Method and system for laser thermokeratoplasty of the cornea
First Claim
1. A thermokeratoplasty system for modifying corneal curvature of a cornea by localized thermal shrinkage of collagenous stromal tissue, said system comprising:
- means for inducing localized thermal shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue using electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable for absorption in the stroma, said mean including a radiation-distributing device that introduces the electromagnetic radiation to a multiplicity of locations on the surface of the cornea according to a predetermined pattern selected to correspond to a desired modification of said cornea, anda positioning structure that positions said radiation-distributing device in close, fixed relationship to the cornea and introduces said radiation via said locations to treatment volumes in the stroma below the surface of the cornea to induce localized shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue to cause change in the corneal curvature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a system and method for modifying the corneal curvature by irradiating the cornea to deliver thermal energy to the stroma. The system includes multiple irradiation ports for introducing electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable for absorption in the stroma; positioning means, such as a hemi-spherical dome with several tracks for positioning the irradiation ports, respectively, at locations of a preselected geometric pattern relative to the pretreated cornea, the geometric pattern being selected to correspond to a desired modified shape of the cornea; transmission means adapted to deliver controlled amounts of the radiation from a radiation source to each of the irradiation ports; and the irradiation ports, positioned at the locations of the geometric pattern, constructed to introduce the radiation to treatment volumes of the stroma in a cooperative manner to induce desired shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue and cause change in the corneal curvature. Each treatment volume, formed by a radiation pattern emanating from one irradiation port or by intersection of radiation patterns emanating from multiple irradiation ports, is created in a controllable manner to have a desired volume and energy profile. The transmission means that includes fiber optic waveguides are connected to distribution means for dispensing controlled amounts of the radiation to each of the fiber optic waveguides. The system also includes inspection means for observing and evaluating the shrinkage of collagenous tissue.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A thermokeratoplasty system for modifying corneal curvature of a cornea by localized thermal shrinkage of collagenous stromal tissue, said system comprising:
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means for inducing localized thermal shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue using electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable for absorption in the stroma, said mean including a radiation-distributing device that introduces the electromagnetic radiation to a multiplicity of locations on the surface of the cornea according to a predetermined pattern selected to correspond to a desired modification of said cornea, and a positioning structure that positions said radiation-distributing device in close, fixed relationship to the cornea and introduces said radiation via said locations to treatment volumes in the stroma below the surface of the cornea to induce localized shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue to cause change in the corneal curvature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 35, 40, 41, 42)
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4. A system for modifying curvature of a cornea by irradiating the cornea with electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable for absorption in stromal tissue, said system comprising:
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a radiation source, optically coupled to a transmission system, that emits electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable to induce localized thermal shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue of the cornea, said transmission system transmits controlled amounts of said radiation from said source, said transmission system having multiple irradiation ports for introduction of the electromagnetic radiation to the stroma, a positioning structure that positions said irradiation ports respectively at preselected relationships to the cornea, said relationships being selected to correspond to a desired modification of the cornea, and said irradiation ports, positioned at said preselected relationships direct the radiation to respective treatment volumes in the stroma in a cooperative manner to induce localized shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue to cause change in the corneal curvature. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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32. A thermokeratoplasty system for modifying curvature of a cornea by irradiating the cornea to deliver thermal energy to collagenous stromal tissue, said system comprising:
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a radiation source that emits electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable to induce localized thermal shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue of the cornea, a radiation-distributing device that introduces Controlled amounts of said electromagnetic radiation from said source to a multiplicity of irradiation ports located on locations on the surface of the cornea, a rigid hemi-spherically shaped member positionable upon the surface of the cornea in a desired relationship to the cornea, at least two tracks located in said rigid member at spaced apart positions, each track retaining at least one said irradiation port within said rigid member and enabling movement of said irradiation port to a selected location on a preselected geometric pattern, said preselected geometric pattern being selected to correspond to a desired modified shape of said cornea, a holding member that holds said irradiation ports at said selected locations within said tracks according to said preselected geometric pattern, a ring shaped member having small protrusions affixable to the surface of the cornea, said ring shaped member being connectable to said rigid spherically shaped member to maintain said irradiation ports at said locations, and said irradiation ports, positioned at said selected locations, that introduce said radiation to be absorbed in selected treatment volumes of the stroma to induce shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue and cause change in the corneal curvature to said desired modified shape. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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43. A method of modifying the corneal curvature by irradiating the cornea to deliver thermal energy to the stroma comprising:
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(a) providing a radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable to induce localized shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue of the cornea, (b) providing a radiation-distributing device for receiving and distribute said radiation to a set of irradiation ports corresponding to locations for delivering radiation to the stroma, (c) positioning said irradiation ports respectively according to a preselected geometric pattern relative to said cornea, said pattern being selected to correspond to a desired modification of the cornea, (d) generating electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable for absorption in the stroma. (e) transmitting controlled amounts of said radiation from said source to at least one of said irradiation ports, and (f) introducing to the cornea, at said irradiation ports, said radiation for absorption in treatment volumes of the stroma in a cooperative manner to induce desired thermal shrinkage of the collagenous stromal tissue and to cause change in the corneal curvature. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification