Method for providing control data for ophthalmic laser of treatment device, control device therefor, treatment device, computer program product and computer readable medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing control data for an ophthalmic laser (12) of a treatment device (10) for treating an eye (16) of a human or animal, the method comprising the following steps carried out by a control device (18): providing an area (14) to be irradiated on or in the cornea of the eye (16) to be treated for irradiation treatment using the laser (12); arranging a virtual illumination mask (50) in the mask plane (40), wherein the region (14) to be illuminated lies within the virtual illumination mask (50) in a vertical projection of the mask plane (40); and providing the laser (12) with control data by the control device (18), the control data comprising the coordinates of the region (14) to be irradiated, such that the laser (12) emits laser pulses to the region (14) to be irradiated during treatment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing control data for an ophthalmic laser of a treatment device, a control device thereof, a treatment device, a computer program product and a computer-readable medium. Background Art

[0002] Therapeutic devices and methods for controlling ophthalmic lasers for correcting or treating optical visual disorders and / or pathological or unnaturally altered corneal areas are known in the art. Among them, for example, pulsed lasers and laser scanner devices or beam deflection devices can be formed so that the laser pulses cause photodestruction and / or photoablation at a focal point located in the organic tissue to remove or burn tissue from the cornea.

[0003] Here, phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) has been established as a safe and effective method for treating anterior corneal lesions. Among these pathologies are recurrent erosive syndrome, Salzmann's degeneration, and corneal scarring, which can be diffuse but are usually localized. Current PTK technology in Salzmann's degeneration involves manual peeling of the corneal lesion followed by smoothing of the underlying irregular stroma with small laser spots as needed. Smoothing can be associated with the use of a masking fluid. Current technology does not allow for an accurate match between the laser ablation profile and the lesion, which is often not a perfect circle. In addition, laser instruments in the prior art do not allow for the selection of very small laser spots. Surgeons typically circumvent these limitations by using a masking fluid. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the present invention is to improve laser therapy methods, in particular phototherapeutic keratectomy methods, and to provide a method which can provide more suitable irradiation parameters for ophthalmic lasers.

[0006] This object is solved by the independent claim. Advantageous developments are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0007] The invention is based on the idea of ​​providing an irradiation mask of arbitrary shape for irradiating a human or animal eye, wherein the shape follows pathological changes or other characteristics of the eye. In subsequent irradiation, the area within the irradiation mask can be irradiated with laser light, while the area outside the irradiation mask cannot be irradiated.

[0008] The present invention provides a method for providing control data for an ophthalmic or ophthalmic surgical laser of a therapeutic device for treating a human or animal eye, wherein the method comprises the following steps, which are performed using or by a control device.

[0009] In this method, an area to be irradiated is set on or in the cornea of ​​the eye to be treated for irradiation treatment with laser light. The area to be irradiated can be an area for ablation, for generating microbubbles, for generating an incision surface (particularly in the cornea), for cauterization, for cross-linking, for visual disorder treatment, for tissue modification, etc.

[0010] Furthermore, a virtual illumination mask is arranged in the mask plane, which is a virtual plane which is perpendicular to the illumination direction of the laser onto the cornea in the static position of the beam deflection device of the laser or perpendicular to the optical axis of the laser in the static position of the laser.

[0011] The area to be irradiated is located within the virtual irradiation mask in the vertical projection on the mask plane, i.e. in the vertical projection on the mask plane or in the projection along the irradiation direction of the laser (z axis). The irradiation direction of the laser (z axis) is the irradiation direction of the laser when the beam deflection device is in the static position. This means that areas outside the virtual irradiation mask in the vertical projection on the mask plane will definitely not be irradiated by the laser in the subsequent irradiation and are therefore not included in the area to be irradiated.

