Treatment laser with reflex mirror and safety interlock

An ophthalmic laser system for selective treatment of glaucoma and secondary cataract, the ophthalmic laser system comprising:

• a laser module comprising a Q-switched laser which operates to produce pulsed radiation at a first wavelength;
• a first beam path adapted to treating secondary cataract incorporating an attenuator, beam shaping optics, and directing optics for directing the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength along a treatment beam path to an eye of a patient with secondary cataract;
• a second beam path adapted to treating glaucoma by selective laser trabeculoplasty incorporating a frequency conversion module that converts the pulsed beam at the first wavelength to a pulsed beam at a second wavelength, an attenuator, and directing optics for directing the pulsed beam at the second wavelength along the treatment beam path to an eye of a patient with glaucoma;
• beam steering optics for selectively deflecting the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength into the second beam path, the beam steering optics being operable between a first position in which the pulsed beam at the first wavelength is received by and follows the first beam path and a second position in which the pulsed beam at the first wavelength is deflected to, received by and follows the second beam path;
• a reflex coaxial illuminator comprising a reflex mirror movable on an axis from a position out of the treatment beam path to a position in the treatment beam path, wherein the reflex mirror directs illumination into an illumination path coaxial with the treatment beam path;
• and
• a safety interlock only allowing operation of the ophthalmic laser system on the first beam path if the reflex coaxial illuminator is in a first position and allowing operation of the ophthalmic laser system on either the first beam path or the second beam path if the reflex coaxial illuminator is not in the first position.

A method of treating secondary cataract or glaucoma in a patient using an ophthalmic laser system comprising:

• a laser module producing a beam of short pulses of radiation with high energy density at a first wavelength;
• a first beam path incorporating optical elements for directing the beam at the first wavelength into a treatment beam path to an eye of a patient;
• a second beam path incorporating a frequency doubling module that converts the beam at the first wavelength to a beam at a second wavelength, and optical elements for directing the beam at the second wavelength to the treatment beam path;
• beam steering optics for selectively deflecting the beam at the first wavelength into the second beam path, the beam steering optics being operable between a first position in which the beam at the first wavelength follows the first beam path and a second position in which the beam at the first wavelength is deflected to the second beam path;
• a reflex coaxial illuminator comprising a reflex mirror movable on an axis from a position in the treatment beam path to a position out of the treatment beam path;
• and a safety interlock only allowing operation of the ophthalmic laser system on the first beam path if the reflex coaxial illuminator is in a first position and allowing operation of the ophthalmic laser system on either the first beam path or the second beam path if the reflex coaxial illuminator is not in the first position;
• the method including the steps of:
• operating the beam steering optics to select the first or second beam path depending on whether the patient has secondary cataract or glaucoma;
• operating the safety interlock for either operation only on the first beam path or operation on either the first beam path or the second beam path;
• and
• operating the laser system through the selected beam path to treat the patient.