# US 11,076,933 B2 · Authentication systems and methods for an excimer laser system

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- Number: US 11,076,933 B2
- Document ID: US11076933B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/389,346
- Filed: 2019-04-19
- Published: 2020-10-22
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-19
- Assignees: ELT Sight, Inc.
- Applicants: Elt Sight, Inc.
- Inventors: Johannes Junger; Markus Enders
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076933B2

## CPC

- A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
- A61B 18/20: using laser
- A61B 18/22: the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; {Couplings or} hand-pieces therefor
- A61F 9/008: using laser
- A61F 9/00814: {Laser features or special beam parameters therefor}
- G06K 19/077: Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
- A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display}
- A61B 2017/00482: {with a code}
- A61B 2017/00973: {pedal-operated}
- A61B 2018/00988: {Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter}
- A61F 2009/00863: {Retina}
- A61F 2009/00868: {Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork}
- A61F 2009/00872: {Cornea}
- A61F 2009/00891: {Glaucoma}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

The invention provides an excimer laser system including a means for authenticating laser probes to be used with the excimer laser system via radio-frequency identification techniques.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for use in treating an eye condition, the system comprising:
a laser unit comprising:
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader;
an excimer laser source;
a control system configured to control an output of said excimer laser source based, at least in part, on analysis of tag data read by said RFID reader; and
a connection port; and
a plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes, wherein each probe of the plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes comprises a connection assembly configured to connect to the connection port of the laser unit, the connection assembly comprising an RFID tag comprising data associated with a unique authentication identifier and operational history of each probe, wherein each probe is further attachable to the laser unit and either activated for use or denied use with the excimer laser source by the control system based on the analysis of said data read by said RFID reader,
wherein:
the connection port of the laser unit is configured to receive the connection assembly of a first probe of the plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes such that the RFID tag is readable by the RFID reader while the connection port of the laser unit and the connection assembly of the first probe are connected; and
the control system is configured to receive the data comprising the unique authentication identifier from the RFID reader and determine, based at least in part on the unique authentication identifier, that the first probe is compatible for use with the laser unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag comprises a passive tag.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said passive tag provides the data in response to electromagnetic energy emitted from said RFID reader.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag comprises an active tag.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein said active tag continuously broadcasts signals, including said data, to be received by said RFID reader.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said analysis comprises correlating said data, read by said RFID reader, with at least a set of predefined authentication data stored either locally or remotely and controlled by a manufacturer of the laser unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the first probe is determined to be authentic upon a positive correlation and determined to be inauthentic upon a negative correlation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein said control system is configured to permit transmission of laser radiation from said excimer laser source to a fiber optic core of the first probe in response to a positive correlation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein said control system is configured to prevent transmission of laser radiation from said excimer laser source to a fiber optic core of the first probe in response to a negative correlation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, where said unique authentication identifier comprises an authentication key or identity number.

### Claim 11

A system for use in treating an eye condition, the system comprising:
a laser unit comprising:
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader;
an excimer laser source;
a controller configured to control an output of said excimer laser source based, at least in part, on analysis of data read by said RFID reader; and
a connection port; and
a plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes, wherein each probe of the plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes comprises a connection assembly configured to connect to the connection port of the laser unit, the connection assembly comprising an RFID tag comprising data associated with a unique authentication identifier,
wherein:
the connection port of the laser unit is configured to receive the connection assembly of a first probe of the plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes such that the RFID tag is readable by the RFID reader while the connection port of the laser unit and the connection assembly of the first probe are connected; and
the controller is configured to receive the data comprising the unique authentication identifier from the RFID reader and determine, based at least in part on the unique authentication identifier, that the first probe is compatible for use with the laser unit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein said unique authentication identifier comprises an authentication key or identity number.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine, based at least in part on the unique authentication identifier, that the first probe is authorized for use with the laser unit by a manufacturer of the laser unit.

### Claim 14

A system for use in treating an eye condition, the system comprising:
a laser unit comprising:
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader;
an excimer laser source;
a controller configured to control an output of said excimer laser source based, at least in part, on analysis of data read by said RFID reader; and
a connection port; and
a plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes, wherein each probe of the plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes comprises a connection assembly configured to connect to the connection port of the laser unit, the connection assembly comprising an RFID tag comprising data associated with an operational history of each probe,
wherein:
the connection port of the laser unit is configured to receive the connection assembly of a first probe of the of the plurality of single-use, disposable laser probes such that the RFID tag is readable by the RFID reader while the connection port of the laser unit and the connection assembly of the first probe are connected; and
the controller is configured to receive the data associated with the operational history of the first probe from the RFID reader and determine, based at least in part on the operational history, that the first probe is permitted for use with the laser unit.

### Claim 15

The system of claim of 14, wherein the operational history is indicative of whether the first probe has been previously used or if the first probe has been used for a predetermined number of pulses.