Apparatus for Movable and Weight-Compensating Suspension of a Focusing Objective of a Laser System

Apparatus for movable weight-compensating suspension of a focussing objective of a laser system, comprising:

• a force generation device to generate a counterforce component which counteracts the weight of the focussing objective;
• a transmission device which transmits the counterforce component onto the focussing objective and permits upward/downward compensatory movement of the focussing objective;
• and
• a guidance device for movable guidance of the focussing objective, in such a way that in the case of an upward/downward compensatory movement of the focussing objective, an optical axis of the focussing objective maintains at least its orientation in space.

A laser system comprising:

• a laser radiation source;
• a focussing objective for focussing the laser radiation, the focussing objective having an optical axis and a radiation exit side;
• an interface unit, which is arranged on the radiation exit side of the focussing objective, with a contact element, which is transparent to the laser radiation, for placing on an object on which work is to be done using the laser radiation;
• and
• a weight-compensating suspension system coupled to the focussing objective, said system having at least two rocker arms supported on a housing member of the laser system so that the rocker arms can be swivelled around a rocker axis, the focussing objective being supported on one of the rocker arms so that it can rotate relative to the rocker arm around a parallel axis of rotation to the rocker axis, and on the other rocker arm a counterweight to generate a counterforce component which compensates for at least a predominant part of the weight of the focussing objective being attached, and the apparatus also having a guidance system for linearly movable guidance of the focussing objective along the optical axis thereof.

A method of performing laser eye surgery, comprising:

• providing a surgical laser system having a focussing objective portion coupled to a laser radiation source, a counterweight and a rocker arm assembly joining the two components, the rocker arm pivotally coupled to a housing;
• positioning a patient adjacent the focussing objective;
• aligning an optical axis of the focussing objective with an optical axis of an eye;
• and
• advancing the focussing objective along the optical axis toward the eye by, at least in part, rotating the focussing objective with respect to the rocker arm.