[0012] In addition, the method uses a control device to provide control data for the laser, wherein the control data includes the coordinates of the area to be irradiated or the coordinates of the irradiation position of the area to be irradiated, so that the laser can emit laser pulses to the area to be irradiated during treatment. Therefore, the control data can be used to deflect the laser through the beam deflection device. The irradiation position in the area to be irradiated can be set in a predefined mode according to a known method, so that the laser pulse density in the area to be irradiated is, for example, constant or adapted to the thickness of the area to be ablated. Here, the area to be irradiated can be, for example, a curved surface or a 3D volume, the area to be irradiated can be, for example, an area of ​​pathological changes, and the area to be irradiated can be determined based on the examination data of the cornea. The virtual irradiation mask in the mask plane is, for example, a geometric shape such as a rectangle or triangle, a circle segment or a circle sector, and the control data can be set by the virtual irradiation mask. Data for static eye rotation correction for treatment can be added to the control data.

[0013] The invention has the advantage that the area to be irradiated can be treated specifically using an irradiation mask. Here, the area to be irradiated can, for example, be placed eccentrically and can have any shape. By using a virtual irradiation mask, it can be ensured that the entire lesion can be removed and that the unaffected adjacent tissue is damaged as little as possible or unnecessary tissue removal is avoided. As a result, the recovery of the eye and vision is also faster and there is less impact on the eye refraction, especially in the case of peripheral lesions. Compared to conventional PTK treatments in the prior art, which combine the entire optical zone diameter, the invention allows a clear treatment of the pathology and avoids unnecessary epithelial and stromal ablations, so that better visual results can be obtained. In addition, if the erosion area can be determined preoperatively, then local PTK is a good alternative to conventional PTK in cases of recurrent erosions without associated local lesions.

[0014] It is noteworthy that PTK with a customized ablative surface is a promising instrument for the treatment of localized anterior keratopathy and recurrent erosive syndrome, whether it is localized or not. It can be easily used in laser treatment devices.

[0015] The invention also includes embodiments that produce additional advantages.

[0016] In another embodiment, the method can provide a mask plane representing a plane that is perpendicular to the direction of laser irradiation onto the cornea in the static position of the beam deflection device of the laser. This means that the virtual mask plane is perpendicular to the optical axis of the laser or the treatment device. Here, the optical axis is the optical axis of the treatment device in the static position of the beam deflection device. The mask plane can be imagined as a virtual mask plane, for example, located directly in front of the cornea. Here, virtual means that the mask plane does not correspond to the real surface of the eye, but is a geometric construction aid for image data processing, which is used to generate control data, thereby using a virtual illumination mask to determine the area to be irradiated. Optionally, the virtual illumination mask can be imagined as a shutter, shield or template in front of the eye, but it is only implemented or realized in the software for determining the area to be irradiated, rather than being configured as a shutter, shield or template in reality.

[0017] Furthermore, the points of the area to be illuminated are located within the mask shape in the vertical projection onto the mask plane. Typically, the virtual illumination mask is located within the area created by the optical zone of the eye (or pupil) in the vertical projection onto the mask plane, incorporating the transition zone of the eye around the optical zone.

[0018] This definition of the mask plane results in a particularly simple geometrical arrangement of the virtual illumination mask and can be easily arranged in the software or in the operating terminal.

[0019] In another embodiment, the method may provide that the virtual illumination mask is bounded by at least one closed boundary line and that the at least one closed boundary line comprises at least one vertex or at least two different curvatures. This means that the virtual illumination mask may have a shape that deviates from a circle and that the closed boundary line may comprise at least one vertex, at least two different curvatures or different radii of curvature or an ellipse with at least two different semi-axes. This has the advantage that the virtual illumination mask may be particularly advantageously adapted to the area to be irradiated.

[0020] In another embodiment, the method may provide that the virtual illumination mask is bounded by at least two boundary lines, each of which is closed and spaced apart from one another. This means that the boundary of the virtual illumination mask may comprise a plurality of separate closed boundary lines, so that the virtual illumination mask may, for example, be formed by a plurality of continuous regions, each region comprising a closed boundary line, which may, for example, comprise two mutually adjacent separated circles. Furthermore, the virtual illumination mask may, for example, be bounded by two circles which are located within one another, thereby representing a ring. Here, spaced apart means that the boundary lines do not touch or intersect. This has the advantage that the virtual illumination mask may be particularly advantageously adapted to the region to be irradiated.

