Method and apparatus for laser ThermoProtectiveTreatment(TPT) with pre-programmed variable irradiance long exposures

• US 20030078567A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Iridex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Iridex Corporation
• Inventors: Murphy, Robert P., Buzawa, David M., Dorin, Giorgio
• Application Number:
  US10/260,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00844 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00891 Glaucoma
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00821 for coagulation

Abstract

An electro-optical system is provided for use with a target site and configured with pre-programmable energy output functions for customized TPT protocols. One or more laser sources are provided producing an output beam. A control device is coupled to the laser source. The control device includes a memory that stores at least one laser source energy output function. The laser source energy output function is used to create an intra-operatively invisible therapeutic treatment with enhanced thermotolerance which minimize iatrogenic damage to surrounding structures.

Claims

1. An electro-optical system for use with a target tissue, configured with pre-programmable energy output functions for customized TPT protocols, comprising:

one or more laser sources producing an output beam; and

a control device coupled to the one or more laser sources, the control device including a memory that stores at least one laser source energy output function used to create an intra-operatively invisible therapeutic treatment with enhanced thermotolerance which minimizes iatrogenic damage to structures near the target tissue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the target tissue is selected from at least one of an ocular structure, a tumor, and an epidermal tissue.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the oculator structure is selected from sub-retinal afferent or efferent vessels feeding choroidal neovascular membranes, retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM).

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a monitoring device coupled to the control device, the monitoring device configured to receive a target tissue parameter from the target tissue to provide a feedback signal to at least one of the operator of the one or more laser sources or the control device, and provide a real-time detection of a therapeutic treatment window for the target tissue that is invisible to an operator of the one or more laser sources.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more laser source energy output function is selected from at least one of wavelength, power, irradiance, duty cycle, repetition rate, exposure time cycle, repetition rate and exposure time.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the target tissue parameter is at least one of optical, thermometric and electro-physiologic parameter to produce the feedback signal to the control device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the optical parameter is selected from at least one of interferometry, reflectometry, fluorescence and IR imaging.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the feedback signal is used to provide delivery of the output beam with different spot size.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the feedback signal is used to provide delivery of the output beam with different patterns.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the feedback signal is sued to provide a setting of the one or more laser source energy output function.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a delivery device coupled to the one or more laser sources.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the delivery device includes a slit lamp.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more laser sources produces a treatment beam and an aiming beam.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the treatment beam and the aiming beam have different wavelengths.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the treatment beam and the aiming beam have the same wavelengths.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is selected from at least one of a RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM and flash memory.

17. An electro-optical system for use with a target tissue, comprising:

one or more laser sources producing an output beam;

a programmable control device coupled to the one or more laser sources, the control device including a memory that stores at least one laser source energy output function;

a delivery device coupled to the one or more laser sources, the delivery device delivering at least a portion of the output beam to the target tissue; and

a monitoring device coupled to at least one of the control device or to an operator'"'"'s device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitoring device provides a feedback signal responsive to intra-operative changes of physical or physiological parameters at the target tissue.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the monitoring device provides real-time monitoring of treatment-induced invisible effects at the target tissue.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the target tissue is a sub-retinal structure tissue with sub-retinal CNVs'"'"' feeder vessels.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein in response to the feedback signal an irradiance exposure of the output beam to the target tissue is modified.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one laser source energy output function is selected from at least one of wavelength, power, irradiance, duty cycle, repetition rate, exposure time cycle, repetition rate and exposure time.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein a target tissue parameter is used to produce the feedback signal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the target tissue parameter is at least one of optical, thermometric and electro-physiologic.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the optical parameter is selected from at least one of interferometry, reflectometry, fluorescence and IR imaging.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the feedback signal is used to provide delivery of the output beam with different spot size.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the feedback signal is used to provide delivery of the output beam with different patterns.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the feedback signal is used to provide a setting of the at least one laser source energy output function.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the laser source produces a treatment beam and an aiming beam.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the treatment beam and the aiming beam have different wavelengths.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the treatment beam and the aiming beam have the same wavelengths.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory is selected from at least one of a RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM and flash memory.

33. A method for treating a target tissue, comprising:

providing an apparatus that produces pre-programmed energy output functions; and

delivering an intra-operatively invisible therapeutic treatment beam utilizing at least one of the pre-programmed energy output functions to stimulate natural thermoprotective reactive mechanisms at the target tissue.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the natural thermoprotective reactive mechanism is selected from at least one of increased blood flow, swelling, bleaching of endogenous chromophores, and expression of heat shock proteins.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the target tissue is sub-retinal structure tissue.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the sub-retinal structure tissue includes sub-retinal CNVs'"'"' feeder vessels.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

monitoring the therapeutic treatment at the target tissue.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the apparatus includes a laser source and a control device.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

in response to monitoring the therapeutic treatment, receiving a target tissue parameter from the target tissue; and

in response to receipt of the target tissue parameter providing a feedback signal to at least one of the operator of the laser source or the control device

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

in response to the feedback signal, provide a real-time detection of a therapeutic treatment window for the target tissue that is invisible to the operator of the optical system.

41. A method for treating a target tissue, comprising:

providing one or more laser sources coupled to a control device, the control device including a memory that stores at least one laser source energy output function;

delivering a treatment beam from the one or more laser sources to the target tissue; and

stimulating natural thermoprotective mechanisms while creating an intraoperatively invisible thermo protected therapeutic treatment of the target tissue.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the target tissue is a sub-retinal structure and the intra-operatively invisible thermo protected therapeutic treatment is stimulated while minimizing damage to a neuro sensory retina tissue.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one laser parameter is used to assist in creating the therapeutic treatment of the sub-retinal structure tissue.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the sub-retinal structure tissue includes sub-retinal CNVs'"'"' feeder vessels.

45. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

monitoring the intra-operatively invisible thermo protected therapeutic treatment.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

in response to monitoring the intra-operatively invisible thermo protected therapeutic treatment, receiving a target tissue parameter from the target tissue; and

in response to receipt of the target tissue parameter, providing a feedback signal to at least one of the operator of the laser source or the control device.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

in response to the feedback signal, provide a real-time detection of a therapeutic treatment window for the target tissue.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one laser source parameter is selected from at least one of wavelength, power, irradiance, duty cycle, repetition rate, exposure time cycle, repetition rate and exposure time.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the target tissue parameter is at least one of optical, thermometric and electro-physiologic parameter to produce the feedback signal to the control device.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the optical parameter is selected from at least one of interferometry, reflectometry, fluorescence and IR imaging.