# US 7,611,244 B2 · Adaptive optics for compensating for optical aberrations in an imaging process

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- Number: US 7,611,244 B2
- Document ID: US7611244B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/562,902
- Filed: 2006-11-22
- Published: 2007-05-10
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2003-11-20
- Assignees: Heidelberg Engineering GmbH
- Inventors: Josef Bille
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611244B2

## CPC

- G02B 26/06: for controlling the phase of light (G02B26/08 takes precedence {, measuring optical phase difference G01J9/00})
- A61F 9/0084: {Laser features or special beam parameters therefor}
- A61F 2009/00872: {Cornea}
- G02B 27/0068: {having means for controlling the degree of correction, e.g. using phase modulators, movable elements (controlling the phase of light using moving or deformable elements G02B26/06)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

A device to compensate for asymmetrical aberrations in a beam of light includes at least one dual compensator positioned on the beam path. Structurally, the dual compensator includes two juxtaposed plates, each having a same pattern presented thereon. The patterns, however, are rotated through an angle α relative to each other. Together, the plates of the dual compensator can then be rotated on the beam path through an angle β to compensate for asymmetrical aberrations in the light beam. Dual compensators, having appropriate patterns, can be collectively used to compensate for astigmatism, coma and trefoil.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for use in an optical system to compensate for asymmetrical aberrations in a beam of light, wherein the light beam is directed along a beam path, with the beam path defining an axis and said system comprising:
at least one dual compensator positioned on the beam path and substantially centered thereon wherein said dual compensator comprises a first plate having a substantially flat surface with a pattern presented thereon, wherein the pattern has a central point and defines a pattern axis in the surface of said plate and a second plate having a substantially flat surface with a same pattern presented thereon, wherein the central point of said first plate and the central point of said second plate are positioned on the beam path axis with the respective pattern axes substantially perpendicular to the beam path axis, and further wherein the pattern axis of said first plate is rotated through an angle α relative to the pattern axis of said second plate; and
a means for rotating said dual compensator about the axis of the beam path through an angle β to compensate for asymmetrical aberrations in the light beam.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first plate and said second plate are shaped as circular disks having a thickness of approximately one millimeter and a diameter of approximately ten millimeters.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A device as recited in claim 2 wherein said first plate and said second plate are made of glass.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A device as recited in claim 3 wherein the pattern on the surface of said first plate and the pattern on the surface of said second plate are created by ion bombardment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said system includes a plurality of dual compensators comprising:
a first dual compensator having first patterns to compensate for astigmatism;
a second dual compensator having second patterns to compensate for coma; and
a third dual compensator having third patterns to compensate for trefoil.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a laser unit for generating the light beam, wherein the light beam is a laser beam.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A device as recited in claim 6 wherein the laser beam is used for retinal imaging in laser surgery.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A device as recited in claim 7 wherein the system further comprises a MEMS mirror for concerted use with the dual compensator to minimize optical aberrations in the light beam.

### Claim 9

An imaging system for use during ophthalmic laser surgery which comprises:
a laser unit for generating a laser beam, wherein the laser beam defines a beam path having an axis;
a plurality of dual compensators sequentially positioned along the beam path axis and substantially centered thereon wherein each said dual compensator comprises a first plate having a substantially flat surface with a pattern presented thereon, wherein the pattern has a central point and defines a pattern axis in the surface of said plate and a second plate having a substantially flat surface with a same pattern presented thereon, wherein the central point of said first plate and the central point of said second plate are positioned on the beam path axis with the respective pattern axes substantially perpendicular to the beam path axis, and further wherein the pattern axis of said first plate is rotated through an angle α relative to the pattern axis of said second plate; and
a means for selectively rotating each said dual compensator about the beam path axis to compensate for aberrations in the light beam during surgery.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A system as recited in claim 9 wherein said plurality of dual compensators comprise:
a first dual compensator having first patterns with an angle α1 between the pattern axes to compensate for astigmatism;
a second dual compensator having second patterns with an angle α2 between the pattern axes to compensate for coma; and
a third dual compensator having third patterns with an angle α3 between the pattern axes to compensate for trefoil.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said first dual compensator is rotated about the beam path axis through an angle β1, wherein said second dual compensator is rotated about the beam path axis through an angle β2, and wherein said third dual compensator is rotated about the beam path axis through an angle β3, to compensate for asymmetrical aberrations in the laser beam.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A system as recited in claim 9 wherein said first plate and said second plate are shaped as circular disks having a thickness of approximately one millimeter and a diameter of approximately ten millimeters.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

A system as recited in claim 9 wherein said first plate and said second plate are made of glass and the pattern on the surface of said first plate and the pattern on the surface of said second plate are created by ion bombardment

### Claim 14

A method for assembling a system to compensate for asymmetrical aberrations introduced into a laser beam, wherein the laser beam defines a beam path axis and said method comprises the steps of:
positioning a plurality of dual compensators in alignment along the beam path axis wherein each said dual compensator comprises a first plate having a substantially flat surface with a pattern presented thereon, wherein the pattern has a central point and defines a pattern axis in the surface of said plate and a second plate having a substantially flat surface with a same pattern presented thereon, wherein the central point of said first plate and the central point of said second plate are positioned on the beam path axis with the respective pattern axes substantially perpendicular to the beam path axis, and further wherein the pattern axis of said first plate is rotated through an angle α relative to the pattern axis of said second plate; and
coupling a rotating means with each of the dual compensators for selectively rotating each dual compensator about the beam path axis through an angle βto compensate for asymmetrical aberrations in the light beam.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the plurality of dual compensators comprise:
a first dual compensator having first patterns with an angle α1 between the respective pattern axes to compensate for astigmatism;
a second dual compensator having second patterns with an angle α2 between the respective pattern axes to compensate for coma; and
a third dual compensator having third patterns with an angle α3 between the respective pattern axes to compensate for trefoil.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
rotating the first dual compensator about the axis of the beam path through an angle β1;
rotating the second dual compensator about the axis of the beam path through an angle β2; and
rotating the third dual compensator about the axis of the beam path through an angle β3, to collectively compensate for asymmetrical aberrations in the laser beam.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said first plate and said second plate are shaped as circular disks having a thickness of approximately one millimeter and a diameter of approximately ten millimeters, and further wherein the first plate and the second plate are made of glass and the pattern on the surface of said first plate and the pattern on the surface of said second plate are created by ion bombardment.