LASIK laminar flow system

• US 7,311,700 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Med-Logics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Med-Logics Incorporated
• Inventors: Guimaraes, Ricardo, Ross, Rod
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALI, SHUMAYA B
• Application Number:
  US09/726,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,582 Days
• Field of Search: 606 2- 6, 606 10- 13, 606/17, 606/19, 606/107, 606/166, 623/4.1, 623/4.5, 623/5.11, 623/107, 359/368, 359/372, 359/379, 359380-382, 604/23, 604/35
• US Class Current: 606/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/006 for smoke evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00804 Refractive treatments

Abstract

A system that can be used to perform an ophthalmic procedure. The system may include a patient support that supports a patient and a light source which can direct a beam of light onto the patient'"'"'s cornea. The system may also include an airflow module that directs a flow of air above the cornea. The flow of air reduces the amount of contaminants that may become attached to the cornea during the procedure.

Claims

1. A method for performing an ophthalmic procedure on a cornea of a patient, comprising:

operating an air flow module including an outlet and a plurality of vent blades adjustably mounted to the outlet, wherein operating includes adjusting the vent blades to direct a laminar flow of air from the outlet, around the vent blades, and above the cornea from one side of the cornea to another side of the cornea, at a distance so that the cornea is not de-hydrated by the flow of air;

creating a flap in the cornea;

moving the flap to expose a portion of the cornea;

ablating a portion of the exposed cornea with a laser beam; and

moving the flap back onto the cornea.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a flowrate of the flow of air.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a direction of the flow of air.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the vent blades includes rotating a wheel relative to the outlet, the vent blades being mounted to the wheel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the air flowing from the outlet has a significant horizontal component.