[0021] In another embodiment, the method can provide that the virtual illumination mask can be selected from a plurality of preset geometric shapes. In other words, the shape of the virtual illumination mask can be selected by a user interface, an operating terminal, software or a computer program product, and can include, for example, various circular, annular, crescent, polygonal (e.g., triangular or rectangular), sector, circular segment or irregular shapes, or can be composed of various lines and arcs. In addition, the boundary of the virtual illumination mask can be achieved, for example, by the user selecting a corneal area. In addition, the system can selectively set a pre-adjusted shape for the virtual illumination mask, and an operating terminal can be formed so that the user only needs to set the size and position of the pre-adjusted elements. Therefore, the advantage of this embodiment is that the virtual illumination mask can be particularly well and simply adapted to the area to be irradiated.

[0022] In another embodiment, the method may provide that the virtual illumination mask is set to include a predetermined area of ​​the cornea or exclude a predetermined area of ​​the cornea in a vertical projection of the cornea to the mask plane. In other words, the virtual illumination mask may be set to include certain areas, such as lesions, in a vertical projection of the cornea to the mask plane, thereby setting the corneal area to be ablated. This means that the virtual illumination mask may be set to "completely exclude".

[0023] Optionally, the virtual illumination mask can be set to exclude predetermined areas of the cornea, which means that the mask is defined as "completely excluded". For example, the mask can be set to exclude healthy areas of the cornea. Thus, these areas can be protected from ablation. This has the advantage that the virtual illumination mask can be particularly well adapted to the condition of the eye to be treated.

[0024] In another embodiment, the method can provide that a virtual irradiation mask is set according to preset patient data, in particular diagnostic data related to the eye. In other words, the irradiation mask can be determined or set according to the patient data so that, for example, a pathologically changed area of ​​the eye can be specifically irradiated by the laser of the treatment device. The selection of the area to be irradiated and the irradiation mask can be set according to the diagnostic data previously determined for the eye. Such data can be, for example, Placido data, Scheimpflug data or optical coherence tomography data (OCT data). In addition, the depth of the lesion can be determined, for example, by corneal OCT. In addition, a suitable ablation area can be set for transepithelial PTK, for example, it can be adjusted to the exact size of the pathological changes in the eye, so that PTK can be adjusted to only ablate the surface (volume) of the pathology. In addition, in addition to setting the closed boundary line, a depth can also be set, which indicates the depth profile to be ablated. This has the following advantage: the virtual irradiation mask can be particularly well adapted to the situation of the eye to be treated.

[0025] In a further embodiment, the method may provide for setting a virtual illumination mask according to a preset map of the eye, wherein map positions are associated with the virtual illumination mask, wherein the associated map values ​​are greater than the value of a reference function at the map positions. Here, the map may be, for example, a perpendicular projection of the cornea onto the mask plane, wherein the map values, for example, describe the local curvature of the cornea at the position. Thus, the virtual illumination mask may be set based on the map values, wherein positions where the map values ​​are greater than the value of the reference function at the position are associated with the virtual illumination mask. Here, the reference function may, for example, be a constant or a polynomial function, may describe the curvature of the cornea, may be based on an ideal model or an average model of the eye, or may, for example, describe the thickness of the cornea based on corneal thickness data.

[0026] It should be noted that in addition to the condition that the map value at this site is greater than the value of the reference function, the map value can also be less than or equal to the preset value of the reference function to be associated with the virtual illumination mask. For example, an area with a corneal curvature greater than 50 diopters can be associated with a map. For example, an area with an epithelial thickness lower than the thickness of a normal epithelial contour can be associated with a virtual illumination mask. For example, an area with a corneal thickness less than 400 μm can be associated with a map, or an area with a corneal thickness greater than 400 μm can be associated with a virtual illumination mask. In addition, Boolean operators and / or brackets can be used to combine conditions so that only values ​​that meet the following conditions are associated with the virtual illumination mask: [(curvature greater than 50 diopters) or (epithelial thickness at this site is less than the normal contour (Epi(x,y)))] and [corneal thickness map (corneal thickness at this site) is greater than 400 μm].

