JP2003164467A - Medical scanning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To scan laser beams in a simple constitution using pressurized air. <P>SOLUTION: This medical scanning device is provided with a polygon mirror 4 equally providing a plurality of plane mirrors on a circumference and having a windmill coaxially and integrally fixed therewith, air feed means feeding the pressurized air to the windmill 6 and rotating the polygon mirror 4 four times, and laser beam irradiation means irradiating the mirror surface of the polygon mirror 4 with the laser beam 11. The polygon mirror 4 is rotated using the pressurized air as a motive force and the laser beams reflected by the plane mirrors are scanned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dental treatment handpiece using a laser beam, and more particularly to a scanning device for a dental handpiece which irradiates a wide range of an affected area with laser light in dental treatment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In dentistry, treatments such as periodontal disease, alveolar pyorrhea, etc., which evaporate soft tissues with laser light, have been conventionally performed. And in these treatments, it is necessary to irradiate a wide area of the affected area with laser light, but at the present time, since a device for dental treatment that automatically moves the laser light back and forth, left and right, has not been developed, the dentist has a hand. I had to manually move the pieces back and forth and left and right.

On the other hand, in the general industrial field, a device for irradiating a laser beam while automatically scanning a wide range has been developed. For example, those using a polygon mirror or a galvano scanner are known, examples of using the polygon mirror include a laser printer, a scanner, and a bar code reader, and examples of using the galvano scanner include a laser marker and a stereolithography apparatus. , Laser processing machines, or excimer lasers for ophthalmic treatment as medical applications.

[0004]

However, in the conventional method of irradiating the handpiece while moving the handpiece in dentistry, energy concentration at one point does not occur, so that the patient can be treated painlessly. Although there is an advantage, the irradiation spot of the laser beam is as small as about 0.4 mm, and in order to irradiate this irradiation spot over a wide area of the affected area, the handpiece must be continuously moved forward, backward, leftward and rightward many times. This is a device that can automatically irradiate a wide range of the affected area with laser light at the dental treatment site, because it requires a great deal of labor and does not require hands to irradiate at a constant speed without stopping. Was requested.

However, even if an attempt is made to use a laser beam scanning device already used in the other industrial fields for dentistry, in the case of a device using a polygon mirror, a variable speed for driving the polygon mirror is used. There is a problem in using it in the mouth where the motor is large and narrow,
In the case of a device using a galvano motor, due to the configuration of the drive unit and the electric circuit with high-density winding, this is also problematic in use in a narrow oral cavity due to its size. Has a problem that it is not suitable for the oral cavity containing a lot of water because of the wiring.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive medical scanning device capable of scanning a laser beam using pressurized air.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a medical scanning device according to the present invention is claimed.
Is a polygon mirror in which a plurality of plane mirrors are equidistantly arranged on the circumference and a wind turbine is integrally fixed coaxially, and air supply means for supplying pressurized air to the wind turbine to rotate the polygon mirror, A laser beam irradiating means for irradiating the mirror surface of the polygon mirror with a laser beam, and scanning the laser beam reflected by the plane mirror by rotating the polygon mirror through the windmill by using pressurized air as a driving force. It is characterized by.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medical scanning apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of plane mirrors have different angles with respect to the rotational axis directions.

A third aspect of the present invention is the medical scanning device according to the first aspect, further comprising a lock mechanism for temporarily fixing the scanning of the laser light.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flat mirror which swings against the bias of the elastic body by pressing one surface with the elastic body and pressurizing the other surface with intermittent pressurized air. A pressurized air supply means for intermittently supplying pressurized air to the plane mirror,
Laser light irradiating means for irradiating the plane mirror with a laser beam, wherein the plane mirror is oscillated with intermittent pressurized air to scan the laser beam reflected by the plane mirror. Is.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, pressurized air is used as a power source, and the laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror is continuously scanned while rotating the windmill and the polygon mirror integrally, which is inexpensive. It is possible to provide a medical scanning device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by gradually changing the angle between each of the plurality of plane mirrors of the polygon mirror and the rotation axis direction, the reflected light reflected by each plane mirror as the polygon mirror rotates. The direction continuously changes from front to back and to the left and right, and it becomes possible to irradiate the laser light evenly over a wide area of the affected area.

According to the third aspect, the rotation of the polygon mirror is temporarily fixed by the lock mechanism, so that the laser light reflected on the mirror surface is fixed in a fixed direction as in the conventional handpiece, so that it can be manually operated. It is possible to intensively irradiate a specific area of the affected area. Further, by opening the lock mechanism, the polygon mirror rotates and the laser light is scanned, so that it is possible to irradiate a wide area of the affected area. This allows one device to be used as either a fixed type or a scanning type.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the structure is such that the laser light reflected by the plane mirror is continuously scanned while the plane mirror is oscillated by using intermittent pressurized air as a power source. It becomes possible to provide a scanning device.

