PATIENT INTERFACE FOR OPHTHALMOLOGIC DIAGNOSTIC AND INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES

• US 20160151203A1
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMO Development LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: OptiMedica Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gooding, Phillip H., Angeley, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,456,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00887 Cataract
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00802 for photoablation
• 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

Abstract

Configurations are described for conducting ophthalmic procedures to address cataract-related clinical challenges. In one embodiment, a one-piece patient contact interface may be utilized to couple a diagnostic and/or interventional system to a cornea of a patient; in another embodiment, a two-part configuration may be utilized; in another embodiment, a liquid interface two-part embodiment may be utilized.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for intercoupling an ophthalmologic interventional system to an eye of a patient via a patient interface system, the patient interface system comprising a hollow reservoir housing defining an interior volume and having proximal and distal ends and an optical element fixedly coupled to the hollow reservoir housing and occupying a portion of the interior volume, comprising:

a. removably and sealably coupling the distal end to the eye of the patient;

b. mechanically interfacing the proximal end with the interventional system such that open access is provided to the interior volume for transporting liquids or gases in or out of the interior volume;

c. forming a liquid layer within the interior volume; and

d. applying one or more loads to the liquid layer, such that the liquid layer is positioned within the interior volume between the optical element and the eye.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the distal end comprises an eye interface surface, and the step of coupling the distal end to the eye comprises forming a compliant circumferential seal between the eye and the eye interface surface of the distal end.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the circumferential seal is produced by applying a vacuum load to a vacuum space formed by contacting the eye interface surface to the eye.

20. The method of claim 19, where in the vacuum space is further defined by two circumferential layers coupled to the eye interface surface.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the circumferential layers has a tapered cross section.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the circumferential layers comprises a shape that is at least partially spherical.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

positioning the patient in a substantially horizontal position prior to coupling the distal end to the eye of the patient.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

performing one or more diagnostic procedures on the eye of the patient prior to positioning the patient in the substantially horizontal position.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

performing one or more ophthalmologic procedures on the eye of the patient with intraoperative imaging, the ophthalmologic procedure comprising the application of laser energy to the eye.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more ophthalmologic procedures comprises a capsulorhexis.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the hollow reservoir housing comprises two parts, and the method further comprises removably coupling the two parts to each other.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the two parts are removably coupled to each other by one or more of:

a vacuum, an interference fit, electromagnetism, or mechanical connection.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the liquid layer is formed with about 2 cubic centimeters in volume of liquid.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein the liquid layer directly contacts the optical element.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein the vacuum load is between about 200 mm of mercury and about 600 mm of mercury.

26-1. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

decoupling the distal end from the eye of the patient.

28-1. The method of claim 17, wherein the liquid layer comprises a material selected from:

water, saline, oil, viscoelastic gel, and perfluorocarbon liquid.