Surface shaping using lasers
AssigneeSummit Technology, Inc.
InventorsAntony L. Raven, John Marshall, David F. Muller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser system and masking apparatus for reprofiling surfaces, such as corneal surfaces. The system includes a laser and a mask disposed between the laser and the surface to be reprofiled, the mask providing a pre-defined profile of resistance to laser radiation, such that upon irradiation, part of the radiation is selectively absorbed and part is transmitted to the surface in accordance with the masked profile, to selectively erode the surface. The masking apparatus may consist of a mask to be affixed to the surface or may further include a support structure to support and position the mask above the surface. The resistance profile can be created by varying the thickness or the composition of the mask.
Claims29
An erodable mask for reprofiling a surface using laser radiation, the mask comprising a material erodable by laser radiation and positionable between a source of laser radiation and the surface, the mask providing a predefined profile of resistance to the said laser radiation, such that upon irradiation of the mask a portion of the laser radiation is selectively absorbed by the mask and another portion is transmitted to the surface in accordance with the mask profile, to selectively erode the surface.
A masking apparatus for use in laser reprofiling of corneal tissue comprising an erodable mask being erodable by radiation from a laser and capable of direct fixation upon a cornea, the mask having a predefined profile of resistance to the laser radiation, whereby upon irradiation of the mask, a portion of the laser radiation is selectively by the mask absorbed and another portion is transmitted to the cornea in accordance with the mask profile to selectively erode the tissue.
Laser apparatus for reprofiling a surface comprising a laser means, control means for controlling the laser means to project laser radiation towards the surface, and an erodable masking means adapted to be disposed between the laser means and the surface, said masking means being erodable by the radiation from the laser means and having a predefined profile of resistance to the laser radiation, so that upon irradiation of the masking means, a portion of the laser radiation is selectively absorbed by the masking means and another portion is transmitted to the surface in accordance with the mask profile to selectively erode the surface.
Laser apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the masking means is formed from material which is ablated by absorption of the laser radiation so that the masking means is progressively destroyed during the surface reprofiling.
A method of reprofiling a surface comprising:
- locating a laser means relative to a surface, the laser means being operable to deliver laser radiation to the surface;
- and
- disposing an erodable masking means between the laser means and the surface, the masking means being erodable by radiation from the laser means and having a predefined profile of resistance to the laser radiation, and
- irradiating the masking means, whereby a portion of the radiation is selectively absorbed by the masking means and another portion is transmitted to the surface, in accordance with the mask profile, to selectively erode the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.