SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING AN EYE THERAPY DEVICE

• US 20090187178A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avedro, Inc. (Glaukos Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avedro, Inc. (Glaukos Corporation)
• Inventors: Muller, David, Thompson, Vance
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00853 Laser thermal keratoplasty or radial keratotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0079 using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/013 Instruments for compensation of ocular refraction A61F9/008 takes precedence; Instruments for use in cornea removal, for reshaping or performing incisions in the cornea

Abstract

A system for aligning an eye therapy instrument over a selected area or feature of an eye provides an attachment element that is removably attached to a surface of an eye. A receiving element is coupled to the attachment element and movable relative to the attachment element. The receiving element includes a coupling element configured to operably couple an eye therapy instrument to the receiving element and adjustably move the eye therapy instrument into a selected position with respect to the attachment element. The system makes adjustments to ensure accurate delivery of treatment from the eye therapy device to areas of the eye. In one embodiment, the receiving element allows lateral adjustments to be made along one or more axes. Additionally or alternatively, the receiving element allows angular or rotational adjustments to be made about one or more axes.

Claims

1. A system for aligning an eye therapy instrument over a feature of an eye, comprising:

an attachment element configured to be removably attached to a surface of an eye; and

a receiving element operably coupled to the attachment element and movable relative to the attachment element, the receiving element having a coupling element configured to operably couple an eye therapy instrument to the receiving element and adjustably move the eye therapy instrument into a selected position with respect to the attachment element.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment element includes a vacuum ring configured to create a vacuum connection with the surface of the eye.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element is movable along two axes.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element is rotatable with respect to at least one axis.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element is laterally movable in at least one direction and is rotatable about at least one axis.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment element defines an inner space and the receiving element is adjustably positioned within the inner space.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the attachment element includes an outer ring and the receiving element is adjustably positioned inside the outer ring.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the receiving element includes an inner ring, the outer ring and the inner ring forming an annular gap allowing movement of the inner ring relative to the outer ring.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a movement element coupling the receiving element and the attachment element and controlling the movement of the receiving element relative to the attachment element.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the movement element includes at least one screw engaging the receiving element, the at least one screw being adjustable to move the receiving element along a direction defined by the at least one screw.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one screw includes two orthogonal screws, and the receiving element moves along a direction defined by each screw.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the movement element includes at least one axle engaging the receiving element, the receiving element being rotatable about an axis defined by the axle.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one axle includes two orthogonal axles, and the receiving element is rotatable about axes defines by the two axles.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum source detachably coupled to the attachment element for creating a vacuum connection between the attachment element and the surface of the eye.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the attachment element comprises:

an eye contact portion for contacting the surface of the eye;

an interior channel in which a vacuum for the vacuum connection is created; and

a plurality of openings connected to the interior channel and positioned at the eye contact portion.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the attachment element has a connection port that couples the attachment element to the vacuum source.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the vacuum source is a syringe.

18. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a targeting device with an indicator for guiding movement of the receiving element and positioning the eye therapy instrument over a feature of the eye.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a cross-hairs and one or more circles.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the feature of the eye is a center of the pupil or an apex of a cornea.

21. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism to selectively prevent movement of the receiving element relative to the attachment element.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein the eye therapy instrument is an energy conducting element for conducting energy to the eye.

23. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment system operably coupled to the receiving system, the adjustment system controlling movement of the receiving element relative to the attachment element.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the adjustment system includes a user-controllable electromechanical device.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the user-controllable electromagnetic device is a joystick.

26. A system for aligning an eye therapy instrument over a feature of an eye, comprising:

an engagement element engaging an eye therapy instrument;

a first positioning element operably coupled to the engagement element and configured to position the eye therapy instrument in a first location over a surface of an eye; and

a second positioning element operably coupled to the engagement element configured to adjustably position the eye therapy instrument from the first position to a second position over the surface of the eye.

27. A method for aligning an eye therapy instrument over a feature of an eye, comprising:

removably attaching an attachment element to a surface of an eye;

positioning a receiving element over a feature of the eye, the receiving element being operably coupled to the attachment element and movable relative to the attachment element; and

coupling an eye therapy instrument to the receiving element.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the feature of the eye is a pupil and the step of positioning a receiving element comprises centering the receiving element over the pupil.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of positioning a receiving element comprises positioning the receiving element relative to a center of a pupil or an apex of a cornea.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of positioning a receiving element includes operating an adjustment system, the adjustment system operably coupled to the receiving system and controlling movement of the receiving element relative to the attachment element.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the adjustment system includes a user-controllable electromechanical device.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the user-controllable electromechanical device is a joystick.

33. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of positioning the receiving element over the feature of the eye comprises applying a targeting device with an indicator for guiding movement of the receiving element and positioning the eye therapy instrument over a feature of the eye.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a cross-hairs and a series of concentric circles.