초록 ▼

A method, apparatus and system for template-controlled, precision laser interventions is described that greatly improves the accuracy, speed, range, reliability, versatility, safety, and efficacy of interventions such as laser microsurgery, particularly ophthalmic surgery, and industrial micromachin

A method, apparatus and system for template-controlled, precision laser interventions is described that greatly improves the accuracy, speed, range, reliability, versatility, safety, and efficacy of interventions such as laser microsurgery, particularly ophthalmic surgery, and industrial micromachining. The instrument and system are applicable to those specialties wherein the positioning accuracy of laser lesions is critical, wherever accurate containment of the spatial extent of a laser lesion is desirable, and/or whenever precise operations on a target or series of targets subject to movement during the procedure are to be effected. The system thus comprises the following key elements: (1) a user interface, consisting of a video display, microprocessor and controls, (2) an imaging system, which may include a surgical video microscope with zoom capability, (3) an automated 3D target acquisition and tracking system that can follow the movements of the subject tissue, for example an eye, during the operation, thus allowing the surgeon/user to predetermine his firing patern based on an image which is automatically stabilized over time, (4) a laser, with which can be focused so that only the precise lesions described by the user interface are effected, (5) a diagnostic system, incorporating a mapping and topography means for measuring precise surface shapes prior to and subsequent to a procedure, said measurements to be executed on-line within time scales not limited to human response times, and (6) a fast reliable safety means, whereby the laser firing is interrupted automatically, should any conditions arise to warrant such interruption of the procedure.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A laser workstation for precision ophthalmic surgery at a surgery site in a patient's eye tissue, comprising:therapeutic laser means for generating a short pulse laser beam capable of effecting photodisruption of the patient's eye tissue so as to effect desired surgery by sequences

[ We claim:] [1.] A laser workstation for precision ophthalmic surgery at a surgery site in a patient's eye tissue, comprising:therapeutic laser means for generating a short pulse laser beam capable of effecting photodisruption of the patient's eye tissue so as to effect desired surgery by sequences of pulses traversing through a surgical path in the eye tissue, including within transparent tissue of the patient's eye,user interface means including control means for enabling a surgeon to select and initiate a pattern of surgery in the eye tissue of the patient, and including high resolution video imaging means for presenting live, magnified video images of the surgery site to the surgeon on a video monitor,a laser beam delivery system including(a) optical path means for receiving the short pulse laser beam and for aiming the beam at a point in X-Y directions and focussing the beam at a depth as desired toward a target in the patient's eye, including a front lens element from which the beam exits the optical path means toward the patient,(b) beam steering means connected to the optical path means for controlling the position at which the beam is aimed in X-Y directions,(c) beam focussing means connected to the optical path means for controlling the depth at which the laser beam is focussed,tracking means for tracking eye movements of the patient during the progress of the surgery, including X-Y tracking means for tracking a feature of the eye in X and Y directions, and depth or Z tracking means for tracking depth movements of the eye's feature, toward and away from the workstation,microprocessor means connected to the tracking means for automatically shifting the optical path means as the feature of the eye is tracked through X-Y and Z movements, so as to change the aim and focus of the laser beam when necessary to follow such movements of the eye, andsafety interrupt means associated with the microprocessor means for interrupting delivery of the laser beam to the patient when it is determined via the microprocessor means that the tracking means has lost the feature being tracked.