Apparatus for coupling an element to the eye

• US 8,475,433 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WaveLight AG (WaveLight GmbH)
• Inventors: Donitzky, Christof, Wllner, Christian, Mrochen, Michael, Beler, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hand, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAIG, PAULA L
• Application Number:
  US12/531,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 604/294, 604/541
• US Class Current: 604/541
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00857 considering biodynamics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/013 Instruments for compensation of ocular refraction A61F9/008 takes precedence; Instruments for use in cornea removal, for reshaping or performing incisions in the cornea

Abstract

The invention relates to a suction ring (2) for ophthalmic surgery, with a first suction region (4), which is designed to suck the suction ring onto an eye (18), and with a second suction region (10), which is designed to aspirate a functional element (12). The functional element and/or the suction ring may exhibit measuring means. The functional element may be formed in the manner of a container, so that it can receive a liquid which in operation is located between the cornea of the eye and a lens.

Claims

1. A device for ophthalmic surgery, the device comprising:

a functional element having a first end region and an opposing second end region, the first end region of the functional element sized and shaped to be coupled to a portion of a laser system and the second end region of the functional element including an applanation element configured to engage a portion of a cornea of an eye to be treated; and

an eye-suction device configured to be selectively, fixedly engaged to the second end region of the functional element and configured to be selectively, fixedly engaged to the eye to be treated, the eye-suction device having a body defining a first fluid pathway of a first suction region, a second fluid pathway of a second suction region, and a third fluid passageway of a third suction region, wherein the first, second, and third suction regions are in fluid communication with at least one vacuum source such that;

application of a partial vacuum to the first suction region fixedly secures the eye-suction device to the eye to be treated upon which the eye-suction device has been placed;

application of a partial vacuum to the second suction region fixedly secures the eye-suction device to the second end region of the functional element; and

application of a partial vacuum to the third suction region fixedly secures the cornea of the eye to be treated to the applanation element of the functional element.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein application of the partial vacuum to the third suction region is set independently of the first and second suction regions.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein application of the partial vacuum to the second suction region is set independently of the first suction region.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first suction region is in fluid communication with a first partial-vacuum feed, the second suction region is in fluid communication with a second partial-vacuum feed, and the third suction region is in fluid communication with a third partial-vacuum feed.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one vacuum source comprises a single suction pump.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein each of the first, second, and third partial-vacuum feeds are in communication with the single suction pump.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the single suction pump includes a separate controller for each of the first, second, and third partial-vacuum feeds.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the applanation element includes a plurality of fiber sensors.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the fiber sensors are configured to implement a spectroscopic process for determining a water content of the cornea of the eye to be treated.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the fiber sensors are configured to detect scattering of light for determining a transparency of the cornea of the eye to be treated.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the eye-suction device includes a plurality of force sensors integrated therein such that an intraocular pressure is determined from the plurality of force sensors.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the functional element includes a plurality of position elements for determining a position of the functional element relative to a reference geometry.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of position elements is a passive element.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of position elements is an active element that emits a signal.

15. A device for ophthalmic surgery, the device comprising:

a container element having a first end region, an opposing second end region having a focusing lens, and a wall extending between the first end region and the second end region to define an interior cavity of the container element, wherein a first opening extends through the wall in fluid communication with the interior cavity adjacent the first end region and a second opening extends through the wall in fluid communication with the interior cavity adjacent the second end region such that a fluid is supplied into the interior cavity to fill a space between the focusing lens and a cornea of an eye to be treated without an applanation element being positioned between the focusing lens and the cornea of the eye to be treated; and

an eye-suction device configured to be selectively, fixedly engaged to the first end region of the container element and configured to be selectively, fixedly engaged to an eye to be treated, the eye-suction device having a body defining a first fluid pathway of a first suction region and a second fluid pathway of a second suction region, wherein the first and second suction regions are in fluid communication with at least one vacuum source such that;

application of a partial vacuum to the first suction region fixedly secures the eye-suction device to the eye to be treated upon which the eye-suction device has been placed; and

application of a partial vacuum to the second suction region fixedly secures the eye-suction device to the first end region of the container element.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising the fluid to be supplied into the interior cavity to fill the space between the focusing lens and the cornea of an eye to be treated.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the fluid has an index of refraction from approximately 1.35 to approximately 1.40.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the container has a conical shape.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the container defines a fixed spacing between the focusing lens and the cornea of the eye to be treated.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein application of the partial vacuum to the second suction region is set independently of application of the partial vacuum to the first suction region.