Refractive laser ablation through topography
OwnerCesar C. Carriazoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system control the depth of corneal ablation during optical surgery by mapping the anterior and posterior surfaces of a patient's cornea to obtain full pachymetric topographical mapping of the patient's cornea. The patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping is used to identify a desirable corneal bed, and to guide a surgical laser in ablating a portion of the anterior surface of the patient's cornea to produce the desired corneal bed for appropriate vision correction.
Claims27
A method of controlling the depth of corneal ablation during optical surgery, comprising the steps of:
- topographically mapping the anterior and posterior surfaces of a patient's cornea to obtain full pachymetry of the patient's cornea;
- identifying a desirable corneal bed using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping, wherein the desirable corneal bed is beneath a defective portion of the cornea;
- and
- using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping to guide a surgical laser in ablating a portion of the anterior surface of the patient's cornea, including a defective portion of the cornea, to produce the desired corneal bed.
A method of ocular surgery, comprising the steps of:
- mapping the anterior and posterior surfaces of a patient's cornea to obtain full pachymetric topographical mapping of the patient's cornea;
- identifying a desirable corneal bed using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping;
- making an incomplete lamellar cut across the cornea, leaving a corneal flap and hinge in place;
- folding the corneal flap back over the corneal hinge to expose the corneal bed;
- using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping to guide a surgical laser in ablating a portion of the exposed corneal bed to produce the desired corneal bed;
- and
- replacing the corneal flap.
A system for controlling the depth of corneal ablation during optical surgery, comprising:
- means for mapping the anterior and posterior surfaces of a patient's cornea to obtain full pachyrnetric topographical mapping of the patient's cornea;
- means for identifying a desirable corneal bed using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping, wherein the desirable corneal bed is beneath a defective portion of the cornea;
- a surgical laser;
- and
- means using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping for guiding said surgical laser in ablating a portion of the anterior surface of the patient's cornea, including a defective portion of the cornea, to produce the desired corneal bed.
A system for ocular surgery, comprising:
- a system for mapping the anterior and posterior surfaces of a patient's cornea to obtain full pachymetric topographical mapping of the patient's cornea;
- means for identifying a desirable corneal bed using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping;
- means for making an incomplete lamellar cut across the cornea, leaving a corneal flap and hinge in place;
- a surgical laser;
- means using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping for guiding said surgical laser in ablating a portion of the exposed corneal bed revealed by folding back the corneal flap to produce the desired corneal bed.
A system for controlling the depth of corneal ablation during optical surgery, comprising:
- a system for mapping the anterior and posterior surfaces of a patient's cornea to obtain full pachymetric topographical mapping of the patient's cornea;
- means using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping for identifying a desirable corneal bed;
- means for ablating a corneal disc from the anterior surface of a donor cornea;
- a surgical laser;
- and
- means using the patient's corneal pachymetric topographical mapping for guiding said surgical laser in ablating a portion of the anterior surface of the patient's cornea to produce the desired corneal bed, whereby the donor corneal disc can be placed onto the produced desired corneal bed of the patient's cornea.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.