Fast response eye tracking
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring the position of an eye during a laser ablation treatment of the eye, the apparatus including:
- an imaging sub-system to record an instantaneous image of a first region of the eye of the patient, which first region traverses the limbus of the eye and to analyze said image to derive a first indication of the location of the limbus in said first region at first intervals;
first optics configured to direct an incident beam along an optical path onto the external surface of the eye so as to illuminate a second region of said surface, which second region includes a segment of the limbus of the eye, and to receive a return beam comprising light of said incident beam scattered by said second region; and
at least one detector configured to detect said return beam and to determine a second indication of the location of the limbus in said second region of said surface, at second intervals, wherein the second intervals are substantially shorter than the first intervals;
the apparatus being configured to determine in response to said first indication the position of the eye at said first or greater intervals, and in response to said second indication update that position within said first or greater intervals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for monitoring the position of an eye during a laser ablation treatment of the eye is provided. The apparatus includes optic means (110) for directing an incident light beam (102) along an optical path (104) onto the external surface of the eye (35) so as to illuminate a region of said surface that includes a segment of the limbus of the eye, and for directing back along said optical path (104), a return beam (122) comprising light of said incident beam scattered by said surface region; beam separation means (125) for separating the return beam (122) from the incident beam (102). The apparatus also includes at least one detector (120), having one or more detector segments (120a, 120b), for detecting said return beam (122), said detector segment(s) (120a, 120b) recording first and second values for light scattered respectively by the sclera and iris in said illuminated region. Movement of said limbal segment, and therefore of the eye (35), produces a change in at least one of said first and second values allowing such movement of the eye (35) to be monitored. A method corresponding to the apparatus is also disclosed.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring the position of an eye during a laser ablation treatment of the eye, the apparatus including:
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an imaging sub-system to record an instantaneous image of a first region of the eye of the patient, which first region traverses the limbus of the eye and to analyze said image to derive a first indication of the location of the limbus in said first region at first intervals; first optics configured to direct an incident beam along an optical path onto the external surface of the eye so as to illuminate a second region of said surface, which second region includes a segment of the limbus of the eye, and to receive a return beam comprising light of said incident beam scattered by said second region; and at least one detector configured to detect said return beam and to determine a second indication of the location of the limbus in said second region of said surface, at second intervals, wherein the second intervals are substantially shorter than the first intervals; the apparatus being configured to determine in response to said first indication the position of the eye at said first or greater intervals, and in response to said second indication update that position within said first or greater intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of monitoring the position of an eye during a laser ablation treatment of the eye, the method including:
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recording an instantaneous image of a first region of the eye of the patient, which first region traverses the limbus of the eye; analyzing said image to derive a first indication of the location of the limbus, in said first regions at first intervals; directing an incident beam along an optical path onto the external surface of the eye so as to illuminate a second region of said surface that includes a segment of the limbus of the eye; detecting a return beam comprising light of said incident beam scattered by said second region of said surface and determining a second indication of the location of the limbus in said second region of said surface, at second intervals substantially shorter than the first intervals; and determining in response to said first indication to the position of the eye at said first or greater intervals; and updating the position of the eye within said first or greater intervals in response to said second indication. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification