Item 3) 3. The treatment support system according to item 1 or 2, wherein the image processing unit is configured to change pixel values ​​of the one color component of a first image (Pr) containing the one color component corresponding to the treatment laser beam separated from the visible light image to pixel values ​​of the other color components, and then combine the first image of the other color components with a second image (Pr, Pg) containing the other color components separated from the visible light image.

[0104] (Item 4) the treatment laser light of the predetermined wavelength is near-infrared laser light, 4. The treatment support system according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the image processing unit is configured to reconstruct the display image by adding pixel values ​​of a red component as the one color component corresponding to the treatment laser beam separated from the visible light image to pixel values ​​of a blue component and / or a green component as the other color components.

[0105] (Item 5) Item 5. The treatment support system according to item 4, wherein the image processing unit is configured to reconstruct the display image by weighting and adding pixel values ​​of the red component as the one color component corresponding to the treatment laser beam separated from the visible light image to at least one of pixel values ​​of the blue component and pixel values ​​of the green component as the other color components.

[0106] (Item 6) 6. The treatment support system according to item 4 or 5, wherein the image processing unit is configured to reconstruct a plurality of display images in which the ratios of allocation of the pixel values ​​of the red component to the pixel values ​​of the blue component and the pixel values ​​of the green component are made different from each other, and to switch and display the plurality of display images on the display device.

[0107] (Item 7) Item 7. The treatment support system according to item 6, wherein the plurality of display images include at least one of the display image in which all pixel values ​​of the red component are added to pixel values ​​of the blue component and the display image in which all pixel values ​​of the red component are added to pixel values ​​of the green component.

[0108] (Item 8) the imaging unit further includes a fluorescence detection unit (26) that detects fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent agent; The treatment support system according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the image processing unit is configured to output the display image, which is an image for display superimposed with the fluorescent image detected by the fluorescent detection unit, to the display device.

[0109] (Item 9) A therapeutic support system (200) for providing therapeutic support when administering to a subject a fluorescent agent (101) comprising a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing excitation light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and irradiating a therapeutic light onto a treatment target area (103) in the subject to which the fluorescent agent has been administered, comprising: a treatment support device (220) including an imaging unit (2) that has a visible light detection unit (25) that detects visible light and is capable of capturing a visible light image (Pv) of the treatment target site using the visible light detection unit; a display device (10) that displays the visible light image, The treatment support device includes: a light source unit that outputs, as the treatment light, a treatment laser beam (Lc) having a first wavelength belonging to visible light, and a guide laser beam (Lg) having a second wavelength belonging to visible light, the guide laser beam having a lower output than the treatment laser beam and a color component different from the one color component of the treatment laser beam in the visible light image and being visible on the display device; a control unit (4a) that controls the light source unit to output the guide laser beam when the treatment laser beam is output.

[0110] (Item 10) The light source unit is a first light source unit (211a) that outputs the treatment laser light; a second light source unit (211b) that outputs the guide laser light, Item 10. The treatment support system according to item 9, wherein the control unit is configured to perform control so that the treatment laser beam output from the first light source unit is merged with the guide laser beam output from the second light source unit and output from the light source unit.

[0111] (Item 11) Item 11. The treatment support system according to item 9 or 10, wherein the second wavelength is a wavelength within a range of visible light other than the first band of light-blocking glasses that block light of a first band including the first wavelength of the treatment laser beam.

[0112] (Item 12) the treatment laser light is near-infrared laser light that is visually recognized as red on the display device, Item 12. The treatment support system according to item 11, wherein the guide laser light is laser light belonging to visible light that is visually recognized on the display device as either blue or green, or a mixed color of blue and green.

[0113] (Item 13) A therapeutic support device (120) for administering to a subject a fluorescent agent (101) comprising a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing excitation light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and for supporting therapeutic treatment when irradiating a therapeutic light onto a treatment target site (103) in the subject to which the fluorescent agent has been administered, comprising: a light source unit (1) that outputs a therapeutic laser beam (Lc) having a predetermined wavelength belonging to visible light as the therapeutic light to the treatment target area; an imaging unit (2) including a visible light detection unit (25) for detecting visible light, and capable of capturing an image of the treatment laser light reflected from the treatment target area and the treatment target area as a visible light image (Pv) by the visible light detection unit; and an image processing unit (4) that, when treating the treatment target area with the treatment laser beam, outputs to a display device a display image (P) reconstructed by changing a color component in the visible light image corresponding to the treatment laser beam into a color component other than the one color component.

[0114] (Item 14) A therapeutic support device (200) for supporting a treatment when administering to a subject a fluorescent agent (101) comprising a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing excitation light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and irradiating a treatment target area (103) in the subject to which the fluorescent agent has been administered with therapeutic light, comprising: an imaging unit (2) including a visible light detection unit (25) that detects visible light and that is capable of capturing a visible light image (Pv) of the treatment target site by the visible light detection unit; a light source unit (201) that outputs, as the treatment light, a treatment laser beam (Lc) having a first wavelength belonging to visible light, and a guide laser beam (Lg) having a second wavelength belonging to visible light, which has a lower output than the treatment laser beam and is visually recognized on a display device (10) as a color component different from the one color component of the treatment laser beam in the visible light image; a control unit (4a) that controls the light source unit to output the guide laser beam when the treatment laser beam is output.

