DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MATERIAL PROCESSING USING LASER RADIATION

Abstract

Device for material processing by means of laser radiation, comprising a laser radiation source (S) suitable for emitting pulsed laser radiation (3) for interaction with the material (5), optics (6) focusing the pulsed processing laser radiation (3) into the material (5), namely cornea, onto an interaction center (7), a scanning device (10) adjusting the position of the interaction center in the material (5), wherein each processing laser pulse interacts with the material (5) in a zone (8) surrounding its associated interaction center (7), such that material (5) is separated in the interaction zones (8), and a control device (17) which controls the scanning device (10) and the laser radiation source (S) in such a way that a cut surface (9) is created in the material (5) by a plurality of interaction zones (8), characterized in thatthat the control device (17) defines the cutting surface (9) comprising an anterior (F) and a posterior section (L), wherein the cutting surface (9) as a whole circumscribes a partial volume (T) in the cornea, and controls the scanning device (10) and the laser radiation source (S) such that the interaction zones (8) in the posterior section (L) are generated along an outward-to-inward spiral and the interaction zones (8) are subsequently generated in the anterior section (F) along an outward-toward spiral following the posterior section (L).

Description

[0001] The 10th Civil Senate of the Federal Court of Justice, in its oral hearing of November 13, 2025, recognized as rightful: Upon the appeal of the defendant, the judgment of the 6th Senate (Voidness Senate) of the Federal Patent Court of July 7, 2023 is set aside with respect to costs, the further appeal being dismissed, and otherwise amended as follows: European patent 3 050 544 is hereby declared invalid with effect for the Federal Republic of Germany, insofar as it goes beyond the following version.

[0002] The Tenth Civil Senate of the Federal Court of Justice, in its oral hearing of November 13, 2025, with Judges Dr. Deichfuß and Hoffmann, Judge Dr. Marx, Judge Dr. Crummenerl, and Judge Dr. von Pückler presiding, rendered the following judgment: Upon the appeal of the defendant, the judgment of the Sixth Senate (Invalidity Senate) of the Federal Patent Court of July 7, 2023, is set aside with respect to costs, the further appeal being dismissed, and is otherwise amended as follows: European Patent 3 050 544 is declared invalid with effect for the Federal Republic of Germany insofar as it extends beyond the following wording:

Claims

[1] Device for material processing using laser radiation, comprising a laser radiation source (S) suitable for emitting pulsed laser radiation (3) for interaction with the material (5), optics (6) focusing the pulsed processing laser radiation (3) into the material (5), namely cornea, onto an interaction center (7), a scanning device (10) adjusting the position of the interaction center in the material (5), wherein each processing laser pulse interacts with the material (5) in a zone (8) surrounding its associated interaction center (7), such that material (5) is cut in the interaction zones (8), and a control device (17) which controls the scanning device (10) and the laser radiation source (S) in such a way that a cut surface (9) is created in the material (5) by a plurality of interaction zones (8), characterized by, that the control device (17) defines the cut surface (9) comprising an anterior (F) and a posterior section (L), wherein the cut surface (9) as a whole circumscribes a partial volume (T) in the cornea, and controls the scan device (10) and the laser radiation source (S) such that the interaction zones (8) in the posterior section (L) are generated along an outward-to-inward spiral and the interaction zones (8) are subsequently generated along the anterior section (F) following the posterior section (L) along an outward-toward spiral. [2] Method for providing data sets, wherein the data sets specify different operating parameters for individual areas of material to be processed, namely cornea, for a material processing device which has - a laser radiation source (S) that emits pulsed laser radiation (3) to interact with the material (5), - an optic (6) focusing the pulsed processing laser radiation (3) into the material (5) onto an interaction center (7), a scanning device (10) adjusting the position of the interaction center in the material (5), wherein each processing laser pulse interacts with the material (5) in a zone (8) surrounding its associated interaction center (7), so that material (5) is separated in the interaction zones (8) and - a control device (17) which controls the scanning device (10) and the laser radiation source (S) in such a way that a cross-sectional area (9) is created in the material (5) by a plurality of interaction zones (8), characterized by, that the data sets for the control device (17) define the cut surface (9) comprising an anterior (F) and a posterior section (L), wherein the cut surface (9) as a whole circumscribes a partial volume (T) in the cornea, and the data sets control the control device (17) to control the scan device (10) and the laser radiation source (S) such that the interaction zones (8) in the posterior section (L) are generated along an outward-to-inward spiral, and the data sets subsequently define the interaction zones (8) in the anterior section (F) along an outward-toward spiral following the posterior section (L). Furthermore, the lawsuit is dismissed. The costs of the legal dispute will be borne by each party. By law