Laser handpiece for skin treatment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laser handpiece for skin treatment, wherein the laser handpiece can be easily changed to a zoom type or a fractional type according to the purpose of skin treatment. The laser handpiece for skin treatment according to the present invention comprises: a main body which receives a single-spot laser beam at an input end and outputs the received laser beam at an output end by adjusting the spot size thereof; and a tip assembly which is detachably installed on the output end of the main body and on which an array lens assembly is installed, wherein the array lens assembly is provided with an array lens that splits the single spot of the laser beam, output from the output end, into a plurality of spots and outputs same.

Description

Laser handpiece for skin treatment

[0001] The present invention relates to a laser handpiece for skin treatment, and more particularly, to a laser handpiece for skin treatment that can be easily changed to a zoom type or a fractional type depending on the purpose of the skin treatment.

[0002] Laser beams are used in dermatology, dentistry, otolaryngology, and other fields for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, targeting body parts like the skin or teeth. For example, laser beams are used for hair loss prevention, hair growth promotion, skin peeling, skin regeneration, whitening, wrinkle and blemish removal, freckle removal, and dental treatment. In response to this trend, various laser medical devices capable of applying laser beams to various body parts are being developed.

[0003] These laser medical devices include a laser handpiece that projects a laser beam onto a body part. The laser handpiece is a device that delivers a laser beam output from a laser generator to the body part.

[0004] Existing laser handpieces can be divided into a zoom type that outputs a laser beam in the form of a single spot and a fractional type that outputs a laser beam in the form of multiple spots, depending on the laser beam output method.

[0005] Because conventional zoom and fractional lasers use different laser beam output methods, a single laser handpiece cannot be used simultaneously for either zoom or fractional applications. Consequently, users need to have separate zoom and fractional laser handpieces.

[0006] Conventional fractional-type laser handpieces, as disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1042939 and Korean Patent Publication No. 2018-0123859, have a structure in which an array lens (multi-spot forming part) is installed within the main body. Therefore, when maintenance of the array lens is required, the entire main body must be disassembled, making it difficult for users to easily perform maintenance work themselves. Furthermore, since the array lens is installed between multiple lenses that adjust the spot size of the laser beam within the main body, there is a limit to increasing the number of spots that can be formed with the array lens.

[0007] [Prior Art Literature]

[0008] [Patent Document]

[0009] Patent Publication No. 10-1042939 (registered on June 14, 2011)

[0010] Patent Publication No. 10-1505083 (registered on March 17, 2015)

[0011] Patent Publication No. 2018-0123859 (published on November 9, 2017)

[0012] Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a laser handpiece for skin treatment that can be easily changed to a zoom type or a fractional type with one laser handpiece.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a laser handpiece for skin treatment that allows easy maintenance of the array lens.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a laser handpiece for skin treatment capable of increasing the number of spots.

[0015] Meanwhile, the purpose of the present invention is not limited to the above purpose, and other purposes not mentioned can be clearly understood from the description below.

[0016] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a laser handpiece for skin treatment, including a main body that inputs a single spot of laser beam to an input terminal, adjusts the spot size of the input laser beam, and outputs the same to an output terminal; and a tip that is detachably installed at an output terminal of the main body and has an array lens assembly that divides a single spot of the laser beam output to the output terminal into a plurality of spots and outputs the same.

[0017] The tip may include a tubular coupling portion formed in a tubular shape at one end and detachably coupled to the output terminal; an installation portion connected to the coupling portion and extending in a tubular shape, the array lens assembly being installed therein; and a contact portion formed at the other end, connected to the installation portion and extending, the contact portion coming into contact with the skin of the treatment target.

[0018] The above installation part has a catch formed on the inner periphery of the boundary connected to the above contact part.

[0019] The above array lens assembly may include: the array lens inserted into the interior of the coupling portion through one end of the tip and then fixed by being caught on the catch; a spacer ring mounted on the array lens; an irradiation lens mounted on the spacer ring and configured to focus a laser beam output from an output terminal of the main body onto the array lens; and a fastening ring inserted into the interior of the coupling portion through one end of the tip and then fixed to the inside of the installation portion to fix the array lens, the spacer ring, and the irradiation lens to the inside of the installation portion.

[0020] The above spacer ring has a fixing jaw formed on the inner side of each end into which a portion of the array lens and the investigation lens are inserted and fixed.

