Laser pulse position monitor for scanned laser eye surgery systems
AssigneeAMO Manufacturing USA, LLC
InventorsDavid Hindi, Keith Holliday, Mark Arnoldussen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods for measuring and determining positions of light energy having wavelengths of less than (as well as equal to or greater than) 200 nm, and are particularly well suited for measuring pulsed light at ultraviolet and other wavelengths using position sensing diode (PSD) technology. An integrator may sum a total charge of a signal from the PSD. Correlations between a distribution of integrated charges among electrodes of the PSD may be non-linear, and may benefit from adjustment for different overall pulse light quantities and/or spot sizes.
Claims27
An apparatus comprising:
- a light source for directing a pulsed light beam along an optical path, wherein a wavelength of the pulsed beam is less than 200 nm;
- an analog position sensing diode disposed in the optical path so as to generate an analog signal in response to a pulse of the beam;
- an integrator coupled to the position sensing diode so as to integrate the signal for the pulse to generate a charge signal;
- and
- a position module coupled to the integrator, the position module configured to determine a position of the pulse on the position sensing diode in response to the charge signal.
An apparatus for altering a refraction of an eye, the apparatus comprising:
- a laser for directing a pulsed laser beam along an optical path, the laser beam having a wavelength of less than about 220 nm;
- a beam deflector disposed along the optical path from the laser, the beam deflector variably redirecting the beam;
- a beam splitter disposed along the optical path from the beam deflector, the beam splitter separating the laser beam and directing a first portion of the laser beam along the optical path and a second portion of the laser beam along another optical path toward the eye;
- a position sensing diode disposed in the optical path so as to generate a signal in response to a pulse of the laser beam;
- an integrator coupled to the position sensing diode so as to integrate the signal for the pulse to generate a charge signal;
- and
- a position module coupled to the integrator, the position module configured to indicate a position of the beam on the eye in response to the charge signal.
A method for determining a position of a pulsed beam, the pulsed beam suitable for ablation of corneal tissue, the method comprising:
- positioning a position sensing diode in a path of the beam;
- generating, with the position sensing diode, an initial signal in response to a pulse of the beam;
- integrating the initial signal for the pulse to generate an integrated charge signal;
- and
- determining a position of the pulse on the position sensing diode in response to the integrated signal. beam having a wavelength of less than 220 nm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.