[0027] In some cases, the virtual illumination mask generated from the map values ​​must be smoothed to define a larger or continuous area from the individual points.

[0028] An advantage of this embodiment is that the virtual illumination mask can be extremely flexibly adapted to the specific conditions of the eye.

[0029] In a further embodiment, the method may provide that the virtual illumination mask is set according to the local radius of curvature of the cornea and / or the epithelium, according to the local radius of curvature gradient of the cornea and / or the epithelium, or according to the local thickness of the cornea and / or the epithelium. In other words, the virtual illumination mask may be set to include only areas that are more or less curved than a preset radius of curvature, or areas where the radius of curvature gradient is below or exceeds a preset radius of curvature gradient, or areas where the corneal thickness exceeds or falls below a preset threshold. Furthermore, the above-mentioned multiple criteria may also be combined or linked to one another. Thus, the advantage is that the virtual illumination mask can be particularly flexibly adapted to the condition of the eye.

[0030] In a further embodiment, the method may provide that the virtual illumination mask is set in dependence on image features in the image captured by the camera. In other words, the virtual illumination mask may be set in dependence on, for example, brightness differences in the image or markings, for example, with gentian violet ink. Here, the virtual illumination mask may be set using a scaling factor of the corneal image. This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the lesion cannot be clearly captured in a topographic or tomographic measurement, so that in this case the lesion surface may be marked with gentian violet ink, and thus the image of the patient's cornea, which shows the marked area, may be used to set the virtual illumination mask.

[0031] It is worth noting that the above-mentioned different selection methods of the various embodiments can be combined with each other. This means that the areas can be selected automatically and the treatment depth can be defined manually, or certain areas / volumes can be set automatically and the user can manually add or delete other areas / volumes. The user of the treatment device can then verify or, for example, improve the (semi-)automatically selected areas (volumes) before treatment.

[0032] In a further embodiment, the method may provide that the image comprises the results of corneal topography measurement and / or the results of optical coherence tomography measurement.The topography of the cornea may be achieved, for example, by Placido measurement or Scheimpflug measurement.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the method can provide that the irradiation treatment of the eye includes treatment to remove dystrophy, in particular epithelial dystrophy, Bowman's membrane dystrophy and / or stromal dystrophy. In addition, irradiation treatment can also be used to treat apical scars, transparent marginal degeneration, keratoconus and similar pathological changes. Further examples of treatable dystrophy are Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy, epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy, lattice corneal dystrophy, Avelino dystrophy, granular corneal dystrophy, macular corneal dystrophy and Schnyder corneal dystrophy. The advantage of this embodiment is that unnecessary epithelial and stromal ablation can be avoided by applying a suitable laser ablation surface when treating focal stromal lesions. This helps to achieve visual restoration faster and procedures related to refractive power become less severe. This particularly relates to lesions at the edge of the cornea. In order to set an adapted ablation profile and therefore an adapted virtual irradiation mask, the scaling factor of the corneal image can be known and used.

[0034] According to a further embodiment, the method provides that the virtual irradiation mask is set using an operating terminal, or that the set virtual irradiation mask must be confirmed by a user of the treatment device. In other words, the treatment device may include an operating terminal, and the virtual irradiation mask may be set using the operating terminal. If the method sets the virtual irradiation mask based on image features or the like, the user of the treatment device may also confirm the virtual irradiation mask before the irradiation treatment. The processing software that can execute the method can determine the exact shape, size and position of the lesion based on an image of the eye, wherein, for example, the pupil or the corneal vertex is considered as a reference point. Here, a scaling factor can be applied as required.