[0021] The input terminal of the main body may include a connector to which an optical cable providing the single spot laser beam is detachably coupled; and a bearing installed on an outer circumferential surface of the connector in the axial direction of the main body, the bearing enabling the connector to rotate in the axial direction of the main body to which the optical cable is coupled.

[0022] The above body can output a laser beam having a spot size of 2 mm to 20 mm in diameter.

[0023] A single spot laser beam output from the above main body can be divided into 150 to 300 spots while passing through the array lens.

[0024] The above-mentioned laser handpiece for skin treatment can be used as a fractional type in which a tip having the array lens assembly is installed at the output terminal of the main body, and a single spot laser beam with a spot size adjusted by the output terminal of the main body is divided into multiple spots and output.

[0025] And the above-mentioned laser handpiece for skin treatment can be used as a zoom type that outputs a single spot laser beam with a spot size adjusted to the output terminal of the main body by installing a tip without the array lens assembly to the output terminal of the main body.

[0026] The laser handpiece according to the present invention can be used as a fractional type by combining a tip with an array lens installed in a detachable tip to a main body, or as a zoom type by combining a tip without an array lens installed. In other words, the laser handpiece can be easily changed to a fractional type or a zoom type by replacing the tip installed in the main body.

[0027] The laser handpiece according to the present invention can solve the cost problem and the inconvenience in use caused by having a fractional type laser handpiece and a zoom type laser handpiece, respectively.

[0028] Since the laser handpiece according to the present invention has an array lens installed in the tip, maintenance of the array lens installed in the tip can be easily performed after separating the tip from the main body.

[0029] The laser handpiece according to the present invention can increase the degree of freedom in design of the array lens by installing the array lens at the tip from which the laser beam is output from the main body, compared to installing the array lens between a plurality of lenses for controlling the spot size of a conventional laser beam. For example, since an array lens of a relatively larger size than conventional ones can be installed, the number of spots can be increased.

[0030] The laser handpiece according to the present invention, when performing a skin treatment using a tip equipped with an array lens based on a long pulse laser, can effectively induce collagen regeneration by delivering heat to the deep dermal layer, thereby providing an excellent effect in skin regeneration and melanin pigment removal.

[0031] And the laser handpiece according to the present invention enables safe and effective skin treatment by minimizing burn risk and pain.

[0032] Meanwhile, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not mentioned may be disclosed directly or implicitly in the detailed description according to the embodiments of the present invention to be described later.

[0033] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a laser handpiece for skin treatment according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the combined laser handpiece for skin treatment of Fig. 1.

[0035] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the tip of Figure 1.

[0036] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the tip of Figure 1.

[0037] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a tip having an array lens assembly installed according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] It should be noted that in the following description, only the parts necessary for understanding the embodiments of the present invention are described, and the description of other parts will be omitted to the extent that it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0040] The terms and words used in this specification and claims described below should not be interpreted as limited to their conventional or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted with meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of ​​the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term in order to explain his own invention in the best way. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0041] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0042] Example 1

[0043] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a laser handpiece for skin treatment according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a combined perspective view showing the laser handpiece for skin treatment of Fig. 1.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, a laser handpiece (100) according to a first embodiment includes a main body (10) and tips (20a, 20b) detachably installed on an output terminal (19) of the main body (10). A single spot of laser beam is input to the main body (10) through an input terminal (11), and the main body adjusts the spot size of the input laser beam and outputs it to the output terminal (19). In addition, the tip (20a) is detachably installed on the output terminal (19) of the main body (10), and an array lens assembly (30) is installed, which includes an array lens (31) that divides a single spot of a laser beam output to the output terminal (19) into a plurality of spots and outputs them.

[0045] The laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment can be used as a fractional type or a zoom type by replacing the tip (20a, 20b).

[0046] The laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment can be used as a fractional type that divides a single spot laser beam with an adjusted spot size into multiple spots and outputs them by installing a tip (20a) having an array lens assembly (30) on the output terminal (19) of the main body (10).

[0047] Alternatively, the laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment may be used as a zoom type that outputs a single spot laser beam with an adjusted spot size to the output terminal (19) of the main body (10) by installing a tip (20b) without an array lens assembly (30) to the output terminal (19) of the main body (10).

[0048] In this way, the laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment can be used as a fractional type by installing an array lens (31) on a detachable tip (20a), by combining the tip (20a) with the array lens (31) installed thereon with the main body (10), or as a zoom type by combining the tip (20b) without the array lens (31). In other words, it can be used as a fractional type or a zoom type depending on the type of tip (20a, 20b) coupled to the main body (10).

[0049] The laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment will be described in detail as follows.

[0050] The main body (10) has a cylindrical outer shape, and adjusts the spot size of a laser beam input to the input terminal (11) using a plurality of lenses (12, 13, 14, 15) arranged internally in the axial direction, and outputs the same to the output terminal (19). Here, the plurality of lenses (12, 13, 14, 15) may include first and second lenses (12, 13) arranged on the input terminal (11) side and having fixed positions to adjust the spot size of the laser beam input to the input terminal (11) to a constant size, and third and fourth lenses (14, 15) arranged on the output terminal (19) side to vary the spot size of the laser beam while moving in the axial direction.

[0051] The main body (10) can output a laser beam having a spot size of 2 mm to 20 mm in diameter. To allow a user to easily adjust the spot size, an index for the spot size may be displayed on the outer surface of the main body (10). For example, the spot size may be 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 15, or 20 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0052] The main body (10) has a connector (16) to which an optical cable (40) is detachably connected to an input terminal (11). The optical cable (40) provides a single-spot laser beam to the input terminal (11). The optical cable (40) can provide a laser beam having a spot size of 1 mm to 2 mm in diameter to the input terminal (11). Although not shown, the optical cable (40) has one end opposite to the one connected to the connector (16) connected to a laser generator. The laser generator can input a long pulse laser beam to the main body (10) through the optical cable (40).

[0053] In order for the user to freely use the main body (10), a bearing (17) may be installed on the outer surface of the connector (16). The bearing (17) is installed on the outer surface of the connector (16) in the axial direction of the main body (10) to enable the connector (16) to rotate in the axial direction of the main body (10) to which the optical cable (40) is coupled. That is, in the case where the connector (16) is fixedly installed in the main body (10), the free movement, such as rotation, of the main body (10) is restricted by the optical cable (40) connected to the connector (16). However, as in the first embodiment, when the connector (16) is installed in the main body (10) so as to be rotatable via the bearing (17), the optical cable (40) does not restrict the free movement of the main body (10) even when the optical cable (40) is connected to the main body (10). That is, since the optical cable (40) is rotatably connected to the main body (10), the procedure can be performed while freely using the main body (10), including rotation, even while the optical cable (40) is connected to the main body (10).

[0054] And the tip (20a) is detachably installed on the output terminal (19) of the main body (10). The tip (20a) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 as follows. Here, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the tip (20a) of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a combined perspective view showing the tip (20a) of FIG. 1. And FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

[0055] The tip (20a) includes a coupling portion (21), an installation portion (25), and a contact portion (29). The coupling portion (21) is formed in a tubular shape at one end and is detachably coupled to the output terminal (19). The installation portion (25) is connected to the coupling portion (21) and extends in a tubular shape, and an array lens assembly (30) can be installed inside. In addition, the contact portion (29) is formed at the other end, is connected to the installation portion (25), extends, and comes into contact with the skin of the treatment target.

[0056] Here, the coupling part (21) has a plurality of O-rings (23) fitted on the outer surface so that it can be fitted into the interior of the output terminal (19). Alternatively, the coupling part (21) may have screw threads formed on the outer surface so that it can be fastened to the interior of the output terminal (19) in a screw-joint manner.

[0057] The installation section (25) provides an installation space in which the array lens assembly (30) can be installed. The installation section (25) has a catch (27) formed on the inner periphery of the boundary connected to the contact section (29) to which the array lens assembly (30) is caught and fixed.

[0058] When an array lens assembly (30) is installed in the installation section (25), the tip (20a) can be used as a fractional type because it divides a single spot laser beam output from the main body (10) into multiple spots and outputs them.

[0059] If the array lens assembly (30) is not installed in the installation portion (25), the tip (20b in FIG. 1) can be used as a zoom type because it outputs a single spot laser beam output from the main body (10) as is. The tip (20b) on which the array lens assembly (30) is not installed has the same structure as the tip (20a) on which the array lens assembly (30) is installed, but the array lens assembly (30) may be removed from the installation portion (25). Alternatively, the tip (20b) on which the array lens assembly (30) is not installed may not be equipped with the installation portion (25).

[0060] And the contact portion (29) controls the distance between the laser beam output from the output terminal (19) of the main body (10) and the skin of the treatment target. The contact portion (29) can be implemented in various forms, such as a tube shape with an open portion, a half tube shape, etc. In the first embodiment, an example in which the contact portion (29) is implemented in a half tube shape with an open portion is disclosed.

[0061] The array lens assembly (30) includes an array lens (31), a spacer ring (33), an illumination lens (37), and a fastening ring (39). The array lens (31) is inserted into the interior of the coupling portion (21) through one end of the tip (20a) and then is caught and fixed by a catch (27). The spacer ring (33) is mounted on the array lens (31). The illumination lens (37) is mounted on the spacer ring (33) and focuses the laser beam output from the output terminal (19) of the main body (10) onto the array lens (31). In addition, the fastening ring (39) is inserted into the interior of the coupling portion (21) through one end of the tip (20a) and then is coupled to the inside of the installation portion (25) to fix the array lens (31), the spacer ring (33), and the illumination lens (37) to the inside of the installation portion (25).

[0062] Here, the array lens (31) includes 150 to 300 micro lenses. The diameter of the micro lenses may be 350 μm to 450 μm. The size of a single spot divided by the micro lenses is determined by calculating the energy to be applied to the skin to be treated.

[0063] The spacer ring (33) adjusts the distance between the array lens (31) and the investigation lens (37). The spacer ring (33) has a fixing jaw (35) formed on the inner side of each end, into which a portion of the array lens (31) and the investigation lens (37) are inserted and fixed.

[0064] Meanwhile, the array lens assembly (30) according to the first embodiment discloses an example in which the array lens (31), spacer ring (33), irradiation lens (37), and fastening ring (39) are assembled in that order to the tip (20a), but is not limited thereto. For example, at least two of the array lens (31), spacer ring (33), irradiation lens (37), and fastening ring (39) may be formed integrally. The at least two integrally formed ones maintain the order according to the assembly order of the array lens assembly (30). For example, the array lens (31), spacer ring (33), and irradiation lens (37) may be formed integrally. When the array lens (31), spacer ring (33), and irradiation lens (37) are formed integrally, there is an advantage in that the distance between the array lens (31) and the irradiation lens (37) can be maintained constant with respect to the spacer ring (33).

[0065] Alternatively, the array lens (31), spacer ring (33), investigation lens (37), and fastening ring (39) may be formed integrally. In this case, there is an advantage in that the array lens assembly (30) can be detached from the tip (20a) as a unit.

[0066] A single spot laser beam output from the output terminal (19) of the main body (10) is divided into 150 to 300 spots while passing through the array lens (31) of the tip (20a). When the laser handpiece (100) is used as a fractional type, the size of the single spot input to the irradiation lens (37) may be the maximum size that can be output from the main body (10). For example, when the laser handpiece (100) is used as a fractional type, the size of the single spot input to the irradiation lens (37) may be 20 mm. The number of divided single spots may be 150 to 300.

[0067] In this way, the laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment can be easily changed to a fractional type or a zoom type by replacing the tip (20a, 20b).

[0068] Since the laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment has an array lens (31) installed in the tip (20a), compared to a conventional body in which an array lens is installed, maintenance of the array lens (31) installed in the tip (20a) can be easily performed after separating the tip (20a) from the body (10).

[0069] And, the laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment can increase the design freedom of the array lens (31) by installing the array lens (31) at the tip (20a) from which the laser beam is output from the main body (10), compared to installing the array lens between a plurality of lenses for adjusting the spot size of the existing laser beam. For example, since an array lens (31) of a relatively larger size than the existing one can be installed at the tip (20a), the number of spots can be increased. Accordingly, when performing a skin treatment using the laser handpiece (100) according to the first embodiment, even if a laser beam having a wavelength of 755 nm is used, the risk of pigmentation, which is a side effect of 755 nm, is eliminated, and safer and more effective treatment is possible with a higher fluence.

[0070]

[0071] Second Example

[0072] Meanwhile, the tip (20a) according to the first embodiment discloses an example in which the array lens assembly (30) is installed in the installation portion (25) through the connecting portion (21), but is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, it may be configured to install the array lens assembly (130) in the installation portion (25) through the contact portion (29). Here, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the tip (120a) on which the array lens assembly (130) according to the second embodiment of the present invention is installed.

