Ocular fixation and stabilization device for ophthalmic surgical applications

• US 20040225284A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMO Development LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Carlos G. Suarez, Christopher Horvath, Laszlo I. Nagy, Mark W. Ross, Michael F. Brownell, R. Kyle Webb, Ronald M. Kurtz, Tibor Juhasz
• Inventors: Horvath, Christopher, Juhasz, Tibor, Kurtz, Ronald M., Suarez, Carlos G., Ross, Mark W., Brownell, Michael F., Webb, R. Kyle, Nagy, Laszlo I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,018,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00846 Eyetracking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/009 Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, e.g. goniolenses apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008

Abstract

A disposable stabilization and applanation device for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery, includes an applanation lens that is disposed in a particular spatial position with respect to an incident laser beam. The applanation lens is inserted into the central opening of an attachment ring and applanates the eye in response to pressure from a lens cone. The attachment ring is coupled to the eye and includes a skirt which surrounds the applanation lens and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which defines a suction channel between the attachment ring skirt and the corneal surface of an eye. A vacuum source is connected and fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel. In operation, the attachment ring is coupled to the cornea by application of suction and the applanation lens lowered into contact with the cornea through the attachment ring'"'"'s central opening. A gripper structure surrounds the applanation lens and attachment ring and applies a compressive force to both components, thereby coupling the two components together. An ophthalmic surgical laser connected to the lens cone is then positioned in a well-characterized three-dimensional relationship with the applanated surface of a patient'"'"'s eye.

Claims

1-28. -28. (Cancelled).

29. A method for applanating an anterior surface of a patient'"'"'s eye and coupling the eye to a surgical laser, the method comprising:

providing an interface, the interface including a central orifice, and having top and bottom surfaces;

removably coupling a suction ring to the bottom surface of the interface;

positioning the interface over an operative area of an eye, such that the suction ring comes into proximate contact with the surface of the eye;

applying a suction to the suction ring, to thereby stabilize the position of the interface relative to the operative area of the eye;

positioning an applanation lens in proximate contact with the operative area of the eye; and

coupling the applanation lens to the interface to thereby stabilize the position of the lens relative to the operative area of the eye.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

providing a lens cone, the lens cone defining a first plane surface;

coupling the lens cone to a delivery tip of the surgical laser such that the delivery tip is positionally referenced to the first plane surface; and

positioning the applanation lens at a distal portion of the lens cone, opposite the first plane surface, such that the applanation lens is thereby stabilized relative to the delivery tip.

31. The method according to claim 30, the lens cone further comprising:

an apex ring coupled to the first plane surface;

and wherein the applanation lens is positioned at a distal end of the apex ring, the applanation lens positioned in a second plane, parallel to the first plane such that the delivery tip is positionally referenced to the second plane.

32. The method according to claim 31, the applanation lens further comprising:

an anterior surface;

an applanation surface configured to contact the eye and applanate the anterior surface of the eye upon application of a normal pressure; and

wherein the applanation surface defines the second plane, such that the delivery tip is positionally referenced to the applanation surface and thereby to the applanated surface of the eye

33. A method for applanating an anterior surface of a patient'"'"'s eye and coupling the eye to a surgical laser, the method comprising:

positioning a first portion of a coupling interface to an anterior surface of an-eye, the coupling interface including a substantially rigid portion;

coupling the first portion to the anterior surface so as to stabilize the substantially rigid portion of the interface against motion relative to the eye;

positioning an applanation lens in proximate contact with an operative area of the eye; and

coupling the applanation lens to the substantially rigid portion of the interface, thereby stabilizing the position of the lens against motion relative to the operative area of the eye.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the first portion is generally flexible, the first portion including a suction ring configured to be disposed in proximate contact with an eye, the suction ring coupled to the eye by application of a vacuum to the suction ring.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the substantially rigid portion of the interface includes a central orifice configured to receive the applanation lens, the lens insertable within the central orifice, the central orifice engaging the lens and retaining the lens therein, thereby coupling the applanation lens to the substantially rigid portion of the interface.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising:

providing a lens, cone, the lens cone defining a first plane surface;

coupling the lens cone to a delivery tip of the surgical laser such that the delivery tip is positionally referenced to the first plane surface; and

positioning the applanation lens at a distal portion of the lens cone, opposite the first plane surface, such that the applanation lens is thereby stabilized in spatial registration with respect to the delivery tip.

37. The method according to claim 36, the lens cone further comprising:

an apex ring coupled to the first plane surface; and

wherein the applanation lens is positioned at a distal end of the apex ring, the applanation lens positioned in a second plane, parallel to the first plane such that the delivery tip is in spatial registration with respect to the second plane.

38. The method according to claim 37, the applanation lens further comprising:

an anterior surface;

an applanation surface configured to contact the eye and applanate the anterior surface of the eye upon application of a normal pressure; and

wherein the applanation surface defines the second plane, such that the delivery tip is stabilized in spatial registration with respect to the applanation surface and thereby to the applanated surface of the eye.

39. The interface according to claim 38, the substantially rigid portion of the interface further comprising:

a pair of expandable jaws, the jaws expanding a diameter of the central orifice when opened and contracting a diameter of the central orifice when allowed to relax; and

a pair of opposed lever handles, coupled to the jaws, the lever handles applying an opening pressure to the jaws when the opposed handles are squeezed together.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the jaws engage an outer surface of the apex ring upon relaxation of opening pressure applied to the lever handles, thereby retaining the apex ring and the applanation lens in a generally fixed relationship with respect to the interface.