Surgical laser system with remote control functionality

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a laser surgical system with a basic set of functionality which is remotely controllable to implement an advanced set of functionality. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a basic laser surgical system may be coupled to an advanced control unit such that the basic laser surgical system may be controllable by the advanced control unit to implement a broader set of functionality. By moving less frequently used functionality to an advanced unit, the basic unit may be streamlined with regards to both cost and size, and the learning curve required to utilize the basic unit may be reduced relative to a more feature-ladened unit, allowing the basic unit to be utilized in myriad situations or procedures where an “all-in-one” unit would be less than desirable.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to surgical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to surgical laser systems used in ophthalmic surgical systems. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to surgical laser systems remotely controllable to implement additional functionality.BACKGROUND[0002]The human eye can suffer a number of maladies causing mild deterioration to complete loss of vision. While contact lenses and eyeglasses can compensate for some ailments, ophthalmic surgery is required for others. Generally, ophthalmic surgery is classified into posterior segment procedures, such as vitreoretinal surgery, and anterior segment procedures, such as cataract surgery. More recently, combined anterior and posterior segment procedures have been developed.[0003]The surgical instrumentation used for ophthalmic surgery can be specialized for anterior segment procedures or posterior segment procedures or support both. In any c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Thus by moving the ability to implement certain functionality to an advanced unit embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage that the basic unit may be streamlined with regards to both cost and size, and the learning curve required to utilize the basic unit may be reduced relative to more complicated units allowing the basic unit to be utilized in myriad situations or procedures where an all-in-one unit would be complexity, cost, or size, prohibitive.

[0011]Similarly, embodiments of the present invention may provide the advantage that, since a basic unit may be utilized in the implementation of more complex functionality, there is no need to duplicate the functionality or capabilities of the basic unit when implementing this advanced functionality. This may be advantageous to users of such laser surgical systems as they may able to purchase a basic unit at a lower initial price and have a cost effective upgrade path to advanced functionality which does not render the basic unit redundant.

Problems solved by technology

The human eye can suffer a number of maladies causing mild deterioration to complete loss of vision.

As may be imagined, the complexities of these types of retina surgeries may be quite variegated, and concomitantly, the surgical devices used to conduct these surgeries may need to implement a whole host of functionality associated with these surgeries.

In many cases, however, these “all-in-one” type of solutions typically have prices which are commensurate with their functionality, in other words they may be quite expensive.

Often, however, customers may not require all the functionality that these all-in-one designs provide.

Therefore, these types of designs may be cost prohibitive, more difficult to operate or wasteful of resources.

Thus, for those that have need of both a lower cost unit and an “all-in-one” unit, or for those that desire to upgrade from a lower cost unit to an “all-in-one” unit, it is undesirable to pay for duplicate functionality or systems.

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