Patient interface with variable applanation

Abstract

A variable-applanation patient interface can include a lens support system, attachable to a distal end of an ophthalmic surgical laser system; a contact lens, supported by the lens support system and configured to make contact with an eye-surface; and an adjustable coupler, coupled to at least one of the lens support system and the contact lens, and configured to be coupled to a non-central region of the eye-surface, to accommodate the contact lens to contact a central region of the eye-surface with a central applanation, to enable a change between the central applanation and an extended applanation, and to accommodate the contact lens to contact an extended region of the eye-surface larger than the central region with the extended applanation.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13 / 336,324, filed December 23, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] This patent document relates to a patient interface for ophthalmic surgery. More precisely, this patent document relates to a patient interface with variable applanation for multi-step eye surgery. Background technique [0004] Many eye surgeries can be performed by photoablating or cutting targeted ocular tissue with femtosecond pulsed laser beams. The incisions can be made by scanning the focal point of the laser beam in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional scanning pattern. Each femtosecond pulse creates a plasma, or cavitating bubble, at the laser's focal point. These tiny layers of air bubbles divide the targeted tissue in two, creating a macroscopic surgical incision. The volume of these bubbles ca...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, it remains a challenge to design systems and methods that reduce and minimize beam distortion such that laser beams can be delivered with energy densities exceeding the plasma threshold throughout the scan pattern, but only up to a small amount during ophthalmic surgery, even in real-world applications.

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