When the supply of the pressurized air is stopped, the flat mirror is pressed to one side by the urging force of the elastic body to stop the swing, and the laser light reflected on the mirror surface is generated as in the conventional handpiece. It is fixed in a fixed direction, and it becomes possible to intensively irradiate a specific area of the affected area by manual operation. This is 1
It is possible to use either fixed type or scanning type with one device.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each of the embodiments, common components are designated by common reference numerals and their description is omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a polygon mirror type medical scanning device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the emission port of FIG. 3, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the polygon mirror to which the wind turbine is fixed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the medical scanning device 1 according to the present embodiment has a windmill 6 that rotates in the head portion 3 at the tip of the handpiece 2 with pressurized air, and a polygon that rotates integrally with the windmill 6. A mirror 4 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the polygon mirror 4 is provided with eight plane mirrors 5 arranged on the circumference in parallel with the axis and equidistantly, and the wind turbine 6 is integrally fixed to the coaxial side surface. And is configured to be rotatable around the shaft 7.

The shape of the wind turbine 6 in the present embodiment is such that the pressure receiving surface 6a is formed in a sawtooth shape, but it is not limited to this and may be formed in a gear wheel shape or other shapes.

The pressure air supply means for rotating the polygon mirror 4 includes, as shown in FIG. 1, an air compressor 8, a pressure air flow rate adjusting valve 9 and an air flow path 10 connected to the air compressor 8. The compressed air supplied from the air compressor 8 is adjusted to an appropriate flow rate by the flow rate control valve 9, and then passes through the air flow path 10 to the pressure receiving surface 6a of the wind turbine 6 from the injection port 10a at the tip (FIG. 3). ) Is injected toward.

On the other hand, the laser light irradiating means for treating the affected area is provided with the handpiece 2 after the laser light 11 supplied from the light source section (not shown) is condensed by the condenser lens (not shown).
The laser light projected through the inside to the plane mirror 5 of the polygon mirror 4 and reflected by the plane mirror 5 is irradiated from the emission port 17 to the affected area 18.

The operation of the medical scanning device 1 having this structure is that the pressure air supplied from the air compressor 8 is adjusted by the flow rate adjusting valve 9 to a flow rate at which the polygon mirror 4 rotates at an appropriate rotational speed, It is injected toward the wind turbine 6 from the injection port 10a of the flow path 10. As a result, the polygon mirror 4 rotates integrally via the windmill 6.

On the other hand, the laser beam 11 is supplied from a light source section (not shown) and is condensed by a condenser lens so that the energy density is increased and the plane mirror 5 of the polygon mirror 4 is made.
Projected on.

In this way, by rotating the windmill 6 and the polygon mirror 4 integrally with the pressurized air, the angle of the plane mirror 5 changes continuously with the rotation, and the laser beam 11 reflected by the plane mirror 5 is changed. Scan continuously.

According to the present embodiment, the polygon mirror 4
Since the wind turbine 6 is integrally fixed to the polygon mirror 4, the polygon mirror 4 can be rotated integrally via the wind turbine 6 that is rotated by the pressurized air.
It is possible to irradiate a wide range of the affected area 18 with the laser light 11 reflected by the laser beam scanning automatically and continuously. Further, the scanning speed can be adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of air with the flow rate adjusting valve 9.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of a polygon mirror.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an angle formed by the plane mirror of the polygon mirror and the axis.

In the present embodiment, instead of the plurality of plane mirrors 5 of the polygon mirror 4 in the first embodiment being provided in parallel to the rotation axis 7, the angles of each of the plurality of plane mirrors 5 with respect to the rotation axis 7 are changed. Is different from that of Embodiment 1, and the other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The plurality of plane mirrors 5a, 5b, 5 shown in FIG.
Angles formed by c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, and 5h with the rotating shaft 7, for example, 0 degree, 1 degree, 2 degrees, 3 degrees, 4 degrees in the order of arrangement on the circumference as shown in FIG. .. is gradually changed to scan the laser light reflected by the respective plane mirrors 5 in accordance with the rotation of the polygon mirror 4 in a wide range in front, back, left and right.

