Eyetracker and method of use
AssigneeIntelligent Surgical Lasers
InventorsJosef F. Bille, Stuart I. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An eyetracker for moving the path of a laser beam in response to patient eye movement comprises a visual light source on which the patient can fixate to bring the visual axis of the eye into a reference alignment with the optical axis of the light source. A laser source, having its beam coaxially aligned with the optical axis of the light source, cuts a mark onto the cornea of the eye when the eye is in the reference alignment. An infrared optical system monitors movement of the mark to generate an error signal which is proportional to any movement of the mark out of the reference alignment. Means are also provided by the eyetracker to move the path of the laser beam back into the reference alignment to reduce the error signal to a null.
Claims25
An eyetracker which comprises:
- means for generating a steerable laser beam aimed toward the eye of a patient for operating thereon;
- means for locating the visual axis of said eye;
- means for sensing movement of said visual axis;
- means connecting said sensing means with said laser beam to control the steering of said laser beam in a pedetermined relationship to said visual axis.
An eyetracker which comprises:
- means for generating a fixation light for locating said visual axis;
- means for making a grid on said eye in a fixed relationship to said visual axis;
- means to establish a reference alignment between said cutting beam and said grid;
- means for monitoring movement of said grid out of said reference alignment to generate an error signal proportional thereto;
- and
- means for reducing said error signal to a null.
A device for directing the path of a surgical laser beam in response to movement of the eye which comprises:
- means mounted on said device for orienting the eye into a reference alignment with said path of said laser beam;
- means mounted on said device for placing a mark on the cornea of said eye while said eye is in said reference alignment;
- means mounted on said device for monitoring movement of said mark;
- means connected with said monitoring means for generating an error signal indicating movement of said mark from said reference alignment;
- and
- means for moving said laser beam to reduce said error signal to a null.
A method for directing a laser beam in response to eye movement which comprises the steps of:
- (A) Orienting said eye in a reference alignment with said laser beam;
- (B) Placing a mark on said eye while said eye is in said reference alignment;
- (C) Creating an error signal proportional to the movement of said mark relative to said reference alignment;
- and
- (D) Moving said laser beam to reduce said error signal to a null.
A method for directing a laser beam in response to eye movement which comprises the steps of:
- (A) Identifying the symmetrical axis of said eye;
- (B) Determining the relationship of the visual axis of said eye to the symmetrical axis of said eye;
- (C) Moving said laser beam into a reference alignment with said visual axis;
- (D) Creating an error signal proportional to the movement of said visual axis relative to said reference alignment;
- and
- (E) Moving said laser beam to reduce said error signal to a null.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.