Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy device and medical diagnostic device using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017196444-A1
Application number	US-201515314566-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	May 30, 2014
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A laser-induced breakdown spectroscope according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a laser head which emits a laser beam; a focusing lens which focuses the laser beam on a target specimen; a plasma reactor unit which amplifies first plasma, which is generated on the target specimen positioned at a focal point of the laser beam passing through the focusing lens, by controlling electron density and electron energy of the first plasma; a collection lens which focuses second plasma amplified by the plasma reactor unit; and a spectrophotometer which analyzes the second plasma focused by the collection lens.

First claim

1 . A laser-induced breakdown spectroscope comprising:
a laser head which emits a laser beam; a focusing lens which focuses the laser beam on a target specimen; a plasma reactor unit which amplifies a first plasma, which is generated on the target specimen positioned at a focal point of the laser beam passing through the focusing lens, by controlling electron density and electron energy of the first plasma; a collection lens which focuses a second plasma amplified by the plasma reactor unit; and a spectrophotometer which analyzes the second plasma focused by the collection lens.

2 . The laser-induced breakdown spectroscope of claim 1 , wherein:
the plasma reactor unit converts the first plasma into the second plasma through a dielectric barrier discharge.

3 . The laser-induced breakdown spectroscope of claim 2 , wherein:
the plasma reactor unit includes: a housing which is disposed on the target specimen and made of a dielectric substance; and a pair of first electrodes and a pair of second electrodes which are provided at an outer circumference of the housing, and generates the second plasma in the housing through the dielectric barrier discharge when driving voltage is applied.

4 . The laser-induced breakdown spectroscope of claim 3 , wherein:
the plasma reactor unit further includes a gas supply unit which supplies discharge gas into the housing.

5 . The laser-induced breakdown spectroscope of claim 3 , wherein:
the housing is made of quartz, and has a cylindrical shape.

6 . The laser-induced breakdown spectroscope of claim 3 , wherein:
the housing is installed on a specimen support unit which supports the target specimen, and the housing accommodates the target specimen.

7 . A medical diagnostic device comprising:
a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy unit which includes a laser guide bundle that is connected to a laser head so as to emit a laser beam to a diagnosis target, and a spectroscopy guide bundle that is connected to a spectrophotometer so as to receive a plasma signal generated from the diagnosis target; and a probe which is provided with the laser guide bundle and the spectroscopy guide bundle, and disposed to approach the diagnosis target.

8 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the laser guide bundle includes: a first optical fiber which is connected to the laser head; and a focusing lens which is disposed on the probe at the front of the first optical fiber so as to focus the laser beam, which is transmitted to the first optical fiber, on the diagnosis target.

9 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the spectroscopy guide bundle includes: a second optical fiber which is connected to the spectrophotometer; and a collection lens which is disposed on the probe at the front of the second optical fiber so as to receive the plasma signal generated from the diagnosis target, and send the plasma signal to the second optical fiber.

10 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the focusing lens and the collection lens are disposed to be coplanar with each other at an end portion of the probe.

11 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the laser beam is a nanosecond pulse laser beam or a femtosecond pulse laser beam.

12 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a plasma reactor unit which amplifies the plasma signal, which is generated from the diagnosis target, by controlling electron density and electron energy of the plasma signal, wherein the plasma signal amplified by the plasma reactor unit is transmitted to the spectroscopy guide bundle.

13 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
an endoscopy unit which includes an insertion tube that approaches the diagnosis target, a bending member that is provided at one side of the insertion tube and connects the insertion tube and the probe, and a controller which is provided at the other side of the insertion tube.

14 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the endoscopy unit further includes a light guide bundle, and the light guide bundle includes: a third optical fiber which is connected to a light source; and a lens which is provided on the probe at the front of the third optical fiber.

15 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the endoscopy unit further includes an image capturing unit, and the image capturing unit includes: an objective lens which is provided on the probe and captures an image of the diagnosis target; a charge-coupled device (CCD) which is disposed at the rear of the objective lens, and digitalizes the image; and an image display unit which is connected to the charge-coupled device and implements an image with the digital signal.

16 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the endoscopy unit further includes an air/water supply unit, and the air/water supply unit includes: an air/water nozzle which is provided on the probe, and sprays air or water to the diagnosis target; and an air/water pump which is connected to the air/water nozzle, and supplies air or water from the outside.

17 . The medical diagnostic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the endoscopy unit further includes an aspiration unit, and the aspiration unit includes: a removal/aspiration channel which is provided in the probe so as to remove a tissue of the diagnosis target, or disposed at the periphery of the diagnosis target; and an aspiration pump which is connected to the removal/aspiration channel, and aspirates the removed tissue or substances at the periphery of the diagnosis target.

Assignees

• Korea Mach & Materials Inst

Inventors

• Pyun Sung Hyun
• Lee Dae-Hoon
• Song Younghoon
• Kim Kwan-Tae

Classifications

• H04N23/555

  for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• A61B5/6847

  mounted on an invasive device · CPC title

• G01J3/443

  Emission spectrometry · CPC title

• G01N21/39

  using tunable lasers · CPC title