According to this embodiment, the first embodiment
In addition to the above function, it becomes possible to irradiate the reflected light while automatically scanning the wide area in the front, rear, left and right.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 6 and 7 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a top view showing a polygon mirror locking device, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the same side surface.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the medical scanning device 1 is provided with a lock mechanism for temporarily fixing the rotation of the polygon mirror 4, and other configurations are the same. This is similar to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the locking mechanism 12
Of the polygon mirror 4 has a stop pin 13 projecting at a position away from the axis of the surface of the polygon mirror 4 on the side opposite to the wind turbine mounting side, while it is rotatably locked via a shaft 14 on the case 3a side of the head section 3. A lever 15 is provided.

In the lock mechanism 12 of this construction, when the lock lever 15 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the latching end 16 thereof abuts the side surface of the stop pin 13 so that the polygon mirror 4 cannot be rotated. By rotating in the direction of arrow B, the locking end 16 of the lock lever 15 is released from the side surface of the pin 13 and the lock is released, so that the polygon mirror 4 can rotate freely.

The lock mechanism 12 has been described as an example of the lever type, but the lock mechanism 12 is not limited to the lever type, and may be of a push button type, a screw type, a friction type, or a pinching type. The lock mechanism 12 is preferably fixed at a position where reflected light is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the handpiece.

According to the present embodiment, the polygon mirror 4
By temporarily fixing the rotation of the laser light by the lock mechanism 12, the scanning of the reflected laser light 11 is stopped, and it becomes possible to intensively irradiate the specific range of the affected area with the reflected light in a certain direction. . Further, by opening the lock mechanism 12, the polygon mirror 4 can be freely rotated and the laser beam can be scanned, so that it is possible to irradiate the wide area of the affected area while scanning the laser beam.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of an oscillating medical scanning device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the medical scanning device 21 according to the present embodiment is provided with one swing-type plane mirror 22 swingable by pressurized air in the head portion 3 at the tip of the handpiece 2. It has been done.

The plane mirror 22 is formed by bending a part of the upper part to the front side, the swing shaft 23 is provided at the substantially central part of the back surface, and the spring 2 as an elastic member is provided on the back surface at the lower end part.
4 is elastically mounted, and the injection port 28a of the pressurized air is in contact with the back surface of the bent portion 25 so as to face the back surface. As a result, the range in which the plane mirror 22 swings about the swing shaft 23 is limited within the range of expansion and contraction of the spring.

The means for supplying pressurized air comprises an air compressor 8, a valve device 26, a control device 27 for controlling the valve device 26, and an air passage 28, and the control device 27 intermittently supplies the pressurized air. The valve device 26 is controlled so as to flow, and the pressurized air is intermittently injected from the injection port 28a at the tip of the air flow path 28.

On the other hand, the laser beam irradiating means for treating the affected area 18 is a plane mirror passing through the inside of the handpiece 2 after the laser light 11 supplied from a light source section (not shown) is condensed by a condenser lens (not shown). It is configured to be projected on the mirror surface of 22.

The medical scanning device 21 of this configuration
The pressure air supplied from the air compressor 8 is controlled by the control device 27 to be an intermittent flow, and
Ejection is intermittently made from 8a facing the back surface of the bent portion 25 of the plane mirror 22. As a result, the plane mirror 22 is intermittently pressed against the bias of the spring 24, and the swing is repeated.

On the other hand, the laser beam 11 supplied from the light source section
Is condensed by a condenser lens to increase the energy density, and then projected onto the mirror surface of the plane mirror 22. The laser beam 11 projected on the mirror surface changes its angle as the plane mirror 22 swings, so that the reflected light is continuously scanned. The speed of this scanning can be adjusted by changing the number of interruptions of the air flow by the control device 27.

According to the present embodiment, the plane mirror 22 is swung by the pressurized air about the swing shaft 23 in the substantially central portion of the back surface, so that the laser beam 1 projected on the mirror surface of the plane mirror 22.
1 automatically and continuously scans, and it becomes possible to irradiate a wide range of the affected area 18. The scanning speed can be adjusted by controlling the valve device 26 by the control device 27 depending on the number of intermittent pressurization of the pressurized air.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of an oscillating medical scanning device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, a part of the plane mirror 22 above is bent to the front side instead of being bent to the front side in the fourth embodiment, and the swing shaft 23 is further formed.
Is provided at the lower end instead of being provided at the center of the back part of the plane mirror, and other configurations are the same as those in the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the medical scanning device 31 according to the present embodiment, one swing-type plane mirror 33 provided in the head portion 3 at the tip of the handpiece 2 has a part above it. It is bent on the back side and has a swing shaft 3 at the lower end.
4 is provided, the spring 24 is elastically provided as an elastic member on the back side of the bent portion 33, and further, the injection port 28a of the compressed air is abutted so as to face the front surface of the plane mirror 32.
The range of swinging around the second swing shaft 34 is limited within the range of expansion and contraction of the spring.

According to the present embodiment, the laser light projected on the mirror surface of the plane mirror 32 is automatically arranged by oscillating with the pressurized air around the swing axis of the lower end of the plane mirror 32. It is possible to irradiate a wide area of the affected area by scanning the surface continuously and continuously.

In the medical scanning devices 21 and 31 of the fourth and fifth embodiments, the flat mirrors 22 and 32 are pressed by springs when the supply of pressurized air is stopped, and their positions are fixed at the swing ends. As a result, the scanning is stopped and it becomes possible to perform concentrated irradiation on the affected area by a manual operation similar to the conventional fixed type.

In the first to fifth embodiments, the pressurized air, which is the power source for scanning the laser light, has been conventionally used in the air turbine and is specially supplied for the present invention. It does not require a source.

[0051]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the pressurized laser is used as the power source, the polygon mirror integrated with the windmill is rotated, and the laser light reflected by the polygon mirror is continuously supplied. With a simple structure for scanning, it is possible to provide an inexpensive medical scanning device.

Further, by changing the angle formed by the rotation axis direction of each of the plurality of plane mirrors provided on the circumference of the polygon mirror, the reflected light can be continuously changed in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. It is possible to irradiate the laser light evenly over a wide area. Further, the scanning speed can be adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of the pressurized air by the control device.

Further, by fixing the rotation of the polygon mirror with a lock mechanism, the scanning can be stopped and the polygon mirror can be used in the same manner as the conventional fixed type. This makes it possible to select and use either the fixed type or the scanning type with one device.

According to claim 4 of the present invention, a simple structure is adopted in which the laser light reflected by the plane mirror is continuously scanned while the plane mirror is oscillated by using pressurized air as a power source. It is possible to provide a medical scanning device.

Further, the scanning speed can be adjusted by controlling the flow rate adjusting valve by the control device to adjust the number of intermittent pressurizations of the pressurized air.

As described above, it becomes possible to irradiate a wide range of the affected area evenly while automatically and continuously scanning the laser light by using the pressurized air, and by moving it by hand like a conventional handpiece, the affected area can be operated. The problems of labor and skill of irradiating a laser beam on the inside can be solved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a polygon mirror type medical scanning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing an exit of the reflected light.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a polygon mirror to which a wind turbine is fixed.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a polygon mirror according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an angle formed by each plane mirror of a polygon mirror with respect to an axis.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing a polygon mirror locking device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the same side surface.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of an oscillating medical scanning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a swing-type medical scanning device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,21,31 Medical scanning device 2 handpiece 3 head 4 polygon mirror 5,22,32 plane mirror 6 windmills 7,14 axis 8 air compressor 9 Flow control valve 10 air flow paths 11 laser light 12 Lock mechanism 13 stop pins 15 Lock lever 16 hanging end 17 Exit 18 affected area 23 Swing axis 24 spring 25,33 Bent section 26 valve device 27 Control device 28 Air flow path

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 6, 2001 (2001.12.
6)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical handpiece using laser light, and more particularly to a medical handpiece scanning device for irradiating a wide range of an affected area with laser light in dental treatment.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G02B 26/10 102 A61B 17/36 350 F term (reference) 2H045 AA04 AA52 AA56 4C026 AA01 DD02 DD05 FF22 FF33 FF34 FF43 HH02 HH05 HH06 4C052 AA15 AA20 BB11 CC02 CC11 CC15 CC19 CC21 4C082 RA07 RE22 RE24 RE35 RE43 RG02 RG05 RL02 RL05 RL06 RL07

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A polygon mirror in which a plurality of plane mirrors are equidistantly arranged on the circumference and a windmill is integrally fixed coaxially, and air supply means for supplying pressurized air to the windmill to rotate the polygon mirror. And a laser light irradiating means for irradiating the mirror surface of the polygon mirror with a laser beam. By rotating the polygon mirror through the wind turbine with pressurized air as a driving force, a laser beam reflected by a plane mirror is generated. A medical scanning device characterized by scanning. 2. The medical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the angles formed by the rotation axis directions of the plurality of plane mirrors are different from each other. 3. A lock mechanism for temporarily fixing the scanning of the laser light is provided.
The described medical scanning device. 4. A plane mirror that oscillates against the bias of the elastic body by pressing one surface with an elastic body and pressurizing the other surface with intermittent pressurized air, and the plane mirror. And a laser beam irradiating unit for irradiating the mirror surface of the plane mirror with laser light. The plane mirror is oscillated by intermittently pressurized air. A scanning device for medical use characterized by scanning laser light reflected by a plane mirror by doing so.