CONFOCAL LASER EYE SURGERY SYSTEM

• US 20150272782A1
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMO Development LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: OptiMedica Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schuele, Georg, Bareket, Noah, Dewey, David, Hart, John S., Woo, Raymond, Woodley, Bruce, Gonzalez, Javier G., Teisseyre, Thomas Z., Golda, Jeffrey A., Sheehy, Katrina B., O'Meara, Madeleine C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,123,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1025 for confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1173 for examining the eye lens
• 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 2009/00844 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00878 Planning
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00897 Scanning mechanisms or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00754 for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser

Abstract

A laser surgery system includes a light source, an eye interface device, a scanning assembly, a confocal detection assembly and preferably a confocal bypass assembly. The light source generates an electromagnetic beam. The scanning assembly scans a focal point of the electromagnetic beam to different locations within the eye. An optical path propagates the electromagnetic beam from a light source to the focal point, and also propagates a portion of the electromagnetic beam reflected from the focal point location back along at least a portion of the optical path. The optical path includes an optical element associated with a confocal detection assembly that diverts a portion of the reflected electromagnetic radiation to a sensor. The sensor generates an intensity signal indicative of intensity the electromagnetic beam reflected from the focal point location. The confocal bypass assembly reversibly diverts the electromagnetic beam along a diversion optical path around the optical element.

Claims

1. A method of imaging an eye, the method comprising:

focusing a first electromagnetic radiation beam to a focal point at a location in the eye, the first electromagnetic radiation beam having a first polarization;

focusing a second electromagnetic radiation beam to a focal point at the location in the eye, the second electromagnetic radiation beam having a second polarization different than the first polarization;

generating a first intensity signal indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of focusing the first electromagnetic radiation beam;

generating a second intensity signal indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of focusing the second electromagnetic radiation beam; and

generating one or more images of the eye with the first and second intensity signals and utilizing these signals for treatment planning.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second electromagnetic radiation beams are focused using a beam scanner;

and wherein the method further comprises;

scanning the focal point of the first electromagnetic radiation beam to a plurality of different locations in a first region of the eye;

scanning the focal point of the second electromagnetic radiation beam to a plurality of different locations in a second region of the eye;

generating a first intensity profile indicative of intensities of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of scanning the focal point of the first electromagnetic radiation beam; and

generating a second intensity profile indicative of intensities of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of scanning the focal point of the second electromagnetic radiation beam,

wherein one image of the eye is generated per the first and second intensity profiles.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the beam scanner comprises an XY-scan device that is configured to deflect the first and second electromagnetic radiation beams in two dimensions transverse to a propagation of first and second electromagnetic radiation beams, and wherein the focal point of the first and second electromagnetic radiation beam is scanned in the two dimensions using the XY-scan device;

and wherein the one image of the eye has at least two dimensions; and

wherein the beam scanner comprises a Z-scan device that is configured to vary a convergence depth of the beam within the eye, wherein the focal point of the first and second electromagnetic radiation beam is scanned in three dimensions using the XY-scan device and the Z-scan device, and wherein the one image of the eye is three dimensional.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the first electromagnetic radiation beam by passing an electromagnetic radiation beam through a wave plate in a first position so as to polarize the electromagnetic radiation beam with the first polarization;

rotating the wave plate by an angle to a second position; and

generating the second electromagnetic radiation beam by passing the electromagnetic radiation beam through the wave plate in the second position.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

passing electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of passing the first electromagnetic radiation beam through the wave plate in the first position; and

passing the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of passing the second electromagnetic radiation beam through the wave plate in the second position.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising:

scanning the focal point of the first electromagnetic radiation beam to a plurality of locations in the eye;

scanning the focal point of the second electromagnetic radiation beam to at least a portion of the plurality of locations in the eye;

generating a first intensity profile indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of scanning the focal points of the first electromagnetic radiation beam;

generating a second intensity profile indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of scanning the focal points of the second electromagnetic radiation beam; and

generating an image of the eye with the first and second intensity profiles.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of parameters corresponding to the treatment planning;

generating a three-dimensional representation of the treatment planning;

mapping the three-dimensional representation onto the image of the eye; and

displaying the mapped image for the treatment planning.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the treatment planning comprises an arcuate incision.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

verifying the arcuate incision lies within the cornea.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the received parameters comprise a treatment axis and a treatment length transverse to the axis.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the image of the eye is in a plane of the treatment axis and the treatment length.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the three-dimensional representation is mapped onto the image of the eye by projecting the three-dimensional representation onto a two-dimensional space.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the displayed image comprises a cornea of the eye including an anterior and posterior.

7. A method of imaging a cornea or lens of an eye, the cornea or lens having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, the method comprising:

generating a first electromagnetic radiation beam using a beam source;

passing the first electromagnetic radiation beam through a wave plate;

propagating the first electromagnetic radiation beam to a beam scanner;

focusing the first electromagnetic radiation beam to a focal point at a location in the cornea of the eye using the beam scanner;

receiving a first reflected electromagnetic radiation from the focal point after focusing the first electromagnetic radiation beam;

directing the first received electromagnetic radiation through the wave plate and towards a sensor;

generating a first intensity signal indicative of an intensity of the first received electromagnetic radiation;

rotating the wave plate an angle after generating the first intensity signal;

passing a second electromagnetic radiation beam through the rotated wave plate;

focusing the second electromagnetic radiation beam to a focal point at the location in the cornea of the eye;

receiving a second reflected electromagnetic radiation from the focal point in response to the step of focusing the second electromagnetic radiation beam;

directing the second received electromagnetic radiation through the rotated wave plate and toward the sensor;

generating a second intensity signal indicative of an intensity of the second received electromagnetic radiation;

identifying the anterior surface of the cornea using the first intensity signal; and

identifying at least a portion of the posterior surface of the cornea using the second intensity signal.