[0115] (Item 15) a step (S1) of emitting a therapeutic laser beam (Lc) of a predetermined wavelength belonging to visible light as therapeutic light to a treatment target site (103) in a subject administered with a fluorescent agent (101) comprising a substance that emits fluorescence by absorbing excitation light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells; and outputting a display image (P) reconstructed by changing a color component corresponding to the treatment laser beam in a visible light image (Pv) captured by an imaging unit (2) that captures an image of the treatment target area to a display device (10) (S4).

[0116] (Item 16) a step (S201) of emitting a therapeutic laser beam (Lc) having a first wavelength belonging to visible light as therapeutic light to a treatment target site (103) in a subject administered with a fluorescent agent (101) comprising a substance that emits fluorescence by absorbing excitation light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells; and in the step of outputting the treatment laser beam, outputting (S202) a guide laser beam (Lg) having a second wavelength belonging to visible light and having a lower output than the treatment laser beam, the guide laser beam (Lg) being visible on a display device (10) as a color component different from the one color component of the treatment laser beam in a visible light image (Pv) captured by an imaging unit (2) that captures an image of the treatment target site. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1, 201 Light source section 2. Imaging unit 4 Image processing section 4a Control section 10 Display device 20, 220 Treatment support equipment 25 Visible light detector 26 Fluorescence detection unit 100, 200 Treatment Support System 101 Fluorescent Agents 102 Protective glasses (light-shielding glasses) 103 Treatment Area 211a First laser unit (first light source unit) 211b Second laser unit (second light source unit) P, P1, P2, P3 Display image PC treatment laser light Pg Guide laser light Pv visible light image

Claims

1. A therapeutic support system for use with light-blocking glasses, which administers to a subject a fluorescent agent comprising a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing therapeutic light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and which provides therapeutic support when irradiating the therapeutic light to a treatment target site in the subject to which the fluorescent agent has been administered, comprising: a treatment support device including: a light source unit that outputs a treatment laser beam having a first wavelength as the treatment light that is blocked by the light-blocking glasses, and a guide laser beam having a second wavelength that has a lower output than the treatment laser beam and that is transmitted through the light-blocking glasses; and a control unit that controls the light source unit to output the treatment laser beam and the guide laser beam simultaneously, the treatment support device includes an imaging unit that has a visible light detection unit that detects visible light and is capable of capturing a visible light image of the treatment target site using the visible light detection unit; further comprising a display device for displaying the visible light image; the control unit is configured to control the display device to display the visible light image and to display an area of ​​the guide laser light in the color of the second wavelength that transmits through the light-blocking glasses on the visible light image displayed on the display device.

2. The light source unit is a first light source unit that outputs the treatment laser light; a second light source unit that outputs the guide laser light, 2. The treatment support system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform control so that the treatment laser beam output from the first light source unit and the guide laser beam output from the second light source unit are merged and output simultaneously from the light source units.

3. 3. The treatment support system according to claim 1, wherein the second wavelength is a wavelength within a range of visible light other than the first band of the light-blocking glasses that block light of a first band including the first wavelength of the treatment laser beam.

4. the treatment laser light is near-infrared laser light that is visually recognized as red on the display device, 4. The medical treatment support system according to claim 3, wherein the guide laser light is laser light belonging to visible light that is visually recognized on the display device as either blue or green, or a mixed color of blue and green.

5. a light source unit simultaneously generating a treatment laser beam having a first wavelength as treatment light blocked by the light-blocking glasses and a guide laser beam having a second wavelength, the guide laser beam having a lower output than the treatment laser beam and passing through the light-blocking glasses; a control unit displays, on a display device, a visible light image captured by a visible light detection unit of an imaging unit having a visible light detection unit that detects visible light, and displays, on the display device, an area of ​​the guide laser light on the visible light image in the color of the second wavelength that transmits through the light-blocking glasses.

6. A therapeutic support system for use with light-blocking glasses, which administers to a subject a fluorescent agent comprising a substance that emits fluorescence upon absorbing therapeutic light and an antibody that selectively binds to cancer cells, and which provides therapeutic support when irradiating the therapeutic light to a treatment target site in the subject to which the fluorescent agent has been administered, comprising: a treatment support device including: a light source unit that outputs a treatment laser beam having a first wavelength as the treatment light that is blocked by the light-blocking glasses, and a guide laser beam having a second wavelength that has a lower output than the treatment laser beam and that is transmitted through the light-blocking glasses; and a control unit that controls the light source unit to output the treatment laser beam and the guide laser beam simultaneously, the second wavelength is a wavelength within a range of visible light other than the first band of the light-blocking glasses that block light of a first band including the first wavelength of the treatment laser beam, the treatment support device includes an imaging unit that has a visible light detection unit that detects visible light and is capable of capturing a visible light image of the treatment target site using the visible light detection unit; further comprising a display device for displaying the visible light image; The treatment support system, wherein the guide laser light is laser light belonging to visible light that is visually recognized on the display device as either blue or green, or a mixed color of blue and green.

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