Methods and apparatuses for the treatment of glaucoma using visible and infrared ultrashort laser pulses
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of creating a plurality of openings in a trabecular meshwork of a patient'"'"'s eye to conduct fluid from an anterior chamber into a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, comprising:
- ablating a first crater to a first depth in the trabecular meshwork adjacent to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal with first laser pulses without entering the Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
ablating a second crater to a second depth in the trabecular meshwork adjacent to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal with second laser pulses without entering the Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
extending the first crater with third laser pulses to a third depth and extending the second crater with fourth laser pulses to a fourth depth, wherein the first crater is extended to the third depth and the second crater is extended to the fourth depth after the second crater has been extended to the second depth, so as to penetrate an inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal, to form the plurality of openings to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and to decrease optical pathway obscuration by blood reflux from the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
wherein each of the femtosecond laser pulses comprises a wavelength of within a range from 0.4 to 2.5 microns, a fluence level to produce optical breakdown, and a pulse duration in a range from 20 femtoseconds to 300 picoseconds.
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Abstract
Transcorneal and fiberoptic laser delivery systems and methods for the treatment of eye diseases wherein energy is delivered by wavelengths transparent to the cornea to effect target tissues in the eye for the control of intraocular pressure in diseases such as glaucoma by delivery systems both external to and within ocular tissues. External delivery may be effected under gonioscopic control. Internal delivery may be controlled endoscopically or fiberoptically, both systems utilizing femtosecond laser energy to excise ocular tissue. The femtosecond light energy is delivered to the target tissues to be treated to effect precisely controlled photodisruption to enable portals for the outflow of aqueous fluid in the case of glaucoma in a manner which minimizes target tissue healing responses, inflammation and scarring.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of creating a plurality of openings in a trabecular meshwork of a patient'"'"'s eye to conduct fluid from an anterior chamber into a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, comprising:
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ablating a first crater to a first depth in the trabecular meshwork adjacent to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal with first laser pulses without entering the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; ablating a second crater to a second depth in the trabecular meshwork adjacent to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal with second laser pulses without entering the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; extending the first crater with third laser pulses to a third depth and extending the second crater with fourth laser pulses to a fourth depth, wherein the first crater is extended to the third depth and the second crater is extended to the fourth depth after the second crater has been extended to the second depth, so as to penetrate an inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal, to form the plurality of openings to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and to decrease optical pathway obscuration by blood reflux from the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and wherein each of the femtosecond laser pulses comprises a wavelength of within a range from 0.4 to 2.5 microns, a fluence level to produce optical breakdown, and a pulse duration in a range from 20 femtoseconds to 300 picoseconds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification