초록 ▼

An ophthalmic laser treatment system and method providing for a liquid optical interface (LOI) with a patient eye surface (PES) using an elliptical ocular suction ring (OSR) is disclosed. A disposable ocular patient interface (OPI) provides for simultaneous differential vacuum mating of the PES, OSR

An ophthalmic laser treatment system and method providing for a liquid optical interface (LOI) with a patient eye surface (PES) using an elliptical ocular suction ring (OSR) is disclosed. A disposable ocular patient interface (OPI) provides for simultaneous differential vacuum mating of the PES, OSR, OPI, and an optical window retainer (OWR). The PES, OSR, OPI, and OWR form an enclosed volume in which liquid may be interjected to cover the PES during laser treatment. A vacuum suction pump (VSP) provides controlled vacuum to the OPI ensuring proper differential vacuum mating (DVM) between the PES, OSR, OPI, and OWR during laser treatment. The OWR connects to a laser objective bracket (LOB) via an ocular force sensor (OFS) and an optical separator bracket (OSB). The OFS senses applied pressure to the PES and provides data to a computerized control device (CCD) that limits applied pressure to the PES during laser treatment.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A liquid patient interface (LPI) system for use in ophthalmic laser surgery, said system comprising: (a) ocular suction ring (OSR);(b) ocular patient interface (OPI);(c) optical window retainer (OWR);(d) optical separator bracket (OSB);(e) ocular force sensor (OFS);(f) laser objective bracket (LO

1. A liquid patient interface (LPI) system for use in ophthalmic laser surgery, said system comprising: (a) ocular suction ring (OSR);(b) ocular patient interface (OPI);(c) optical window retainer (OWR);(d) optical separator bracket (OSB);(e) ocular force sensor (OFS);(f) laser objective bracket (LOB);(g) vacuum suction pump (VSP); and(h) computer control device (CCD);wherein:said ocular suction ring (OSR) comprises a mating contact ring (MCR) configured to mate with a corresponding mating contact surface (MCS) on said ocular patient interface (OPI);said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises an outer contact ring (OCR) configured to mate with a patient eye surface (PES);said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises an inner contact ring (ICR) configured to mate with said patient eye surface (PES);said outer contact ring (OCR) comprises an outer elliptical cylindrical tube (OET) having an outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) and an outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) that configure said outer contact ring (OCR) with an outer ellipse eccentricity (OEE) greater than zero;said inner contact ring (ICR) comprises an inner elliptical cylindrical tube (IET) having an inner ellipse major axis (IEJ) and an inner ellipse minor axis (IEN) that configure said inner contact ring (ICR) with an inner ellipse eccentricity (IEE) greater than zero;said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) is coincident with said inner ellipse major axis (IEJ);said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) is coincident with said inner ellipse minor axis (IEN);said outer elliptical cylindrical tube (OET) comprises an outer distal peripheral edge (ODE) that is longitudinally curved to conform to said patient eye surface (PES);said inner elliptical cylindrical tube (IET) comprises an inner distal peripheral edge (IDE) that is longitudinally curved to conform to said patient eye surface (PES);said outer contact ring (OCR) and said inner contact ring (ICR) are joined together with a contact ring radius (CRR) to form a patient eye vacuum chamber (EVC) configured to said patient eye surface (PES) when said outer distal peripheral edge (ODE) and said inner distal peripheral edge (IDE) simultaneously contact said patient eye surface (PES);said ocular patient interface (OPI) comprises a conical mating surface (CMS) configured to mate with a corresponding vacuum mating surface (VMS) on said optical window retainer (OWR) and provide for a vacuum docking void (VDV) between said conical mating surface (CMS) and said vacuum mating surface (VMS);said ocular patient interface (OPI) is configured to dynamically mate to said optical window retainer (OWR) when vacuum is applied to said vacuum docking void (VDV);said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a docking vacuum port (DVP), a suction vacuum port (SVP), and a liquid injection port (LIP);said ocular patient interface (OPI) is configured to retain a liquid interface window (LIW) concentric with said mating contact surface (MCS);said vacuum suction pump (VSP) is configured to supply controlled differential vacuum to said docking vacuum port (DVP) and said suction vacuum port (SVP);said docking vacuum port (DVP) is connected to said vacuum docking void (VDV);said optical window retainer (OWR) is mechanically coupled to said optical separator bracket (OSB);said optical separator bracket (OSB) is mechanically coupled to said ocular force sensor (OFS);said ocular force sensor (OFS) is configured to sense pressure applied to said patient eye surface (PES) by said ocular suction ring (OSR) via measurement of deflections of said ocular force sensor (OFS) caused by application of mechanical force by said patient eye surface (PES) through said ocular suction ring (OSR), said ocular patient interface (OPI), said optical window retainer (OWR), and said optical separator bracket (OSB);said laser objective bracket (LOB) is configured to retain a laser radiation source (LRS);said laser radiation source (LRS) is configured to direct laser radiation through said optical window retainer (OWR) and said patient eye vacuum chamber (EVC) to said patient eye surface (PES); andsaid computer control device (CCD) is configured to control operation of said laser radiation source (LRS), monitor pressure readings from said ocular force sensor (OFS), and monitor applied vacuum pressure to said patient eye surface (PES) by said vacuum suction pump (VSP). 2. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises one or more radial ribs connecting said outer contact ring (OCR) and said contact ring radius (CRR) and configured to contact said patient eye surface (PES). 3. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises four radial ribs connecting said outer contact ring (OCR) and said contact ring radius (CRR) and configured to contact said patient eye surface (PES). 4. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) has a length in the range from 20 mm to 25 mm. 5. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) has a length of 23 mm. 6. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) has a length in the range from 17 mm to 21 mm. 7. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) has a length of 19 mm. 8. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said vacuum suction pump (VSP) further comprises a vacuum regulator configured to limit suction force applied by said ocular suction ring (OSR) to said patient eye surface (PES). 9. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a liquid overflow chamber (LOC) configured to accept fluid injected from said liquid injection port (LIP) that overflows coverage of said patient eye surface (PES). 10. The liquid patient interface (LPI) system of claim 1 wherein said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a liquid overflow port (LOP) configured to emit fluid injected from said liquid injection port (LIP) that overflows containment by said liquid overflow chamber (LOC). 11. [Method Base 1] An ophthalmic laser treatment method, said method operating a liquid patient interface (LPI) system comprising: (a) ocular suction ring (OSR);(b) ocular patient interface (OPI);(c) optical window retainer (OWR);(d) optical separator bracket (OSB);(e) ocular force sensor (OFS);(f) laser objective bracket (LOB);(g) vacuum suction pump (VSP); and(h) computer control device (CCD);wherein:said ocular suction ring (OSR) comprises a mating contact ring (MCR) configured to mate with a corresponding mating contact surface (MCS) on said ocular patient interface (OPI);said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises an outer contact ring (OCR) configured to mate with a patient eye surface (PES);said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises an inner contact ring (ICR) configured to mate with said patient eye surface (PES);said outer contact ring (OCR) comprises an outer elliptical cylindrical tube (OET) having an outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) and an outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) that configure said outer contact ring (OCR) with an outer ellipse eccentricity (OEE) greater than zero;said inner contact ring (ICR) comprises an inner elliptical cylindrical tube (IET) having an inner ellipse major axis (IEJ) and an inner ellipse minor axis (IEN) that configure said inner contact ring (ICR) with an inner ellipse eccentricity (IEE) greater than zero;said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) is coincident with said inner ellipse major axis (IEJ);said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) is coincident with said inner ellipse minor axis (IEN);said outer elliptical cylindrical tube (OET) comprises an outer distal peripheral edge (ODE) that is longitudinally curved to conform to said patient eye surface (PES);said inner elliptical cylindrical tube (IET) comprises an inner distal peripheral edge (IDE) that is longitudinally curved to conform to said patient eye surface (PES);said outer contact ring (OCR) and said inner contact ring (ICR) are joined together with a contact ring radius (CRR) to form a patient eye vacuum chamber (EVC) configured to said patient eye surface (PES) when said patient eye surface (PES) is contacted simultaneously with said outer distal peripheral edge (ODE) and said inner distal peripheral edge (IDE);said ocular patient interface (OPI) comprises a conical mating surface (CMS) configured to mate with a corresponding vacuum mating surface (VMS) on said optical window retainer (OWR) and provide for a vacuum docking void (VDV) between said conical mating surface (CMS) and said vacuum mating surface (VMS);said ocular patient interface (OPI) is configured to dynamically mate to said optical window retainer (OWR) when vacuum is applied to said vacuum docking void (VDV);said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a docking vacuum port (DVP), a suction vacuum port (SVP), and a liquid injection port (LIP);said ocular patient interface (OPI) is configured to retain a liquid interface window (LIW) concentric with said mating contact surface (MCS);said vacuum suction pump (VSP) is configured to supply controlled differential vacuum to said docking vacuum port (DVP) and said suction vacuum port (SVP);said docking vacuum port (DVP) is connected to said vacuum docking void (VDV);said optical window retainer (OWR) is mechanically coupled to said optical separator bracket (OSB);said optical separator bracket (OSB) is mechanically coupled to said ocular force sensor (OFS);said ocular force sensor (OFS) is configured to sense pressure applied to said patient eye surface (PES) by said ocular suction ring (OSR) via measurement of deflections of said ocular force sensor (OFS) caused by application of mechanical force by said patient eye surface (PES) through said ocular suction ring (OSR), said ocular patient interface (OPI), said optical window retainer (OWR), and said optical separator bracket (OSB);said laser objective bracket (LOB) is configured to retain a laser radiation source (LRS);said laser radiation source (LRS) is configured to direct laser radiation through said optical window retainer (OWR) and said patient eye vacuum chamber (EVC) to said patient eye surface (PES); andsaid computer control device (CCD) is configured to control operation of said laser radiation source (LRS), monitor pressure readings from said ocular force sensor (OFS), and monitor and control applied vacuum pressure to said patient eye surface (PES) by said vacuum suction pump (VSP);wherein said method comprises the steps of:(1) Connecting said vacuum suction pump (VSP) to said ocular patient interface (OPI);(2) Setting differential vacuum pressures on said vacuum suction pump (VSP);(3) Positioning said liquid patient interface (LPI) to mate said ocular suction ring (OSR) onto said patient eye surface (PES);(4) Activating said vacuum suction pump (VSP) to vacuum mate said ocular suction ring (OSR) to said patient eye surface (PES);(5) Under control of said computer control device (CCD), monitoring vacuum pressure to said patient eye surface (PES) by reading vacuum measurements obtained from a vacuum gauge connected to said vacuum suction pump (VSP);(6) Under control of said computer control device (CCD), monitoring applied pressure to said patient eye surface (PES) by reading pressure measurements obtained by said ocular force sensor (OFS);(7) Docking said optical window retainer (OWR) to said ocular patient interface (OPI);(8) Activate a docking ring vacuum with said vacuum suction pump (VSP);(9) Injecting a balanced liquid solution (BLS) into said liquid injection port (LIP) of said ocular patient interface (OPI);(10) Performing ophthalmic laser surgery with a laser radiation source (LRS) operated by said computer control device (CCD) and positioned by said laser objective bracket (LOB);(11) Dejecting said balanced liquid solution (BLS) using said liquid injection port (LIP) of said ocular patient interface (OPI);(12) Undocking said optical window retainer (OWR) from said ocular patient interface (OPI); and(13) Undocking said ocular suction ring (OSR) from said patient eye surface PES). 12. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises one or more radial ribs connecting said outer contact ring (OCR) and said contact ring radius (CRR) and configured to contact said patient eye surface (PES). 13. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises four radial ribs connecting said outer contact ring (OCR) and said contact ring radius (CRR) and configured to contact said patient eye surface (PES). 14. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) has a length in the range from 20 mm to 25 mm. 15. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) has a length of 23 mm. 16. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) has a length in the range from 17 mm to 21 mm. 17. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) has a length of 19 mm. 18. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said vacuum suction pump (VSP) further comprises a vacuum regulator configured to limit suction force applied by said ocular suction ring (OSR) to said patient eye surface (PES). 19. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a liquid overflow chamber (LOC) configured to accept fluid injected from said liquid injection port (LIP) that overflows coverage of said patient eye surface (PES). 20. The ophthalmic laser treatment method of claim 11 wherein said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a liquid overflow port (LOP) configured to emit fluid injected from said liquid injection port (LIP) that overflows containment by said liquid overflow chamber (LOC). 21. [Code Base 1] A tangible non-transitory computer usable medium having computer-readable program code means embodied thereon comprising an ophthalmic laser treatment method, said method operating a liquid patient interface (LPI) system comprising: (a) ocular suction ring (OSR);(b) ocular patient interface (OPI);(c) optical window retainer (OWR);(d) optical separator bracket (OSB);(e) ocular force sensor (OFS);(f) laser objective bracket (LOB);(g) vacuum suction pump (VSP); and(h) computer control device (CCD);wherein:said ocular suction ring (OSR) comprises a mating contact ring (MCR) configured to mate with a corresponding mating contact surface (MCS) on said ocular patient interface (OPI);said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises an outer contact ring (OCR) configured to mate with a patient eye surface (PES);said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises an inner contact ring (ICR) configured to mate with said patient eye surface (PES);said outer contact ring (OCR) comprises an outer elliptical cylindrical tube (OET) having an outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) and an outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) that configure said outer contact ring (OCR) with an outer ellipse eccentricity (OEE) greater than zero;said inner tact ring (ICR) comprises an inner elliptical cylindrical tube (IET) having an inner ellipse major axis (IEJ) and an inner ellipse minor axis (IEN) that configure said inner contact ring (ICR) with an inner ellipse eccentricity (IEE) greater than zero;said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) is coincident with said inner ellipse major axis (IEJ);said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) is coincident with said inner ellipse minor axis (IEN);said outer elliptical cylindrical tube (OET) comprises an outer distal peripheral edge (ODE) that is longitudinally curved to conform to said patient eye surface (PES);said inner elliptical cylindrical tube (IET) comprises an inner distal peripheral edge (IDE) that is longitudinally curved to conform to said patient eye surface (PES);said outer contact ring (OCR) and said inner contact ring (ICR) are joined together with a contact ring radius (CRR) to form a patient eye vacuum chamber (EVC) configured to said patient eye surface (PES) when said patient eye surface (PES) is contacted simultaneously with said outer distal peripheral edge (ODE) and said inner distal peripheral edge (IDE);said ocular patient interface (OPI) comprises a conical mating surface (CMS) configured to mate with a corresponding vacuum mating surface (VMS) on said optical window retainer (OWR) and provide for a vacuum docking void (VDV) between said conical mating surface (CMS) and said vacuum mating surface (VMS);said ocular patient interface (OPI) is configured to dynamically mate to said optical window retainer (OWR) when vacuum is applied to said vacuum docking void (VDV);said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a docking vacuum port (DVP), a suction vacuum port (SVP), and a liquid injection port (LIP);said ocular patient interface (OPI) is configured to retain a liquid interface window (LIW) concentric with said mating contact surface (MCS);said vacuum suction pump (VSP) is configured to supply controlled differential vacuum to said