Eye therapy system
AssigneeAvedro, Inc.
InventorDavid Muller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for applying therapy to an eye selectively applies coolant to the corneal surface to minimize heat-related damage to the corneal surface during thermokeratoplasty. Embodiments may include an energy source, a conducting element, a coolant supply, and at least one coolant delivery element. The conducting element is operably connected to the energy source and extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The conducting element directs energy from the energy source to the distal end, which is positionable at the eye. The coolant delivery elements are in communication with the coolant supply and are operable to deliver a micro-controlled pulse of coolant to the distal end.
Claims121
A system for applying therapy to an eye, the system comprising:
- an electrical energy source;
- an electrical energy conducting element, comprising two conductors separated by a gap of a selected distance and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the electrical conducting element operably connected to the electrical energy source and adapted to receive, at the proximal end, electrical energy generated by the electrical energy source and direct the electrical energy at the distal end, the distal end being positionable at an eye;
- a coolant supply;
- and
- at least one coolant delivery element in communication with the coolant supply, the at least one coolant delivery element being operable to deliver a micro-controlled pulse of coolant to the distal end.
A system for applying therapy to an eye, the system comprising:
- an optical energy source;
- an optical energy conducting element connected to the optical energy source and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the optical conducting element adapted to direct optical energy from the optical energy source to the distal end, the distal end being positionable at an eye;
- a coolant supply;
- and
- at least one coolant delivery element in communication with the coolant supply, the at least one coolant delivery element being operable to deliver a micro-controlled pulse of coolant to the distal end.
A system for applying therapy to an eye, the system comprising:
- an energy source;
- a conducting element operably connected to the energy source and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the conducting element adapted to direct energy from the energy source to the distal end, the distal end being positionable at an eye;
- and
- at least one coolant delivery element being operable to deliver a micro-controlled pulse of coolant to the distal end,
- wherein the coolant provides cooling at the distal end as a gas after being delivered as the micro-controlled pulse with a lower pressure being generated at the distal end.
(canceled)
A system for applying therapy to an eye, the system comprising:
- an energy source;
- a monopole conductor connected to the energy source and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the conductor adapted to contact, at the distal end, an eye of a body, whereby the body acts as a backplane and the conductor delivers energy to the eye;
- a coolant supply;
- and
- at least one coolant delivery element in communication with the coolant supply, the at least one coolant delivery element being operable to deliver a micro-controlled pulse of coolant to the distal end.
A system for applying therapy to an eye, the system comprising:
- an energy conducting element adapted to deliver energy;
- and
- a vacuum ring receiving the energy conducting element, the vacuum ring being adapted to create a vacuum connection with an eye and to position the energy conducting element relative to the eye, whereby the energy conducting element directs the energy to the eye.
A system for applying therapy to an eye, the system comprising:
- an energy source;
- a conducting element operably connected to the energy source and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the conducting element adapted to direct energy from the energy source to the distal end, the distal end being positionable at the eye;
- a coolant supply;
- and
- at least one coolant delivery element in communication with the coolant supply, the at least one coolant delivery element being operable to deliver a micro-controlled pulse of coolant to the distal end.
A method of applying therapy to an eye, the method comprising:
- delivering a first pulse of coolant to an eye from a coolant supply;
- and
- delivering an energy pulse to the eye from an energy source, wherein the energy pulse is shorter than a thermal diffusion time in the eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.