COMPACT LASER DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR MEDICAL USE

The present invention relates to a compact laser device, particularly for medical use, namely surgical, therapeutic and dental use.

As is known, the laser is used more and more widely in the medical and dental field, where it allows to treat both disorders of hard tissues and disorders of soft tissues.

In particular, the dental laser is used for treating cavities, for desensitizing and for tooth whitening, for periodontology, endodontics and small oral surgery, and the like.

A conventional laser is essentially constituted by a main unit and by one or more handpieces provided with a tip that emits the laser beam and allows to physically perform the procedures.

The main unit generally constitutes the core of a conventional laser and comprises the laser source, which is constituted substantially by an active component and by a suitable driving circuit. The main unit also comprises the entire control apparatus, typically formed by a display and a control panel, which controls the operation of the entire apparatus.

The handpiece is designed exclusively to support the tip and the optical fiber that emit the laser beam so that they can follow the movements of the hand of the operator.

Conventional devices generally constitute independent units, in which the main unit remains visible, rested on a table or mounted on a trolley. In other cases, the main unit is concealed in a compartment formed within the dental unit, while the handpiece is rested on the tool tray.

The conventional laser devices are susceptible of improvements.

The conventional devices are in fact generally bulky and heavy and therefore in some situations are uncomfortable and scarcely functional. Also, conventional laser devices are particularly disadvantageous in case of breakage, especially when their main unit is inserted in the protective enclosure of the dental unit. Such situation in fact forces the user to disassemble the entire apparatus, involving also parts that would not require intervention.

The aim of the invention is to solve the problems described above, providing a compact laser device, particularly for medical use, that can be connected to a dental unit or to a mobile unit, using minimal operating and accommodation conditions, i.e., drawing from these last exclusively the electrical power supply and optionally a cooling fluid, preferably in the gaseous state.

Within the scope of this aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide a compact laser device that can be removed easily and, in case of breakage, can be replaced completely.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact laser device that has high portability, with a "plug and play" connection system, being adaptable to different operating conditions without any modification. A further object of the invention is to provide a compact laser device that is practical, lightweight and compact, allowing the user greater freedom and comfort in movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact laser device which allows to treat both hard tissue condition and soft tissue condition.

This aim, as well as the mentioned objects and others that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a compact laser device, particularly for medical use, comprising a grippable enclosure connected to an interchangeable tip that emits a working laser beam, said tip being associated with a light transmission means which is at least partly contained within said grippable enclosure, said device being characterized in that it comprises at least one first working laser source that generates and dispenses said working laser beam, said first working laser source being connected to said light transmission means and being integrated within said grippable enclosure, said compact laser device being connectable to a dental unit or to a mobile unit, drawing electric power from said dental unit or from said mobile unit.

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a compact laser device according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a compact laser device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partially sectional perspective view of the compact laser device of the preceding figure; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the compact laser device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a compact laser device according to a further aspect of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a dental unit equipped with a compact laser device according to the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a compact laser device, particularly for medical use, is generally designated by the reference numeral 1.

The compact laser device 1 comprises a grippable enclosure 2, which constitutes a handpiece, which is constituted by two half-shells 2a and 2b coupled along a diametrical plane.

An interchangeable tip 3 is detachably joined to to the grippable enclosure 2 and is preferably made of a material that can be sterilized in an autoclave.

The tip 3 is associated with light transmission means, which is at least partly contained within the grippable enclosure 2 and allows the compact laser device 1 to emit a working laser beam for therapeutic or surgical use.

In particular, the light transmission means is constituted by a first waveguide 4, which is essentially formed by a fiber optic link, or by a system of lenses, not shown in the accompanying figures.

According to the invention, the compact laser device 1 comprises at least one first working laser source 10, which generates and delivers the working laser beam. The beam is formed by light with continuous or pulsed emission, with wavelengths that range preferably from 400 to 2940 nm.