docking vacuum port (DVP) and said suction vacuum port (SVP);said docking vacuum port (DVP) is connected to said vacuum docking void (VDV);said optical window retainer (OWR) is mechanically coupled to said optical separator bracket (OSB);said optical separator bracket (OSB) is mechanically coupled to said ocular force sensor (OFS);said ocular force sensor (OFS) is configured to sense pressure applied to said patient eye surface (PES) by said ocular suction ring (OSR) via measurement of deflections of said ocular force sensor (OFS) caused by application of mechanical force by said patient eye surface (PES) through said ocular suction ring (OSR), said ocular patient interface (OPI), said optical window retainer (OWR), and said optical separator bracket (OSB);said laser objective bracket (LOB) is configured to retain a laser radiation source (LRS);said laser radiation source (LRS) is configured to direct laser radiation through said optical window retainer (OWR) and said patient eye vacuum chamber (EVC) to said patient eye surface (PES); andsaid computer control device (CCD) is configured to control operation of said laser radiation source (LRS), monitor pressure readings from said ocular force sensor (ORS), and monitor and control applied vacuum pressure to said patient eye surface (PES) by said vacuum suction pump (VSP);wherein said method comprises the steps of:(1) Connecting said vacuum suction pump (VSP) to said docking vacuum port (DVP) and said suction vacuum port (SVP) of said ocular patient interface (OPI);(2) Setting differential vacuum pressures on said vacuum suction pump (VSP);(3) Positioning said liquid patient interface (LPI) to mate said ocular suction ring (OSR) onto said patient eye surface (PES);(4) Activating said vacuum suction pump (VSP) to vacuum mate said ocular suction ring (OSR) to said patient eye surface (PES);(5) Under control of said computer control device (CCD), monitoring vacuum pressure to said patient eye surface (PES) by reading vacuum measurements obtained from a vacuum gauge connected to said vacuum suction pump (VSP);(6) Under control of said computer control device (CCD), monitoring applied pressure to said patient eye surface (PES) by reading pressure measurements obtained by said ocular force sensor (OFS);(7) Docking said optical window retainer (OWR) to said ocular patient interface (OPI);(8) Activate a docking ring vacuum with said vacuum suction pump (VSP);(9) Injecting a balanced liquid solution (BLS) into said liquid injection port (LIP) of said ocular patient interface (OPI);(10) Performing ophthalmic laser surgery with a laser radiation source (LRS) operated by said computer control device (CCD) and positioned by said laser objective bracket (LOB);(11) Dejecting said balanced liquid solution (BLS) using said liquid injection port (LIP) of said ocular patient interface (OPI);(12) Undocking said optical window retainer (OWR) from said ocular patient interface (OPI); and(13) Undocking said ocular suction ring (OSR) from said patient eye surface (PES). 22. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises one or more radial ribs connecting said outer contact ring (OCR) and said contact ring radius (CRR) and configured to contact said patient eye surface (PES). 23. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said ocular suction ring (OSR) further comprises four radial ribs connecting said outer contact ring (OCR) and said contact ring radius (CRR) and configured to contact said patient eye surface (PES). 24. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) has a length in the range from 20 mm to 25 mm. 25. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said outer ellipse major axis (OEJ) has a length of 23 mm. 26. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) has a length in the range from 17 mm to 21 mm. 27. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said outer ellipse minor axis (OEN) has a length of 19 mm. 28. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said vacuum suction pump (VSP) further comprises a vacuum regulator configured to limit suction force applied by said ocular suction ring (OSR) to said patient eye surface (PES). 29. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a liquid overflow chamber (LOC) configured to accept fluid injected from said liquid injection port (LIP) that overflows coverage of said patient eye surface (PES). 30. The computer usable medium of claim 21 wherein said ocular patient interface (OPI) further comprises a liquid overflow port (LOP) configured to emit fluid injected from said liquid injection port (LIP) that overflows containment by said liquid overflow chamber (LOC).