8. A method of imaging an eye having a cornea, the cornea having a first region with a first birefringence and a second region with a second birefringence, the method comprising:

directing a first electromagnetic radiation beam through the first region of the cornea to a first location in the eye, the first electromagnetic radiation beam having a first polarization;

directing a second electromagnetic radiation beam through the second region of the cornea to a second location in the eye, the second electromagnetic radiation beam having a second polarization different than the first polarization; and

generating an image of the eye encompassing the first and second locations using electromagnetic radiation signals reflected from the eye in response to the steps of directing the first and second electromagnetic radiation beams.

9. A method of imaging an eye, the method comprising:

generating an electromagnetic radiation beam using a beam source;

elliptically polarizing the electromagnetic radiation beam;

focusing the elliptically polarized electromagnetic radiation beam to a focal point in the eye;

scanning the focal point of the elliptically polarized electromagnetic radiation beam to a plurality of different locations in the eye;

receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from the focal point in response to the step of scanning the elliptically polarized electromagnetic radiation;

directing the received reflected electromagnetic radiation to a sensor;

generating an intensity profile indicative of an intensity of the received reflected electromagnetic radiation; and

identifying a first surface and a second surface of the eye using the intensity profile.

10. A system for imaging an eye, the system comprising:

a laser beam source configured to output a beam along a beam path toward the eye;

a beam scanner configured to direct the outputted beam to a plurality of locations in the eye;

a variable axis polarization system positioned along the beam path between the laser beam source and the eye and configured to polarize the outputted beam with a first polarization or a second polarization, the polarization system polarizing the outputted beam with the first polarization when in a first configuration and the polarization system polarizing the outputted beam with the second polarization when in a second configuration; and

a sensor positioned to receive reflected electromagnetic radiation from the eye, wherein the polarization system is further configured to receive the reflected electromagnetic radiation from a focal point before the reflected electromagnetic radiation reaches the sensor.

11. A laser-based eye surgery system for treating and imaging an eye using different electromagnetic radiation beam paths, the system comprising:

a laser delivery system for delivering an electromagnetic radiation beam to a target in the eye;

a beam expander coupled to the laser delivery system for adjusting the diameter of the electromagnetic radiation beam;

an attenuator coupled to the expander for polarizing the electromagnetic radiation beam;

a shutter coupled to the attenuator for allowing or blocking the electromagnetic radiation beam;

a polarized beam-splitter for separating the electromagnetic radiation beam;

a bypass assembly for directing the electromagnetic radiation beam;

a sensor for imaging the eye;

wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam is directed to bypass the polarized beam-splitter in a high power level treatment mode, and the electromagnetic radiation beam is directed toward the polarized beam-splitter in a low power level imaging mode.

12. The laser-based eye surgery system of claim 11 further comprises one or more wave plates to enable confocal imaging of the target in the eye.

13. The laser-based eye surgery system of claim 11 further comprises one or more wave plate angles for imaging ocular structures of the target in the eye to compensate for birefringence effects in the imaged structures.

14. A method of reversibly separating an imaging assembly from an optical path in a laser surgical system, the method comprising:

using a beam source to generate an electromagnetic beam;

propagating the electromagnetic beam from the beam source to a scanner along an optical path, the optical path comprising a first optical element;

focusing the electromagnetic 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 beam reflected from the focal point location back along the optical path to the first optical element, the first optical element diverting a portion of the reflected electromagnetic radiation to a sensor;

using the sensor to generate an intensity signal indicative of an intensity of a portion of the electromagnetic beam reflected from the focal point location and propagated to the sensor via the first optical element; and

reversibly diverting the electromagnetic beam along a diversion optical path around the first optical element, wherein the beam direction and position are substantially the same at the entry of and exit from the diversion optical path in a direction transverse to the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic beam.

15. 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 beam to different locations within the eye;

a light source configured to generate the electromagnetic beam;

an optical path configured to propagate the electromagnetic beam from the light source to the focal point and also configured to propagate a portion of the electromagnetic beam reflected from the focal point location back along the optical path, the optical path comprising a first optical element that diverts a portion of the reflected electromagnetic radiation to a sensor;

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

a confocal bypass assembly configured to reversibly divert the radiation beam along a diversion optical path around the first optical element, wherein the beam direction and position are substantially the same at the entry of and exit from the diversion optical path in a plane transverse to the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic beam.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the beam is reversibly diverted by the confocal bypass assembly comprising a bypass prism.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the electromagnetic beam is diverted by reversibly moving the bypass prism into the optical path, thereby diverting the electromagnetic beam along the diversion optical path.

25. A method of imaging an eye, the method comprising:

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

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

generating a first intensity signal indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of focusing the first electromagnetic radiation beam;

generating a second intensity signal indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the eye in response to the step of focusing the second electromagnetic radiation beam;

generating one or more images of the eye with the first and second intensity signals for treatment planning;

receiving a plurality of parameters corresponding to the treatment planning;

generating a three-dimensional representation of the treatment planning;

mapping the three-dimensional representation onto the image of the eye; and

displaying the mapped image for the treatment planning.