METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MODIFYING EYE TISSUE AND INTRAOCULAR LENSES

• US 20110172649A1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMO Development LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: OptiMedica Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Andersen, Dan, Schuele, Georg
• Granted Patent: US 9,833,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00842 Permanent Structural Change [PSC] in index of refraction; Limit between ablation and plasma ignition
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00853 Laser thermal keratoplasty or radial keratotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/0087 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00889 Capsulotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00812 Inlays; Onlays; Intraocular lenses [IOL]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00827 Refractive correction, e.g. lenticle
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00834 Inlays; Onlays; Intraocular lenses [IOL]

Abstract

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, a method and system for making physical modifications to intraocular targets is disclosed. In varying embodiments, the method and system disclosed herein provide many advantages over the current standard of care. Specifically, linear absorption facilitated photodecomposition and linear absorption facilitated plasma generation to modify intraocular tissues and synthetic intraocular lenses.

Claims

1. A system for ophthalmic surgery, comprising:

a. a laser source configured to deliver a laser beam comprising a plurality of laser pulses having a wavelength between about 320 nanometers and about 430 nanometers and a pulse duration between about 1 picosecond and about 100 nanoseconds; and

b. an optical system operatively coupled to the laser source and configured to focus and direct the laser beam in a pattern into one or more intraocular targets within an eye of a patient, such that interaction between the one or more targets and the laser pulses is characterized by linear absorption enhanced photodecomposition without formation of a plasma or associated cavitation event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength is about 355 nm.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulse duration is between about 400 picoseconds and about 700 picoseconds.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulses have a pulse energy between about 0.01 microJoules and about 500 microJoules.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulses have a pulse energy of between about 0.5 microJoules and about 10 microJoules.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laser pulses have a repetition rate of between about 500 Hertz and about 500 kiloHertz.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical system is configured to focus the laser beam to create a beam diameter of between about 0.5 microns and about 10 microns within the one or more intraocular targets.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more intraocular targets is selected from the group consisting of a cornea, a limbus, a sclera, a lens capsule, a crystalline lens, and a synthetic intraocular lens implant.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the pattern is configured to create one or more cuts in the intraocular targets in a configuration selected from the group consisting of corneal relaxing incisions, limbal relaxing incisions, astigmatic keratotomies, and capsulotomies.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical system and laser source are configured to physically modify at least one of the one or more intraocular targets such that an index of refraction of the modified target is changed.