Ophthalmology appliance for photocoagulation or phototherapy, and method for operating such an appliance
AssigneeCarl Zeiss Meditec AG
InventorsManfred Dick, René Denner, Gerald Kunath-Fandrei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device intended to permit photocoagulation or phototherapy at low cost and in a shorter time. For this purpose, an ophthalmology appliance includes a radiation source having several discrete individual emitters. The therapy beam path leading from the radiation source to the treatment area projects an image of at least respective portions of different individual emitters simultaneously onto surfaces spaced apart from each other in the treatment area. This permits simultaneous generation of several coagulation foci and dispenses with the need for electromechanical beam-deflecting units, which permits a shorter treatment time.
Claims34
1-17. (canceled)
An ophthalmological device, comprising:
- a radiation source that produces radiation for photocoagulation or phototherapy of tissue, including a retina of an eye;
- a therapy beam path extending from the radiation source to a treatment region;
- and
- an observation beam path;
- wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of disjoined single emitters and the therapy beam path projects at least respective surface segments of different single emitters simultaneously onto surfaces in the treatment region that are spaced apart from each other.
A computer implemented method for operating a device comprising a radiation source that produces radiation for photocoagulation or phototherapy of tissue, including a retina of an eye;
- a therapy beam path extending from the radiation source to a treatment region;
- and
- an observation beam path;
- wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of disjoined single emitters and the therapy beam path projects at least respective surface segments of different single emitters simultaneously onto surfaces in the treatment region that are spaced apart from each other, the method comprising:
- activating a single emitter with non-coagulating radiation power in a group of single emitters which is jointly projected by a joint optics;
- identifying of a signal for coagulation;
- and
- activating at least one single emitter with coagulating radiation power in each of the groups.
A computer implemented method for operating a device comprising a radiation source that produces radiation for photocoagulation or phototherapy of tissue, including a retina of an eye;
- a therapy beam path extending from the radiation source to a treatment region;
- and
- an observation beam path;
- wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of disjoined single emitters and the therapy beam path projects at least respective surface segments of different single emitters simultaneously onto surfaces in the treatment region that are spaced apart from each other, the method comprising:
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along a first line with non-coagulating radiation power;
- identifying a first signal for coagulation;
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along the first line with coagulating radiation power;
- and
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along a second line that is disjoined with the first line with non-coagulating radiation power;
- identifying a second signal for coagulation;
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along the second line with coagulating radiation power.
A computer readable data storage medium, comprising instructions that cause a computer operably coupled to a device comprising a radiation source that produces radiation for photocoagulation or phototherapy of tissue, including a retina of an eye;
- a therapy beam path extending from the radiation source to a treatment region;
- and
- an observation beam path;
- wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of disjoined single emitters and the therapy beam path projects at least respective surface segments of different single emitters simultaneously onto surfaces in the treatment region that are spaced apart from each other, to perform a method comprising:
- activating a single emitter with non-coagulating radiation power in a group of single emitters which is jointly projected by a joint optics;
- identifying of a signal for coagulation;
- activating at least one single emitter with coagulating radiation power in each of the groups.
A computer readable data storage medium, comprising instructions that cause a computer operably coupled to a device comprising a radiation source that produces radiation for photocoagulation or phototherapy of tissue, including a retina of an eye;
- a therapy beam path extending from the radiation source to a treatment region;
- and
- an observation beam path;
- wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of disjoined single emitters and the therapy beam path projects at least respective surface segments of different single emitters simultaneously onto surfaces in the treatment region that are spaced apart from each other, to perform a method comprising:
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along a first line with non-coagulating radiation power;
- identifying a signal for coagulation;
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along the first line with coagulating radiation power;
- and
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along a second line that is disjoined with the first line with non-coagulating radiation power;
- identifying a second signal for coagulation;
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along the second line with coagulating radiation power.
A control unit operably coupled to a device comprising a radiation source that produces radiation for photocoagulation or phototherapy of tissue, including a retina of an eye;
- a therapy beam path extending from the radiation source to a treatment region;
- and
- an observation beam path;
- wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of disjoined single emitters and the therapy beam path projects at least respective surface segments of different single emitters simultaneously onto surfaces in the treatment region that are spaced apart from each other, the control unit being programmed to perform a method comprising:
- activating a single emitter with non-coagulating radiation power in a group of single emitters which is jointly projected by a joint optics;
- identifying of a signal for coagulation;
- activating at least one single emitter with coagulating radiation power in each of the groups.
A control unit operably coupled to a device comprising a radiation source that produces radiation for photocoagulation or phototherapy of tissue, including a retina of an eye;
- a therapy beam path extending from the radiation source to a treatment region;
- and
- an observation beam path;
- wherein the radiation source comprises a plurality of disjoined single emitters and the therapy beam path projects at least respective surface segments of different single emitters simultaneously onto surfaces in the treatment region that are spaced apart from each other, the control unit being programmed to perform a method comprising:
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along a first line with non-coagulating radiation power;
- identifying a signal for coagulation;
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along the first line with coagulating radiation power;
- and
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along a second line that is disjoined with the first line with non-coagulating radiation power;
- identifying a second signal for coagulation;
- activating a plurality of single emitters that irradiate along the second line with coagulating radiation power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.