[0035] Some lesions may represent depressions, others bulges, and some lesions may even represent both. All determined dimensions, including the distance and its angle as well as the depth of the lesion, may allow setting the size and position of the surface to be ablated. The associated depth of each partial area of ​​the area to be irradiated may be automatically or semi-automatically associated by corneal OCT measurements, wherein areas with more severe scattering or high reflections are determined. The area to be irradiated derived from corneal OCT measurements may be smoothed to define a larger or continuous area from individual points.

[0036] In a further embodiment, the method may provide for determining the position course of the treated eye during the irradiation or during the treatment of the area to be irradiated. This means that a so-called eye tracker can be used, which can determine and quantify the movement, position or posture changes of the eye. Furthermore, the irradiation position of the laser can be corrected based on the movement, position or posture changes of the eye determined during the irradiation to compensate or counteract such deviations. This means that eye deviations due to tremors, etc. can be compensated and the irradiation can be performed more safely. This allows the use of a suitable ablation surface for PTK treatment, which has a higher precision due to the tracking of eye movement, position or posture changes.

[0037] Compared to the manual eccentric PTK with a small diameter or the use of a polyvinyl alcohol disk with punched holes known in the prior art, this embodiment can achieve a higher accuracy due to the use of an eye tracker.

[0038] This object is solved by a method according to the invention, a control device according to the invention, a treatment device according to the invention, a computer program product according to the invention and a computer-readable medium according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments including suitable refinements of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims, wherein advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the control device, the treatment device, the computer program product and the computer-readable medium and vice versa.

[0039] The control data may include a corresponding data set for positioning and / or focusing a single laser pulse in or on the cornea. Additionally or alternatively, a corresponding data set for adjusting at least one beam deflection device for beam guidance and / or beam shaping and / or beam deflection and / or beam focusing of the laser beam of the corresponding laser may be included in the control data.

[0040] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling a therapeutic device. The method comprises the method steps of at least one embodiment of the method as described previously. In addition, the method for controlling a therapeutic device further comprises the step of transmitting the provided control data to at least one ophthalmic laser of the therapeutic device.

[0041] The corresponding method may include at least one additional step, which is performed if and only if an application case or application situation occurs, which application case or application situation is not explicitly described here. For example, this step may include outputting an error message and / or outputting a request for input user feedback. Additionally or alternatively, it may be provided that a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is adjusted.

[0042] Another aspect of the invention relates to a control device, which is formed to perform the steps of at least one embodiment of one or both of the aforementioned methods. In addition, the control device may include a computing unit, such as a processor, for electronic data processing. The computing unit may include at least one microcontroller and / or at least one microprocessor. The computing unit may be configured as an integrated circuit and / or a microchip. In addition, the control device may include an (electronic) data memory or a storage unit. A program code may be stored on a data memory, by which the steps of the corresponding embodiments of the corresponding method are encoded. The program code may include control data for the corresponding laser. The program code may be executed using a computing unit, thereby causing the control device to perform the corresponding embodiment. The control device may be formed as a control chip or a control unit. The control device may, for example, be included in a computer or a computer cluster.

[0043] Another aspect of the invention relates to a treatment device having at least one eye surgery or ophthalmic laser and a control device, which is formed to perform the steps of at least one embodiment of one or both of the above-mentioned methods. The corresponding laser can be formed to at least partially remove, separate, atrophy or ablate a predetermined corneal volume with a predetermined interface of a human or animal eye by burning or optical decomposition, in particular to separate it at least partially by photodestruction and / or to ablate corneal layers by (photo) ablation and / or to cause a laser-induced refractive index change of the cornea and / or the eye lens.

[0044] Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product. The computer program product includes, for example, commands forming a program code. The program code may include at least one control data set having corresponding control data for a corresponding laser. When the program code is executed by a computer or a computer cluster, the previously described method or at least one embodiment thereof is performed.