More particularly, the first working laser source 10 is connected to the first waveguide 4 and is integrated within the grippable enclosure 2. This allows to connect the compact laser device 1 to a dental unit 1000 or to a mobile unit, drawing from them only the electric power supply.

The first working laser source 10 comprises an active semiconductor component 11, constituted for example by a laser diode, which is controlled by a programmable driving circuit 12, which includes both the control electronics and the power electronics. The first working laser source 10 is equipped with a temperature adjustment means which adjusts the temperature of the active semiconductor component 11 during its operation.

The temperature adjustment means comprises a heat sink 13, with a large heat exchange surface, which is placed in contact with the active semiconductor component 11.

According to a further embodiment, not shown in the accompanying figures, the first working laser source 10 can cooperate with other working laser sources which are substantially similar and are included in the compact laser device 1.

The operation of the laser sources and of the entire compact laser device 1 is regulated by a control means, which includes a display 14 and a control panel 15.

The display 14 constitutes the user interface, while the control panel 15 allows to access all the functions of the compact laser device 1 by virtue of a series of buttons that allow to interact with the software.

The software is constituted by an integrated system of programs, which allows to use the preset treatments and to control all the operating parameters of the compact laser device 1 , allowing the user to verify their status at any time.

According to a further embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, in which the compact laser device is generally designated by the reference numeral 101 , the light transmission means is divided into two portions. The light transmission means comprises a fixed portion, which conveys the working laser beam from the first working laser source 10 to the internal limit of the grippable enclosure 2, and a removable portion, which emits the working laser beam externally after focusing it.

The fixed portion comprises the first waveguide 4, i.e., it is formed by a fiber-optic link or by a system of lenses arranged inside the grippable enclosure 2. The removable portion comprises a second waveguide 104, which is formed by a single-use link made of optical fiber, which is accommodated in the tip 3 and is connected to the waveguide 4 by means of an optical coupler 105.

In this second embodiment, the heat sink 13 interacts with a cooling circuit 114, which allows to further reduce the temperature of the active semiconductor component 11 , further improving the performance of the compact laser device 101. The cooling circuit 114 is supplied with a cooling fluid constituted for example by chilled air or water.

The cooling fluid strikes the exchange surface of the heat sink 13 and is drawn from the dental unit 1000 or from the mobile unit by means of a quick-disengagement connector 115, by virtue of which the electrical wiring also is provided.

The compact laser device 101 comprises the first working laser source 10, and optionally other working laser sources that are substantially similar to it; the compact laser device 101 is also provided with a pointing laser source 120, which produces a pointing laser beam designed to guide the operator during use and to locate the treatments precisely.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the elements that correspond to the elements that have already been described with reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 have been designated by the same reference numerals.

In order to operate, the compact laser device according to the invention is connected to a dental unit 1000, or to a mobile unit, with a "plug and play" connection system. The connection is designed to draw exclusively the electric power supply and optionally the cooling fluid from the supports, by means of a suitable wiring cable 1002.

Since the electric power supply and the cooling fluid are typically supplied by a dental unit 1000, or by a mobile unit, also to other tools, the compact laser device according to the invention can in practice be considered as a tool that is added to the ones that are already present in the tool tray 1001. However, it uses exclusively the minimum operating and accommodation conditions.

In practice it has been found that the compact laser device, particularly for medical use, according to the invention, fully achieves the intended aim, since it can be connected to a dental unit, or to a mobile unit, using minimal operating and accommodation conditions. The device in fact draws exclusively the electric power supply and a cooling fluid from the respective support.

Also, the compact laser device according to the invention is easily removable and, in case of breakage, can be replaced completely. It has high portability, with a "plug and play" connection system, and is adaptable to different operating conditions without any modification.

The compact laser device according to the invention is practical, lightweight and occupies a reduced space, allowing the user greater freedom and comfort in movements and, by virtue of its high power density, allows to treat both hard tissue disorders and soft tissue disorders.

This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. VI2008A000254, filed on October 31, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.