Method for reshaping the eye
AssigneeIntelligent Surgical Lasers
InventorsJosef F. Bille, Stuart I. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for modifying tissue with a quasi-continuous laser beam to change the optical properties of the eye comprises controllably setting the volumetric power density of the beam and selecting a desired wavelength for the beam. Tissue modification is accomplished by focusing the beam at a preselected start point in the tissue and moving the beam's focal point in a predetermined manner relative to the start point throughout a specified volume of the tissue or along a specified path in the tissue. Depending on the selected volumetric power density, the tissue on which the focal point is incident can be modified either by photoablation or by a change in the tissue's visco-elastic properties.
Claims69
A method for modifying tissue with a quasi-continuous laser beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of emissions each having a finite duration which comprises:
- generating a beam of laser pulses, said beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of at least one thousand pulses lasting for at least one second, wherein each of said pulses has less than 30 microjoules (30 uj) energy and is approximately one picosecond (1 psec) in duration;
- establishing a start point in said tissue;
- focusing said laser beam onto said start point;
- selecting a volumetric power density for said laser beam;
- and
- scanning said beam along a predetermined path in said tissue to modify said tissue along said path.
A method of using a quasi-continuous laser beam for changing the optical properties of the eye which comprises the steps of:
- generating a beam of laser pulses, said beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of at least one thousand pulses lasting for at least one second, wherein each of said pulses has less than 30 microjoules (30 uj) energy and is approximately one picosecond (1 psec) in duration;
- Identifying a reference datum on the eye;
- Focusing said laser beam at a selected point relative to said datum;
- Selecting a volumetric power density for said quasi-continuous laser beam;
- and
- Scanning the focal point relative to said datum in accordance with a predetermined movement to alter tissue at the focal point.
A method of using a quasi-continuous laser beam for changing the optical properties of the eye as recited in claim 61 wherein said chosen wavelength is approximately 526 nanometers or approximately 1.053 microns and said beam is focused onto the iris of an eye for performing an iridectomy.
A method for correcting optical deficiencies of the eye by using a quasi-continuous laser beam to reshape the anterior surface of the cornea or make incisions into the anterior surface to the cornea which comprises the steps of:
- generating a beam of laser pulses, said beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of at least one thousand pulses lasting for at least one second, wherein each of said pulses has less than 30 microjoules (30 uj) energy and is approximately one picosecond (1 psec) in duration;
- establishing a start point on the cornea of the eye;
- choosing a wavelength for said laser beam which is greater than 400 nanometers;
- focusing said laser beam onto a spot which covers said start point;
- selecting a volumetric power density for said laser beam which is sufficiently greater than 4 microjoules/picosecond/1000 cubic microns to cause photoablation of the tissue;
- defining the tissue to be modified by said laser beam;
- and
- moving the focal spot of said laser beam from the start point through the tissue to be modified.
A method for correcting optical deficiencies of the eye by using a quasi-continuous laser beam to create a cavity within the stroma of the cornea of an eye or to modify tissue within the stroma of the cornea of an eye by changing its visco-elastic properties which comprises the steps of:
- generating a beam of laser pulses, said beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of at least one thousand pulses lasting for at least one second, wherein each of said pulses has less than 30 microjoules (30 uj) energy and is approximately one picosecond (1 psec) in duration;
- establishing a start point within the stroma;
- choosing a wavelength for said laser beam which is greater than 400 nanometers;
- focusing said laser beam onto a spot which covers said start point;
- selecting a volumetric power density for said laser beam;
- defining the volume of tissue to be modified by said laser beam;
- and
- moving the focal spot of said laser beam from said start point within said volume of tissue to other predetermined spots in said volume of tissue to modify said tissue according to said selected volumetric power density.
A method for relieving glaucoma by using a quasi-continuous laser beam to open fluid passageways through tissue which comprises the steps of:
- generating a beam of laser pulses, said beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of at least one thousand pulses lasting for at least one second, wherein each of said pulses has less than 30 microjoules (30 uj) energy and is approximately one picosecond (1 psec) in duration;
- establishing a start point in said tissue;
- choosing a wavelength for said beam which is greater than 400 nanometers;
- focusing said laser beam onto a spot which covers said start point;
- selecting a volumetric power density for said laser beam which is sufficiently greater than 4 microjoules/picosecond/1000 cubic microns to cause photoablation of the tissue;
- defining the tissue to be modified by said laser beam;
- and
- moving the focal spot of said laser beam from the start point through the tissue to be modified.
A method for correcting optical deficiencies of the eye by using a quasi-continuous laser beam to remove cataracts from the lens of the eye, to perform a capsulectomy or to modify the interior tissue of the lens by changing the vico-elastic properties of the lens tissue which comprises the steps of:
- generating a beam of laser pulses, said beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of at least one thousand pulses lasting for at least one second, wherein each of said pulses has less than 30 microjoules (30 uj) energy and is approximately one picosecond (1 psec) in duration;
- establishing a start point on said lens;
- focusing said laser beam onto a spot which covers said start point;
- choosing a wavelength for said beam which is in the visual or infrared range and above 400 nanometers;
- selecting a volumetric power density for said laser beam;
- defining a volume of said tissue to be modified by said laser beam;
- and
- moving the focal spot of said laser beam from said start point within said volume of tissue to affect said tissue according to said selected volumetric power density.
A method for the treatment of macular degeneration on the retina of the eye using a quasi-continuous laser beam which comprises the steps of:
- generating a beam of laser pulses, said beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of at least one thousand pulses lasting for at least one second, wherein each of said pulses has less than 30 microjoules (30 uj) energy and is approximately one picosecond (1 psec) in duration;
- establishing a start point on said retina;
- focusing said laser beam onto a spot which covers said start point;
- choosing a wavelength for said beam of approximately 1.053 microns;
- selecting a volumetric power density for said laser beam;
- defining the area of tissue to be modified by said laser beam;
- and
- moving the focal spot of said laser beam from said start point within said volume of tissue to modify said tissue according to said selected volumetric power density.
A method for modifying tissue with a quasi-continuous laser beam which comprises:
- generating a beam of laser pulses, said beam comprising an uninterrupted sequence of at least one thousand pulses lasting for at least one second, wherein each of said pulses has less than 30 microjoules (30 uj) energy and is approximately one picosecond (1 psec) in duration;
- establishing a start point in said tissue;
- focusing said laser beam onto a spot which covers said start point;
- selecting a volumetric power density for said laser beam;
- defining a volume of tissue to be modified by said laser beam;
- and
- moving the focal spot of said laser beam from said start point within said volume of tissue to other predetermined spots in said volume of tissue to modify said tissue according to said selected volumetric power density.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.