[0045] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium (storage medium) on which the above-mentioned computer program product and its commands are stored respectively. In order to execute the computer program product, a computer or a computer cluster can access the computer-readable medium and read out its content. For example, the storage medium is formed as a data memory, in particular at least partially as a volatile or non-volatile data memory. The non-volatile data memory can be a flash memory and / or an SSD (solid state drive) and / or a hard disk. The volatile data memory can be a RAM (random access memory). For example, the command can exist as a source code of a programming language and / or as an assembler and / or as a binary code.

[0046] Further features and advantages of one of the aspects described in the present invention may be produced by the improvement of the embodiment of another aspect of the present invention. Therefore, if the features of the embodiments of the present invention are not explicitly described as mutually exclusive, they may exist in any combination with each other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Below, additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in the form of advantageous embodiments based on the accompanying drawings. The features or feature combinations of the embodiments described below may exist in any combination of each other and / or with the feature combinations of the embodiments. This means that the features of the embodiments may supplement and / or replace the features of the embodiments, and vice versa. Therefore, the embodiments are also considered to be covered and disclosed by the present invention, and these configurations are not explicitly shown or explained in the drawings, but are produced and can be generated by separate feature combinations from the embodiments and / or implementations. Therefore, the embodiments are also considered to be disclosed, which do not include all the features of the originally proposed claims or extend beyond or deviate from the feature combinations set forth in the relationship of the claims. For the embodiments, it is shown:

[0048] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a therapeutic device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0049] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the relationship between the mask plane and the cornea of ​​the eye;

[0050] Figure 3a is a schematic diagram of the mask plane and boundary lines; and

[0051] Figure 3b is a schematic diagram of the mask plane and boundary lines.

[0052] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] Figure 1A schematic diagram of a treatment device 10 is shown, which has an ophthalmic laser 12 for treating the cornea of ​​an eye 16, for example by photodestruction and / or ablation. For treating the cornea, a treatment position in a region 14 to be treated, in which, for example, tissue to be cauterized or ablated is present, is predefined in the control data. In addition to the laser 12, a control device 18 for the laser 12 can also be formed so that it can, for example, emit pulsed laser pulses in a predefined pattern. Alternatively, the control device 18 can be a control device 18 external to the treatment device 10.

[0055] also, Figure 1 A laser beam 20 generated by the laser 12 is shown being deflected toward the eye 16 by a beam deflection device 22 (eg, a rotating scanner). The beam deflection device 22 is also controlled by the control device 18 to treat the eye 16.

[0056] Preferably, the illustrated laser 12 may be a photodisruptive and / or ablative laser, which is formed to emit laser pulses with a wavelength range of between 300 nm and 1400 nm, preferably between 900 nm and 1200 nm, and with a repetition frequency of greater than 10 kHz, preferably between 100 kHz and 100 MHz, with a respective pulse duration between 1 fs and 1 ns, preferably between 10 fs and 10 ps. Furthermore, the control device 18 comprises a storage device for storing at least one control data set, wherein the control data set or the plurality of control data sets comprise control data for positioning and / or focusing the individual laser pulses in the area 14 to be treated. Here, the storage device may be part of the control device 18 or the storage device may be provided as an external memory, in particular in the form of a computer cluster (cloud). The position data and / or focusing data of the individual laser pulses, in particular the laser pulses for the laser treatment, may be generated based on predetermined measurements, for example based on previously measured topography and / or corneal thickness and / or corneal topography or an optical visual impairment correction to be generated.

[0057] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the relationship between the mask plane and the eye is shown. Specifically, Figure 2 The eye 16, the optical axis 34 of the laser or treatment device 10, the area to be irradiated 14, the vertical projection on the mask plane 40 and the virtual irradiation mask 50 with the boundary line 60 are shown. The boundary line 60 includes the vertex 62. Figure 2As can be seen in FIG. 4 , the mask plane represents a plane perpendicular to the optical axis 34 of the laser or the treatment device in the static position of the beam deflection device 22 of the laser 12. The optical axis 34 of the laser is also the optical axis 34 of the treatment device 10 in the static position of the beam deflection device 22. The area 14 to be irradiated may have a complex shape on or in the cornea and be located within the virtual irradiation mask 50 in the vertical projection on the mask plane 40. Subsequently, the laser 12 may emit a laser pulse to the area 14 to be irradiated, so that the area 14 to be irradiated is irradiated by the laser pulse. In order to guide the laser 12 to the point to be irradiated, the beam deflection device 22 is appropriately controlled. Specifically, the area 14 to be irradiated may be a curved surface or a 3D volume, and the area 14 to be irradiated may be a pathological change area, which is automatically set according to the examination data of the cornea or set by the user.

