Integrated scanning and ocular tomography system and method

A method of treating a tissue, the method comprising:

• directing an ablative light beam to the tissue to form a desired shape in the tissue;
• providing a structure along an optical path;
• selecting three wavelengths of light to correspond with wavelengths of a Fourier series with the structure;
• reflecting the three wavelengths of light from the tissue by directing a measurement light beam along the optical path toward the tissue;
• measuring an interference signal for each of the three wavelengths of the reflected light;
• and
• determining positions of at least two reflecting tissue surfaces along the optical path by combining the measured signals while the ablative light beam is directed toward the tissue.

A system for measuring a thickness of a tissue, the system comprising;

• a light source emitting a measurement light beam, the measurement light beam directed along an optical path toward the tissue, three wavelengths of the light beam reflecting from the tissue;
• a structure disposed along the optical path, the structure selecting the three wavelengths of light to correspond with wavelengths of a Fourier Series;
• an interferometer generating an interference signal for each of the three wavelengths of the measurement light beam reflected from the tissue;
• and
• a processor determining a separation distance between positions of at least two reflecting tissue surfaces along the optical path by combining the measured interference signals.

A system far treating a tissue, the system comprising:

• an ablative fight source emitting an ablative light beam;
• a light source emitting a measurement light beam, the measurement light beam directed along an optical path toward the tissue, three wavelengths of the light beam reflecting from the tissue;
• a structure disposed along the optical path to select the three wavelengths of light to correspond with wavelengths of a Fourier Series;
• an interferometer generating an interference signal for each of the three wavelengths of the measurement light beam reflected from the tissue;
• and a processor controlling the ablative light beam and determining positions of at least two reflecting tissue surfaces along the optical path by combining the measured interference signals.

An apparatus for treating tissue comprising:

• a ablative light source producing an ablative beam;
• a beam delivery device directing the ablative beam onto a tissue;
• a microscope having a viewing port;
• and
• an optical pachymeter emitting a measurement light beam directed along an optical path toward the tissue, three wavelengths of the light beam reflecting from the tissue;
• a structure disposed along the optical path to select the three wavelengths of light to correspond with wavelengths of a Fourier series;
• an interferometer generating an interference signal for each of the three wavelengths of the measurement light beam reflected from the tissue;
• and
• a processor determining a separation distance between positions of at least two reflecting tissue surfaces along the optical path by combining the measured interference signals.

A method of measuring a separation distance between positions of at least two reflections along an optical path, the method comprising;

• reflecting at least three wavelengths of light from the positions by directing a measurement light beam along the optical path;
• selecting the three wavelengths of light to correspond with wavelengths of a Fourier series by providing a structure along the optical path, the structure selecting the wavelengths of light;
• measuring an interference signal for each of the three wavelengths of the reflected light;
• and
• determining the separation distance between the positions of the at least two reflections along the optical path by combining the measured interference signals.

A method of measuring a thickness of a tissue, the method comprising:

• reflecting ten wavelengths of light from the tissue by directing a measurement light beem along an optical path toward the tissue;
• providing a structure along the optical path;
• selectig the ten wavelengths of light to correspond with wavelengths of a Fourier series with the structure;
• measuring an interference signal for each of the ten wavelengths of the reflected light;
• and
• determining a separation distance between positions of at least two reflecting tissue surfaces along the optical path by combining the measured interference signals.