[0073] Referring to Fig. 6, a tip (120a) according to the second embodiment includes a coupling portion (21), an installation portion (25), and a contact portion (29). The coupling portion (21) is formed in a tubular shape at one end and is detachably coupled to an output terminal. The installation portion (25) is connected to the coupling portion (21) and extends in a tubular shape, and an array lens assembly (130) can be installed inside. In addition, the contact portion (29) is formed at the other end, is connected to the installation portion (25), extends, and comes into contact with the skin of the treatment target.

[0074] The array lens assembly (130) is installed in the installation part (25) through the contact part (29) of the tip (120a). A catch (28) on which the array lens assembly (130) is caught and fixed is formed on the inner circumference of the installation part (25) on the side connected to the coupling part (21). Then, the investigation lens (37), spacer ring (33), array lens (31) and fastening ring (39) are sequentially installed in the installation part (25) through the contact part (29) of the tip (120a). At this time, the investigation lens (37) is caught and fixed on the catch (28).

[0075] Since the tip (120a) according to the second embodiment is also equipped with an array lens (31), the same effect as that of the tip (20a in FIG. 5) according to the first embodiment described above can be expected.

[0076] Meanwhile, the embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings are merely specific examples to aid understanding and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications based on the technical concepts of the present invention are possible in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0077] [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 10: Body 11: Input terminal

[0079] 12: First lens 13: Second lens

[0080] 14: Third lens 15: Fourth lens

[0081] 16: Connector 17: Bearing

[0082] 19: Output terminal 20a, 20b: Tip

[0083] 21: Joint 23: O-ring

[0084] 25: Installation part 27,28: Hook

[0085] 29: Contact part 30, 130: Array lens assembly

[0086] 31: Array lens 33: Spacer ring

[0087] 35: Fixed jaw 37: Investigation lens

[0088] 39: Fastening ring 40: Optical cable

[0089] 100: Laser Handpiece

Claims

1. A main body that inputs a single spot laser beam to the input terminal, adjusts the spot size of the input laser beam, and outputs it to the output terminal; and A tip having an array lens assembly that is detachably installed on the output terminal of the main body and has an array lens that divides a single spot of a laser beam output to the output terminal into a plurality of spots and outputs them; Laser handpiece for skin treatment including.

2. In paragraph 1, the tip is A tubular joint formed in a tubular shape at one end and detachably connected to the output terminal; An installation part that is connected to the above-mentioned joint and extends in a tubular shape, and in which the array lens assembly is installed; and A contact portion formed at the other end, connected to the installation portion and extending, and in contact with the skin of the treatment target; A laser handpiece for skin treatment, characterized by including:

3. In paragraph 2, The above installation part has a catch formed on the inner perimeter of the boundary connected to the above contact part, The above array lens assembly, The array lens is inserted into the interior of the joint through one end of the tip and then is fixed by being caught on the catch; A spacer ring mounted on the above array lens; An irradiation lens mounted on the spacer ring and focusing a laser beam output from the output terminal of the main body onto the array lens; and A fastening ring that is inserted into the interior of the coupling portion through one end of the tip and then coupled to the inside of the installation portion to fix the array lens, the spacer ring, and the investigation lens to the inside of the installation portion; A laser handpiece for skin treatment, characterized by including:

4. In paragraph 3, A laser handpiece for skin treatment, characterized in that the spacer ring has a fixing jaw formed on the inner side of each end into which a portion of the array lens and the investigation lens are inserted and fixed.

5. In the first paragraph, the input terminal of the main body, A connector to which an optical cable providing a laser beam of the single spot is detachably coupled; and A bearing installed on the outer surface of the connector in the axial direction of the main body, and enabling the connector to rotate in the axial direction of the main body to which the optical cable is coupled; A laser handpiece for skin treatment, characterized by including:

6. In paragraph 1, A laser handpiece for skin treatment, characterized in that the main body outputs a laser beam having a spot size of 2 mm to 20 mm in diameter.

7. In paragraph 6, A laser handpiece for skin treatment, characterized in that a single spot laser beam output from the above main body is divided into 150 to 300 spots while passing through the array lens.

8. In paragraph 1, The above laser handpiece for skin treatment A tip having the above array lens assembly is installed at the output terminal of the main body to use a fractional type that divides a single spot laser beam with a spot size adjusted into multiple spots and outputs the laser beam, or A laser handpiece for skin treatment characterized in that a tip without the above array lens assembly is installed on the output terminal of the main body and is used as a zoom type that outputs a single spot laser beam with a spot size adjusted to the output terminal of the main body.

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