[0058] Figure 3a Also shown is a schematic diagram of a mask plane 40 with a virtual illumination mask 50, which mask plane comprises a boundary line 60. Here, the boundary line 60 comprises at least one vertex. Figure 3b Also shown is a schematic diagram of the mask plane and a boundary line 60 that delimits the virtual illumination mask 50. Figure 3b In the embodiment of FIG. 6 , the boundary line 60 includes a first curved portion 64 and a second curved portion 65. In addition, in this case, the boundary line 60 is obviously also closed. Figure 3b In the embodiment of the invention, the boundary line 60 comprises at least two different curved portions 64, 65. This means that the shape of the boundary line 60 is not circular, but for example elliptical, with at least two different radii of curvature or semi-axes, as shown in the present embodiment.

[0059] Typically, the virtual illumination mask 50 can be selected from a plurality of preset geometric shapes. For example, this can be implemented using a user interface, and the user can select, for example, a crescent, a polygon (e.g., a triangle (e.g., Figure 3aAs shown), annular, sector-shaped, segment-shaped, irregular, multiple single shapes, etc. In addition, the virtual illumination mask 50 can be set so that it includes or contains a predetermined area of ​​the cornea in the vertical projection of the cornea to the mask plane, or does not include or exclude a predetermined area of ​​the cornea. In addition, the virtual illumination mask 50 can be set according to preset patient data (i.e., diagnostic data related to the eye). Here, the virtual illumination mask 50 can be set, for example, directly from the patient data, or according to a preset map of the eye, where the map position is associated with the virtual illumination mask 50, where the associated map value is greater than or less than or equal to the value of the reference function in the map position. Here, the reference function can be a constant or a function that depends on the map position. For example, a curvature value greater than, for example, 50 diopters can be associated with the virtual illumination mask 50. In addition, the value of the epithelial map can be associated with the virtual illumination mask 50, where the value of the epithelial map is less than the normal contour of the average epithelium and can be associated with the virtual illumination mask 50. In addition, the value of the corneal thickness map can be used, and a site with a value less than 400μm can be associated with the virtual illumination mask 50. Obviously, these conditions can be combined with each other using Boolean operators and / or brackets, so that only values ​​of curvature greater than 50 diopters or epithelial thickness at this site is less than the normal contour, less than the normal contour (Epi(x,y)) are associated with the virtual illumination mask 50, and the corneal thickness map (corneal thickness at this site) is greater than 400μm. In some cases, the mask must be smoothed to define a larger or continuous area from each point. In addition, the virtual illumination mask 50 can also be set based on image features in the image captured by the camera. Here, for example, the virtual illumination mask 50 can be derived using brightness differences in the image, or the virtual illumination mask 50 can also be derived and set using color markings (e.g., markings with gentian violet ink). In addition, the image can be the result of corneal topography measurement, such as Placido measurement or Scheimpflug measurement, and / or the result of optical coherence tomography measurement.

[0060] In addition, the virtual irradiation mask 50 can be set to be suitable for treating dystrophies, in particular epithelial dystrophies, Baumann's membrane dystrophy and / or stromal dystrophies. The virtual irradiation mask 50 can be set using an operation terminal, or the virtual irradiation mask 50 automatically set by the method can be confirmed by a user of the treatment device.

