Method and apparatus for performing corneal reshaping to correct ocular refractive errors

• US 5,779,696 A
• Filed: 04/26/1995
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 21X Capital Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sunrise Technologies International, Inc. (Priavision, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hennings, David R., Vassiliadis, Arthur V., Berry, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAY, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US08/429,744
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 606/2, 606/3-18, 607/88-92
• US Class Current: 606/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00853 Laser thermal keratoplasty or radial keratotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0079 using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser

Abstract

A noninvasive method is described for performing accurate and controlled reshaping of the anterior surface of the cornea in order to correct ocular refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. The invention uses a light source emitting a wavelength or wavelengths with correct optical penetration depth(s) to induce changes in corneal stromal collagen without damaging the corneal endothelium, together with a light delivery and control means for producing the required irradiance, exposure time, and geometric pattern, in order to achieve the desired change in corneal shape. Corneal shape is monitored before, during, and after the procedure by a corneal topography system. Anterior corneal surface cooling by a transparent heat sink is used to prevent damage to the epithelium and to Bowman'"'"'s layer.

Claims

1. A system for internally heating human tissue by exposing an outside surface of a given shape to one of at least first and second predetermined and distinct patterns of infra-red radiation, comprising:

at least first and second radiation couplers that each have on one side thereof a first surface with a shape that is complementary to said given outside surface shape and a second surface on an opposite side thereof, each of said at least first and second couplers having a plurality of apertures spaced apart across said second surface and extending into said second surface to closed ends within the coupler a distance from said first surface, at least regions of each of said at least first and second couplers between said closed ends of the plurality of apertures and said first surface being substantially transparent to said infra-red radiation, said first coupler having said aperture ends thereof arranged across said first surface in said first predetermined pattern, and said second coupler having said aperture ends thereof arranged across said first surface in said second predetermined pattern,

a source of said infra-red radiation, and

a plurality of optical fibers having first and second ends, said first ends being coupled to receive infra-red radiation from said source and said second ends having individual sleeves attached thereto which are shaped to mate with at least one aperture of each of said at least first and second couplers and allow insertion of the sleeves into said at least aperture in a manner to self-align the individual optical fiber second ends to which the sleeves are attached with the closed end of said at least one aperture, thereby to allow said at least one of said second optical fiber ends to be removably inserted into at least one of the apertures of each of said first or second couplers, said optical fiber sleeves securely fitting in said apertures without allowing adjustment of the position of the optical fiber second ends in a direction across said first surface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first element includes a material within a group consisting of quartz, calcium fluoride, sapphire, diamond and a fluoro-polymer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first surface of each of the first and second couplers is in a concave shape.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the apertures of each of the first and second couplers are arranged in a circle across said second surface.

5. The system of claim 1 which additionally comprises a vacuum pump and wherein each of said first and second couplers includes an opening in said first surface that is connectable to said vacuum pump.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second couplers comprise a first element including said first surface and a second element including said second surface, said first and second elements being attached to each other along a third surface that is intermediate of said first and second surfaces, said plurality of apertures extending completely through the second element but not into the first element, thereby locating said aperture ends at said third surface.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein at least regions within the first element that are located opposite said aperture ends are transparent to said infra-red radiation and are of the same thickness, and further wherein at least some of said second optical fiber ends have a hollow sleeve attached with one end thereof remaining open and positioned a certain distance removed beyond said optical fiber end.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said second element is solid except for the apertures therein, said apertures and said optical fiber sleeves each having mating cross-sectional shapes that allows the optical fiber sleeves to be moved with respect to the second element only within said apertures in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first surface.

9. A method of reshaping outside surfaces of first and second corneas by selectively shrinking regions of stromal tissue therewithin according to first and second distinct patterns thereacross, comprising:

providing a source of electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength that is absorbed by stromal tissue of the first and second corneas,

providing a plurality of optical fibers having free ends,

providing first and second couplers that each have a surface with a shape that is complementary to a respective one of the outside surfaces of the first and second corneas and optical fiber free end receiving apertures extending into backsides thereof across the corneal contact surfaces according to said first and second patterns,

inserting the free ends of at least some of the optical fibers into individual ones of the apertures of said first coupler,

positioning the first coupler corneal contact surface against the first cornea,

directing electromagnetic radiation from the source along said at least some of the optical fibers in a manner to heat regions of stromal tissue therein sufficient to shrink the tissue according to said first pattern and thereby reshape the outside surface of the first cornea,

removing the first coupler from the first cornea,

removing the free ends of said at least some of the optical fibers from the apertures of the first coupler,

inserting the free ends of said at least some of the optical fibers into individual ones of the apertures of said second coupler,

positioning the second coupler corneal contact surface against the second cornea,

directing electromagnetic radiation from the source along said at least some of the optical fibers in a manner to heat regions of stromal tissue therein sufficient to shrink the tissue according to said second pattern and thereby reshape the outside surface of the second cornea,

removing the second coupler from the second cornea, and

removing the free ends of said at least some of the optical fibers from the apertures of the second coupler.