DE7810089U1 - Endoscope for diagnosis and therapy using a laser - Google Patents

Description

Applicant: Richard Wolf GmbH, Pforzheimer Str. 22, 7134 Knittlingen

Endoscope for diagnosis and therapy using a laser

The innovation relates to an endoscope for diagnosis and therapy by means of a laser, in particular a CO ₂ laser, the radiation of which is introduced into the instrument on the proximal side and guided through the instrument shaft by deflection in the longitudinal direction in order to exit at the distal end directed at the respective treatment field.

As is well known, lasers are also used for diagnostic and therapeutic or surgical purposes in connection with endoscopes sentence. This serves. the endoscope is essentially used to target the radiation generated by the closed laser and, if possible, also $

»Under constant observation to the intended treatment site for i

transport.

In the case of endoscopic use of laser light, it should be noted that relatively little space can be made available for a generous guidance of the laser beam, because of the anatomical conditions and finally, the handiness of the instrument to be demanded set limits in the dimensioning. These conditions

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can, up to now, only be fulfilled with difficulty or hardly, since one regularly had to work with long focal lengths. For example, throws also in the one shown and described in DE-OS 2,511,248 CO "laser system focuses the laser beam over a long focal length before deflected into the shaft tube by reflection and contact-free is guided to the distal end of the shaft tube.

Such systems naturally have the disadvantage that the necessary long focal length focusing of the at the output of the laser is relatively thick laser beam requires the greatest possible structural accuracy and optimal adjustment of the optical elements, which in practice can only be made possible with great effort. In addition, because the laser beam is non-contacting thanks to the The shaft tube is to be transported, since otherwise radiation losses and inaccuracies would occur, among other things, and because the laser beam still has a relatively large diameter in spite of the long focal length focussing, this is a guarantee of the non-contact laser beam transport according to the shaft tube must give large cross-section and have to mount the laser at a correspondingly large distance from the endoscope with the The result is that the endoscope becomes unwieldy because of the size required for it and, for some endoscopic interventions, at all is not to be used.

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These disadvantages are avoided in an endoscope of the type mentioned after an innovation in that the laser beam In the shaft there is an optical reversal system with lenses made of crystals that allow laser light to pass through, such as germanium * or zinc selenide crystals, runs through and is focused distally on the treatment field or that the laser beam prefocused as optimally as possible and is guided via a waveguide to the distal end of the instrument.

The innovation thus makes use of the knowledge that one is at Use of a lens system set up for laser light or a corresponding waveguide is no longer a non-contact one Guiding the laser beam through the respective tube is instructed and the laser light with a relatively short focal length into the instrument can be mirrored, where it is then transported to the distal end of the instrument will. The only prerequisite for this is a corresponding coordination of the reversing system consisting of lenses or the waveguide on this focal length or, if one wants to start from a predetermined focal length, the adjustment of the erecting lenses to the fixed focal length.

Appropriately, for the purpose of visual representation of the from invisible laser light acted upon the treatment site and visible light from another laser into the beam path be reflected. This additional laser can be via a glass fiber or Lens system with the one traversed by the usual beam path

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Housing are in communication, so that the coming into this housing Visible laser light included in the beam path via a preferably adjustable deflection element and to the distal end of the instrument can be transported.

Some exemplary embodiments are illustrated with the aid of the accompanying drawings the innovation explained. Show it:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an endoscope according to the innovation,

FIG. 2 a longitudinal section through the distal end of the instrument on a larger scale,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the distal end of the instrument, FIG. 4 shows schematically a lens inverting system in longitudinal section, Figure 5 shows a waveguide in longitudinal section and

FIG. 6 shows the distal end of a waveguide with a focusing lens.

According to Figure 1 connects to the instrument shaft .1 in the right Angle to an extended housing 2, on the outwardly directed end of a CO ^ laser 3 is mounted. .The shaft 1 passes through a conventional endoscope optics 4 with an eyepiece funnel 5 and a connection 6 for a light guide cable (not shown).

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Using this lens, the doctor can first see the treatment area in Search for a body cavity and look at it when the laser light is subsequently used.

An inner tube 7 runs parallel to the optics 4 in the shaft 1 and serves directly as a waveguide or receives the lenses 7a of the monitor system for the reflected laser radiation. The pre-focused beam 8 coming from the laser 3 is reflected into the inner tube 7 by the deflecting element 9, the position of which can be adjusted on the proximal side using a handle 9a, allowing the beam to be adjusted and slightly changed in direction if necessary.

The lens optics made up, for example, of germanium or zinc selenide crystal lenses 7a and shown schematically in FIG can be provided distally with a laser light transmitting plate 10 as a closure element which will prevent contamination penetrate into the pipe 7.

Also in the case of the one shown in FIG. 5 and as a waveguide or waveguide Serving tube 7 can be provided for the same purposes, a distal closure element, so for example a corresponding one End plate or the distal lens shown in Figure 6 11. Otherwise, the lens 7b is used by the end

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steering element 9 deflected laser beam 8 optimally and without loss to let enter the waveguide 7.

