Endpoint-managed photocoagulation

A method for laser treatment of an eye of a patient, the method comprising:

• receiving a laser treatment beam power and a laser treatment beam duration representing a dose of laser energy sufficient to produce a first type of detectable lesion on the eye;
• determining a first Arrhenius integral value based on the received laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration;
• determining a set of data points that define a first constant-Arrhenius curve corresponding to the first Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the set of data points that define the first constant-Arrhenius curve represents combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration sufficient to produce the first type of detectable lesion;
• determining a set of data points that define a second constant-Arrhenius curve corresponding to a second Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the second Arrhenius integral value has a logarithmic relationship to the first Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the set of data points that define the second constant-Arrhenius curve represents combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration sufficient to produce a second type of detectable lesion, and
• wherein the first type and the second type of detectable lesion have different types of clinical results;
• determining a set of data points that define an operating curve for a laser treatment beam,
• wherein the operating curve intersects the first and second constant-Arrhenius curves, and
• wherein the set of data points that define the operating curve represents selectable combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration configured to be output by a laser energy source for delivering doses of laser energy;
• receiving a selection corresponding to a data point of the set of data points that define the operating curve;
• in response to receiving the selection, adjusting at least one of a power and a duration of the laser treatment beam in accordance with the laser treatment beam power and the laser treatment beam duration represented by the selected data point of the operating curve;
• and
• outputting the laser treatment beam using the laser energy source.

A system for laser treatment of an eye of a patient, the system comprising:

• a laser energy source configured to generate a laser treatment beam;
• and
• a computer processor configured to:
• receive a laser treatment beam power and a laser treatment beam duration representing a dose of laser energy sufficient to produce a first type of detectable lesion on the eye;
• determine a first Arrhenius integral value based on the received laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration;
• determine a set of data points that define a first constant-Arrhenius curve corresponding to the first Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the set of data points that define the first constant-Arrhenius curve represents combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration sufficient to produce the first type of detectable lesion;
• determine a set of data points that define a second constant-Arrhenius curve corresponding to a second Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the second Arrhenius integral value has a logarithmic relationship to the first Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the set of data points that define the second constant-Arrhenius curve represents combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration sufficient to produce a second type of detectable lesion, and
• wherein the first type and the second type of detectable lesion have different types of clinical results;
• determine a set of data points that define an operating curve for a laser treatment beam,
• wherein the operating curve intersects the first and second constant-Arrhenius curves, and
• wherein the set of data points that define the operating curve represents selectable combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration configured to be output by a laser energy source for delivering doses of laser energy;
• receive a selection corresponding to a data point of the set of data points that define the operating curve;
• in response to receiving the selection, adjust at least one of a power and a duration of the laser treatment beam in accordance with the laser treatment beam power and the laser treatment beam duration represented by the selected data point of the operating curve;
• and
• output the laser treatment beam using the laser energy source.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for treating an eye of a patient using a laser treatment beam, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

• receiving a laser treatment beam power and a laser treatment beam duration representing a dose of laser energy sufficient to produce a first type of detectable lesion on the eye;
• determining a first Arrhenius integral value based on the received laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration;
• determining a set of data points that define a first constant-Arrhenius curve corresponding to the first Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the set of data points that define the first constant-Arrhenius curve represents combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration sufficient to produce the first type of detectable lesion;
• determining a set of data points that define a second constant-Arrhenius curve corresponding to a second Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the second Arrhenius integral value has a logarithmic relationship to the first Arrhenius integral value,
• wherein the set of data points that define the second constant-Arrhenius curve represents combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration sufficient to produce a second type of detectable lesion, and
• wherein the first type and the second type of detectable lesion have different types of clinical results;
• determining a set of data points that define an operating curve for a laser treatment beam,
• wherein the operating curve intersects the first and second constant-Arrhenius curves, and
• wherein the set of data points that define the operating curve represents selectable combinations of laser treatment beam power and laser treatment beam duration configured to be output by a laser energy source for delivering doses of laser energy;
• receiving a selection corresponding to a data point of the set of data points that define the operating curve;
• in response to receiving the selection, adjusting at least one of a power and a duration of the laser treatment beam in accordance with the laser treatment beam power and the laser treatment beam duration represented by the selected data point of the operating curve;
• and
• outputting the laser treatment beam using the laser energy source.