[0061] The setting of the virtual irradiation mask 50 also allows setting the position route of the treated eye during irradiation or during treatment of the area to be irradiated, for example using an eye tracker, and correcting the irradiation position of the laser during irradiation to compensate for position deviations of the eye 16.

[0062] In general, these embodiments show how to provide control data for an ophthalmic laser of a treatment device, a control device thereof, a treatment device, a computer program product and a computer readable medium.

[0063] List of reference numerals:

[0064] 10 Treatment Equipment

[0065] 12 Lasers

[0066] 14 Area to be irradiated

[0067] 16 Eyes

[0068] 18 Control Devices

[0069] 20 laser beams

[0070] 22 Beam deflection device

[0071] 34 optical axes

[0072] 40 Mask plane

[0073] 50 virtual illumination masks

[0074] 60 Boundary Line

[0075] 62 vertices

[0076] 64 bending part

[0077] 65 bending part

Claims

1. A method for providing control data for an ophthalmic laser (12) of a treatment device (10) for treating a human or animal eye (16), wherein the method comprises the following steps performed by a control device (18): - providing an area to be irradiated (14) on or in the cornea of ​​the eye (16) to be treated so as to perform irradiation treatment with the laser (12), - arranging a virtual illumination mask (50) in the mask plane (40), - wherein in a vertical projection onto the mask plane (40), the area to be irradiated (14) is located within the virtual illumination mask (50), and - providing control data to the laser (12) through the control device (18), wherein the control data includes the coordinates of the area to be irradiated (14), so that the laser (12) emits laser pulses to the area to be irradiated (14) during treatment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mask plane (40) represents a plane perpendicular to the irradiation direction of the laser (12) irradiating the cornea in the static position of the beam deflection device (22) of the laser (12).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual illumination mask (50) is bounded by at least one closed boundary line (60), and the at least one closed boundary line (60) comprises at least one vertex (62) or at least two different curved portions (64, 65).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual illumination mask (50) is bounded by at least two boundary lines (60), the at least two boundary lines (60) being each closed and spaced apart from each other.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual illumination mask (50) is selected from a plurality of preset geometries.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual illumination mask (50) is arranged so that it includes a predetermined area of ​​the cornea or excludes a predetermined area of ​​the cornea in a vertical projection of the cornea onto the mask plane (40).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual illumination mask (50) is set according to predefined patient data, in particular diagnostic data relating to the eye (16).

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual illumination mask (50) is set according to a preset map of the eye (16), wherein a map position is associated with the virtual illumination mask (50), in which the associated map value is greater than the value of the reference function in the map position.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual illumination mask (50) is set according to a local radius of curvature of the cornea and / or the epithelial layer, according to a local radius of curvature gradient of the cornea and / or the epithelial layer, or according to a local thickness of the cornea and / or the epithelial layer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual illumination mask (50) is set according to image features in an image captured by a camera.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the image comprises topographic measurements and / or optical coherence tomography measurements of the cornea.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation treatment of the eye (16) comprises a treatment to remove dystrophy, in particular epithelial dystrophy, Bowman's membrane dystrophy and / or stromal dystrophy.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual irradiation mask (50) is set by an operation terminal, or the set virtual irradiation mask (50) must be confirmed by a user of the treatment device (10).

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position course of the treated eye (16) is determined during irradiation of the area to be irradiated (14), and the irradiation position of the laser (12) is corrected during irradiation to compensate for the position deviation of the eye (16).

15. A method for controlling a therapeutic device (10), wherein the method comprises the following steps: - the method steps of the method according to claim 1, and - transmitting the provided control data to the corresponding ophthalmic laser (12) of the treatment device (10).

16. A control device (18) configured to perform the method according to claim 1.

17. Treatment device (10) comprising: at least one ophthalmic laser (12) for treating the cornea of ​​a human or animal eye (16) by cauterization or photolysis, in particular by photodestruction and / or photoablation, and a control device (18) according to claim 16.

18. Computer program product comprising instructions causing a therapeutic device (10) according to claim 17 to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

19. Computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program product according to claim 18.

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