The distal focusing lens 11, which is also used in a lens erecting system could be used as a distal closure element according to Figure 4, can expediently controlled from the proximal direction | are / in order to use the exiting laser beam for certain treatment | to be able to paint over finely. The no further showed control devices for this focusing lens can for example consist of Bowden cables that engage a lens mount, are guided through the instrument to the proximal end and be adjusted by means of a handle there.

i The lens erecting system 7a that forms the waveguide - § According to FIG be surrounded by two lateral bulges, so that between the two tubes 7 and 12 one with a proximal gas inlet nozzle 13 communicating channel is formed, the cross-section of which is formed essentially by the bulges mentioned in the Tube 12 surrounding channel extensions 14, 15 determined iit. if the distal end of the tube 12 is appropriately flanged or provided with bends, can be introduced into the nozzle 13 and to the distal flowing gas are deflected over the respective closing element 10, 11 and this is constantly flushed free so that no disruptive dirt particles can settle on the closing element.

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This principle of a permanent or carried out only when necessary Irrigation is known in endoscope technology, it but also brings in connection with laser endoscopy considerable advantages in the manner described.

That reaching the body cavity via the channel 14, 15 and there Accumulated gas flows over between the shaft 1, the optics and the tube 12 located cavity 1a and finally further over the nozzle 17 to the outside.

Precautions could also be taken in the case of a waveguide 7 according to FIG. 5 Gege * - contaminants hit by entering the proximal end of the waveguide a gas flow is introduced which will prevent dirt deposits * inside the waveguide.

The radiation of the CO ₂ laser 3 is not visible to the human eye, so that the physician, in general, not be able vr ± 7: d _i place to detect solely via the optics 4 exactly where the Laserstrah] in the range of the treatment area. In order to enable an exact observation and representation of the treatment site acted upon by the invisible laser light, visible laser light is additionally reflected into the beam path of the CO ₂ laser 3 via the deflection element 16.

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For this purpose, a HeNe laser 18 is on the side of the housing 2 a fiber optic or lens system 19 so connected that meanwhile visible light radiation hits the deflection element 16 and together with the invisible radiation of the laser 3 via the further deflection element 9 into the waveguide or the erecting lenses 7a receiving tube can get.

The material of the deflection element 16 must have the property that on the one hand it transmits the invisible radiation of the laser 3 and on the other hand it reflects the visible radiation of the laser 18. An element consisting of germanium crystals, for example, fulfills these conditions.

While the optical lenses 7a, the distal focusing lens 11 and also the end plate 10 must in principle allow the invisible light radiation of the laser 3 to pass through, for example made of germanium or Zinc selenide crystals could exist, would be with additional application of visible laser light for observation purposes on it it must be ensured that the optical components mentioned must allow both visible and invisible laser radiation to pass through. So could in such cases the deflection element 16 is made of germanium, the lenses 7a, 11 and the end plate 10 but only made of zinc selenide or consist of a different material that transmits both types of radiation.

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When working with a waveguide or waveguide 7 for the laser radiation, the laser light should understandably be optimally pre-focused, which can be achieved with the lens 7b located between the waveguide 7 and the deflecting element S. The waveguide 7 would then have to be designed in such a way that its diameter is significantly larger than the wavelength of the radiation to be transported. In addition, the inner wall of the waveguide 7 should be well polished so that as few losses as possible occur in the event of radiation reflections occurring.

Finally, the following should be pointed out. Instead of COp lasers 3 or HeNe lasers 18 could also be used with other types of lasers, if they are for the particular application are suitable. In addition to the possibility of adjusting or precisely aligning the laser radiation 8 via the adjustable deflection element 9 can, in addition, the deflection element 16 could be the same; Be adjustable for purposes, namely about a pivot axis 16a, in the extension of which is a handle guided to the outside through the wall of the housing 2.

Claims (5)

ti claims for protection 1. ^ / Endoscope for diagnosis and therapy by means of a laser, in particular a CO ₂ laser, the radiation of which is introduced into the instrument on the proximal side and guided through the instrument shaft by deflection in the longitudinal direction in order to emerge at the distal end directed at the respective treatment field, characterized in that that the laser beam (8) passes through an optical reversing system located in the shaft (1) with lenses (7a) made of crystals that allow laser light to pass through, such as germanium or zinc selenide crystals and is focused on the treatment area or that the laser beam is optimally pre-focused and over a waveguide (7) is guided to the distal end of the instrument. 2. Endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that for the optical ** representation of the treatment site acted upon by the invisible laser light, visible light from a further laser (18) _; for example a HeNe laser, is reflected into the beam path via a glass fiber or lens system (19), specifically by means of a preferably adjustable deflection element (16). 7810089 07/13/78 ar 3. Endoscope after. Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the Lens inverting system (7a) or the waveguide (7) with a Plate (10) or lens (11) as distal. End element provided and that the lens can be adjusted from the proximal point in order to change the direction of the focusing. 4. Endoscope according to one or more of claims 1 to 3 3, characterized characterized in that the tube (7) which forms the waveguide or which accommodates the lens inverting system (7a) as an inner tube of a Outer tube (12) is surrounded that between the two tubes with a a proximal gas inlet nozzle (13) connected and open on the distal side channel (14, 5) is formed and that the gas introduced into the Kane 'via the distal closure element (10,11) is diverted for the purpose of flushing it free. 5. Endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the waveguide (7) after pre-focusing of the laser beam (8) is consistently free of optical systems and can be charged with a gas stream to be introduced proximally in order to remove dirt deposits to prevent inside the waveguide » 7810089 07/13/78