초록 ▼

In the context of ultraviolet-laser sculpting of the cornea to achieve optical correction through a newly shaped anterior surface, the invention subjects the laser beam to certain shaping and homogenizing operations prior to any attempt to specially characterize the beam for a particular sculpturing

In the context of ultraviolet-laser sculpting of the cornea to achieve optical correction through a newly shaped anterior surface, the invention subjects the laser beam to certain shaping and homogenizing operations prior to any attempt to specially characterize the beam for a particular sculpturing procedure. In a preferred embodiment, the shaping and homogenizing operations present a tolerably homogeneous beam of enlarged dimension, so that specialty-characterizing may proceed on a dimensional scale that is greater than the corresponding dimension of ultimate surgical delivery to the eye, thereby enabling greater control of the quality of specialty-characterizing. Provision is made for selectively monitoring the quality of the homogeneity and/or of the specially-characterized beam, with further provision for automated cutoff of laser beam delivery to an eye in the event that quality is not within predetermined limits of tolerance. And preferably, all beam shaping, homogenizing and characterizing operations proceed in a controlled environment which precludes ozone development and thus minimizes the beam-degrading effect of ozone and particulates or other contaminants.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for performing an ablating sculpture of the anterior surface of the cornea of an eye, comprising an excimer laser for pulsed emission of ultraviolet radiation in a beam of rectangular section wherein intensity distribution is generally uniform in the longer-dimensional direction and is gen

Apparatus for performing an ablating sculpture of the anterior surface of the cornea of an eye, comprising an excimer laser for pulsed emission of ultraviolet radiation in a beam of rectangular section wherein intensity distribution is generally uniform in the longer-dimensional direction and is generally Gaussian about the center of its shorter-dimensional direction; and optical elements in a path of beam transmission to the eye, including means for centering the beam on the viewing axis of the eye and for shaping the beam to a circle wherein said generally Gaussian distribution is symmetrical about a diameter of the circle and wherein the diameter of the circle conforms to that of the area of the cornea to be subjected to ablation; said optical elements including beam-rotating means, whereby the orientation of the Gaussian distribution may be subjected to rotation with respect to the eye.