APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING ENHANCED VISUALLY DIRECTED PROCEDURES UNDER LOW AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS

• US 20090254070A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TrueVision Systems, Inc. (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tripathi, Ashok Burton
• Granted Patent: US 9,168,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0058 for multiple images
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1015 for wavefront analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/13 Ophthalmic microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00853 Laser thermal keratoplasty or radial keratotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/361 Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

The apparatus and methods of the present invention in a broad aspect provide novel visualization platforms for performing enhanced visually directed procedures on target objects or tissues under low ambient light conditions. The visualization platforms can be included with or retro-fit to existing optical systems such as stereomicroscopes and include at least one high resolution photosensor capable of acquiring a plurality of optical views of the target object or tissue in at least one wavelength outside of the wavelengths of normal visible light. A resultant real-time high resolution video signal is transmitted from the photosensor to at least one high resolution video display that can be viewed by the apparatus or process operator.

Claims

1. A visualization platform for performing an enhanced visually directed procedure on a target object or tissue under low ambient visible light, said visualization platform comprising:

at least one high resolution photosensor capable of acquiring a plurality of optical views of said target object in at least one wavelength outside of the wavelengths of visible light and transmitting a resultant real-time high resolution video signal;

and at least one high resolution video display receiving said real-time high resolution video signal.

2. The visualization platform of claim 1, wherein said high resolution is high definition.

3. The visualization platform of claim 1, wherein said photosensor is a camera.

4. The visualization platform of claim 1, wherein said at least one wavelength outside of the wavelengths of normal visible light is between about 700 nanometers and about 1400 nanometers.

5. The visualization platform of claim 4, wherein said at least one wavelength outside of the wavelengths of normal visible light is between about 700 nanometers and about 1 millimeter.

6. The visualization platform of claim 1, wherein said real-time high resolution video signal is a digital video signal.

7. The visualization platform of claim 6, wherein said digital video signal is capable of producing an image having a resolution of at least about 1280 lines by 720 lines.

8. The visualization platform of claim 1, wherein said video display is a three dimensional video display.

9. The visualization platform of claim 1, wherein said target object is an eye.

10. The visualization platform of claim 9, wherein said visually directed procedure is laser surgery.

11. The visualization platform of claim 9, wherein said visually directed procedure is laser assisted in situ keratomileusis.

12. A visualization platform for performing an enhanced visually directed laser assisted in situ keratomileusis procedure on an eye under low ambient visible light, said visualization platform comprising:

at least one high definition camera capable of acquiring a plurality of optical views of said eye in wavelengths of between about 700 nanometers and about 1400 nanometers and transmitting a resultant real-time high resolution digital video signal; and

at least one high resolution three dimensional video display receiving said real-time high resolution video signal.

13. A method for performing an enhanced visually directed procedure under low ambient visible light on a patient'"'"'s eye having a pupil, said method comprising the steps of:

inspecting the eye of said patient under light conditions having visible light insufficient to cause the pupil of said eye to constrict substantially from its maximum pupillary diameter; and

performing an ocular procedure on said eye under light conditions substantially identical to the light conditions of said inspecting step.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said procedure is laser surgery

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said procedure is laser assisted in situ keratomileusis.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said inspecting step includes determining a waveform for said eye.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said performing step is conducted under light conditions including light having a wavelength of about 700 nanometers to about 1400 nanometers.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said performing step is conducted under light conditions including light having a wavelength of about 700 nanometers to about 1 millimeter.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said light is received by a high resolution photosensor and presented in high definition on a video display.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said light is received by a high resolution photosensor receiving at least two optical views of said eye and presented in high definition on a three dimensional video display.