LASER EYE SURGERY SYSTEM

• US 20140316389A1
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMO Development LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: OptiMedica Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schuele, Georg, Gooding, I, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 9,849,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1025 for confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00846 Eyetracking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00855 Calibration of the laser system
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00868 Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00889 Capsulotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00897 Scanning mechanisms or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00802 for photoablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00804 Refractive treatments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00812 Inlays; Onlays; Intraocular lenses [IOL]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00825 for photodisruption
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00836 Flap cutting

Abstract

An imaging system includes an eye interface device, a scanning assembly, a beam source, a free-floating mechanism, and a detection assembly. The eye interface device interfaces with an eye. The scanning assembly supports the eye interface device and scans a focal point of an electromagnetic radiation beam within the eye. The beam source generates the electromagnetic radiation beam. The free-floating mechanism supports the scanning assembly and accommodates movement of the eye and provides a variable optical path for the electronic radiation beam and a portion of the electronic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location. The variable optical path is disposed between the beam source and the scanner and has an optical path length that varies to accommodate movement of the eye. The detection assembly generates a signal indicative of intensity of a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location.

Claims

1. A method of imaging an eye while accommodating patient movement, the method comprising:

using a beam source to generate an electromagnetic radiation beam;

propagating the electromagnetic radiation beam from the beam source to a scanner along a variable optical path having an optical path length that changes in response to movement of the eye;

focusing the electromagnetic radiation beam to a focal point at a location within the eye;

using the scanner to scan the focal point to different locations within the eye;

propagating a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location back along the variable optical path to a sensor; and

using the sensor to generate an intensity signal indicative of the intensity of a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location and propagated to the sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a first support assembly to support the scanner so as to accommodate relative movement between the scanner and the first support assembly so as to accommodate movement of the eye.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

using a second support assembly to support the first support assembly so as to accommodate relative movement between the first support assembly and the second support assembly so as to accommodate movement of the eye; and

using the first support assembly to support a first reflector configured to reflect the electromagnetic radiation beam so as to propagate to the scanner along a portion of the variable optical path.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

using a base assembly to support the second support assembly so as to accommodate relative movement between the second support assembly and the base assembly so as to accommodate movement of the eye; and

using the second support assembly to support a second reflector configured to reflect the electromagnetic radiation beam to propagate along a portion of the variable optical path so as to be incident on the first reflector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein using the sensor to generate the intensity signal comprises passing a reflected portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam through an aperture to block portions of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from locations other than the focal point location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing the electromagnetic radiation beam through a polarization-sensitive device;

modifying polarization of at least one of the electromagnetic radiation beam and a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location; and

using the polarization-sensitive device to reflect a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location so as to be incident upon the sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam is not configured to modify tissue.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam is configured to modify tissue.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam comprises a plurality of laser pulses having a wavelength between 320 nanometers and 430 nanometers.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam comprises a plurality of laser pulses having a wavelength between 800 nanometers and 1100 nanometers.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection assembly comprises a sensor configured to generate the intensity signal and an aperture configured to block portions of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from locations other than the focal point from reaching the sensor.

11. An eye surgery system comprising:

an eye interface device configured to interface with an eye of a patient;

a scanning assembly supporting the eye interface device and operable to scan a focal point of an electromagnetic radiation beam to different locations within the eye;

a beam source configured to generate the electromagnetic radiation beam;

a free-floating mechanism that supports the scanning assembly and is configured to accommodate movement of the eye and provide a variable optical path for the electronic radiation beam and a portion of the electronic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location, the variable optical path being disposed between the beam source and the scanner and having an optical path length that changes in response to movement of the eye; and

a detection assembly configured to generate an intensity signal indicative of intensity of a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the scanning assembly comprises a z-scan device operable to vary the location of the focal point in the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic radiation beam and an xy-scan device operable to vary the location of the focal point transverse to the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic radiation beam.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the free-floating mechanism comprises:

a first beam deflection device configured to deflect the electromagnetic radiation beam propagating in a first direction to propagate in a second direction different from the first direction; and

a second beam deflection device configured to deflect the electromagnetic radiation beam propagating in the second direction to propagate in a third direction different from the second direction, wherein

the first beam deflection device is also configured to deflect a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location and propagating opposite to the third direction to propagate opposite to the second direction,

the second beam deflection device is also configured to deflect a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point and propagating opposite to the second direction to propagate opposite to the first direction, and

at least one of (1) a distance between the first and second beam deflection devices and (2) a rotational orientation between the first and second beam deflection devices varies to accommodate movement of the eye.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the free-floating mechanism comprises a third beam deflection device configured to deflect the electromagnetic radiation beam propagating in the third direction to propagate in a fourth direction different from the third direction, the third beam deflection device also being configured to deflect a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location and propagating opposite to the fourth direction to propagate opposite to the third direction, wherein at least one of (1) a distance between the second and third beam deflection devices and (2) a rotational orientation between the second and third beam deflection devices varies to accommodate movement of the eye.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a polarization-sensitive device and a polarizing device, the polarization-sensitive device being disposed along an optical path of the electromagnetic radiation beam between the beam source and the free-floating mechanism, the electromagnetic radiation beam passing through the polarization-sensitive device during propagation of the electromagnetic radiation beam from the beam source to the free-floating device, the polarizing device modifying polarization of at least one of the electromagnetic radiation beam and a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location, the polarization-sensitive device reflecting a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point so as to incident upon a sensor configured to generate the intensity signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the polarizing device comprises a one-quarter wave plate.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam is not configured to modify tissue.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam is configured to modify tissue.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam comprises a plurality of laser pulses having a wavelength between 320 nanometers and 430 nanometers.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam comprises a plurality of laser pulses having a wavelength between 800 nanometers and 1100 nanometers.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam comprises a plurality of laser pulses having a pulse duration of between 100 femtoseconds and 15 nanoseconds.