EP0067702A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Laser scalpel including a safety device
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1982-06-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A laser scalpel includes a safety device which comprises a group of detectors (20 to 28) and a signal processing system (30) which raises an alarm (31,32) and renders the scalpel safe. The group of detectors includes a grounding disconnection detector (20) which monitors the connection between the laser scalpel power source (5) and earth, and a current leakage detector (21) which monitors current leakage between an optical duct (9) for the laser beam and a casing (10). The signal processing system (30) receives signals emitted by the two detectors (21, and 22) and outputs signals to operate the alarm system (31, 32) and a laser power source breaker (13) whenever either of the two detectors (20, 21) detects a fault.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenichi Yoshida
- 👤 Junichi Hiramoto
- 👤 Shinya Takenaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; H; H02; H02H; H02H5/00; H02H5/10; H02H5/105; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00115; A61B2017/00119; A61B2018/00636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A laser scalpel including a laser (1), a laser power source (5), an optical duct (9) for a laser beam, and a casing (10) characterised in that it includes a safety device which comprises a group of detectors including a grounding disconnection detector (20) which monitors the electrical connection between the laser scalpel power source (5) and earth and a current leakage detector (21) which monitors current leakage between the optical duct (9) and the casing (10), a laser power source breaker (13), an alarm system (31,32), and a signal processing system (30) which receives signals emitted by the two detectors (20 and 21) and outputs signals to operate the alarm system (31, 32) and the laser power source breaker (13) to isolate the laser (1) from its power source (5) when the laser power source (5) is disconnected from earth or when current leakage occurs between the optical duct- (9) and the casing (10).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A laser scalpel including a laser (1), a laser power source (5), an optical duct (9) for a laser beam, and a casing (10) characterised in that it includes a safety device which comprises a group of detectors including a grounding disconnection detector (20) which monitors the electrical connection between the laser scalpel power source (5) and earth and a current leakage detector (21) which monitors current leakage between the optical duct (9) and the casing (10), a laser power source breaker (13), an alarm system (31,32), and a signal processing system (30) which receives signals emitted by the two detectors (20 and 21) and outputs signals to operate the alarm system (31, 32) and the laser power source breaker (13) to isolate the laser (1) from its power source (5) when the laser power source (5) is disconnected from earth or when current leakage occurs between the optical duct- (9) and the casing (10).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
A laser scalpel according to claim 1, which also includes a laser beam shutter (6), and in which the alarm system includes a buzzer (31) and alarm lamps (32) corresponding to each of the group of detectors, the signal processing system (30) sending output signals for operating the buzzer (31) and, at the same time, flashing the alarm lamp (32) corresponding to the fault detected, the signal processing system (30) also sending a signal to close the laser beam shutter (6).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser scalpel according to claim 2, in which the group of detectors also includes a detector (28) for detecting operational failure of the laser beam shutter (6).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser scalpel according to claim 1 or 2, in which the group of detectors also includes an overcurrent detector (22) for monitoring the laser discharge current.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A laser scalpel according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the group of detectors also includes a detector (23, 24) for detecting an abnormal gas pressure in the laser (1).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A laser scalpel according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the group of detectors also includes a detector (25) for monitoring a decrease in the amount of a flowing coolant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A laser scalpel according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the group of detectors also includes a detector (26) for detecting overheating in electrodes of the laser (1).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
A laser scalpel according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the grounding disconnection detector (20) comprises a transformer (20d) with its primary winding connection in a closed loop with an alternating current power source and a resistance (20c) and its secondary winding having one end connected to an earthing wire (12a) of an electric power cable (12) and the other end connected to the casing (10), a grounding disconnection being detected by a drop in the voltage occurring across the resistance (20c), and in which the current leakage detector (21) includes an insulator (21a) in between the casing (10) and the'optical duct (9) for the laser beam with a conductor (21b) embedded in the insulator (21a), and means (21) to detect current flow between the conductor (21b) and the casing (10).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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