Dissection device with optical coupler including a polarization corrector

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dissection device comprising: a laser source (1) for generating an initial laser beam (11) in the form of pulses; a shaping system (2) arranged downstream of the laser source (1) for converting the initial laser beam (11) into a phase-modulated single laser beam; and an optical coupler (3) between the laser source (1) and the shaping system (2), the optical coupler (3) including an optical fiber; the dissection device further comprising a polarization corrector (7) for modifying the polarization of the treatment laser beam (11) at the input end of the optical coupler (3) so that the polarization of the laser beam at the output end of the optical coupler (3) corresponds to a desired reference polarization.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of the treatment of eye diseases performed with femtosecond lasers, and more particularly to the field of ophthalmic surgery, in particular for the application of corneal or crystalline lens incisions.

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for dissecting human or animal tissue, such as the cornea or lens, using a femtosecond laser.

[0003] A femtosecond laser refers to a light source capable of generating laser light in the form of a very short pulse, the duration of which is 1 femtosecond to 100 picoseconds, preferably 1 to 1000 femtoseconds, and particularly about 100 femtoseconds. [Background technology]

[0004] It has been proposed to use femtosecond lasers in ophthalmic surgery, such as incisions in the cornea or the lens.

[0005] FR3026940 describes a dissection device including a laser source and a shaping system. US2017 / 340483 describes an ophthalmic surgical system comprising a laser system, a surgical microscope, a control unit, a frame, a first hinge arm on which the head of the surgical microscope is mounted, and a second hinge arm on which the applicator head of the laser system is mounted, the two heads being connectable to each other.

[0006] The international applications PCT / EP2019 / 051872 and PCT / EP2019 / 051876, filed on 25 January 2019 in the name of the applicant, describe devices for dissecting human or animal tissue, such as the cornea or the lens.

[0007] This device is a femtosecond laser source 1 for generating initial laser light in the form of pulses; a shaping system 2 (e.g. a spatial light modulator (SLM)) arranged downstream of the laser source 1 for converting the initial laser light into a single phase-modulated laser light, the shaping system being capable of modulating the phase of the wavefront of the initial laser light according to a modulation setpoint calculated to distribute the energy of said laser light to at least two impingement points forming a pattern in a focal plane 81; an optical coupler 3 between the femtosecond laser source 1 and the shaping system 2, the optical coupler 3 comprising a photonic crystal optical fiber for filtering the laser light 11 generated by the femtosecond laser source 1; a sweeping optical scanner 4 arranged downstream of the shaping system 2 for moving the pattern along a predetermined movement path in the focal plane 81; an optical focusing system 5 disposed downstream of the sweeping optical scanner 4 for moving the focal plane 81 of the modulated laser light within the incision plane relative to the desired tissue 7; and a control unit 6 for driving the shaping system 2, the optical coupler 3, the sweeping optical scanner 4, and the optical focusing system 5 (see FIG. 1).

[0008] Advantageously, the dissection device can be integrated into the hinged arm. More specifically, the shaping system 2, the sweeping optical scanner 4 and the optical focusing system 5 can be provided in a chamber (hereinafter referred to as the "working head") connected to the free end of the hinged arm, the laser source 1 and the control unit 6 can be integrated into the housing of the hinged arm, and an optical coupler 3 extends between the housing and the working head to propagate the laser beam 11 between the laser source 1 and the shaping system 2.

[0009] The optical coupler 3 makes it possible to simplify the cutting device by facilitating the transmission of the laser beam 11 between the remote laser source 1 and the shaping system 2. Indeed, due to its significant size, the laser source 1 cannot be placed in the working head of the hinged arm.

[0010] However, the laser beam 11 originating from the laser source 1 undergoes a change in its polarization as it travels through the photonic crystal fiber, which changes with the position and orientation of the photonic crystal fiber (which depends on the position and orientation of the working head relative to the hinge arm housing).

[0011] However, since the shaping system 2 is sensitive to the polarization of the laser beam, a polarization change causes a decrease in the power of the modulated laser beam at the output of the shaping system 2 .

[0012] One object of the invention is to propose a technical solution for maintaining the maximum power of the modulated laser beam regardless of the position and orientation of the shaping system 2 relative to the laser source 1 . Summary of the Invention

[0013] To this end, the invention relates to an apparatus for dissecting human or animal tissue, such as the cornea or the lens, said apparatus comprising: a laser source for generating a therapeutic laser beam in the form of pulses; a shaping system (e.g., a spatial light modulator (SLM)) arranged downstream of the laser source for converting the therapeutic laser beam into a phase-modulated single therapeutic laser beam, the shaping system being capable of modulating the phase of a wavefront of the therapeutic laser beam according to a modulation setpoint calculated to distribute the energy of the phase-modulated single therapeutic laser beam to at least two impingement points forming a pattern in a focal plane; an optical coupler including a photonic crystal optical fiber between the laser source and the shaping system; Equipped with The incision device is characterized in that it further comprises a polarization corrector arranged upstream of the shaping system for modifying the polarization of the treatment laser beam upstream of the shaping system so that the polarization of the treatment laser beam at the input of the shaping system corresponds to a desired reference polarization. Advantageously, the polarization corrector comprises: means for measuring a change in polarization between an input end of the optical coupler and an output end of the optical coupler; means for modifying the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam upstream of the optical coupler to compensate for the measured polarization change; It can be provided with:

[0014] The presence of the polarization corrector makes it possible to modify the polarization of the initial laser beam at the input of the optical coupler so that the polarization of the laser beam at the output of the optical coupler is substantially the same as the desired reference polarization for the laser beam before being introduced into the shaping system, said desired reference polarization corresponding to the polarization of the laser beam for obtaining maximum power for the modulated laser beam at the output of the shaping system.

[0015] In the present invention, "impact point" means a region of the laser beam contained in the focal plane of the laser beam where the intensity of the laser beam is sufficient to generate gas bubbles in tissue.

[0016] In the present invention, "adjacent collision points" means two collision points that are located opposite each other and are not separated by any other collision points. "Close collision points" means two points in a group of adjacent points that have a minimum distance between them.

[0017] In the present invention, a "pattern" refers to a number of laser impingement points that are generated simultaneously in the focal plane of a shaped laser beam, i.e. a laser beam that is phase modulated to distribute its energy to several different spots in the focal plane corresponding to the incision plane of the device. In other words, the shaping system makes it possible to modify the intensity profile of the laser beam in the incision plane, making it possible to improve the quality or speed of the incision depending on the selected profile. This modification of the intensity profile is obtained by modulating the phase of the laser beam.

[0018] Optical phase modulation can be achieved by using a phase mask. The energy of the incident laser beam is preserved after modulation, and the shaping of the beam is achieved by acting on its wavefront. The phase of an electromagnetic wave describes the instantaneous state of its amplitude. The phase depends on both time and space. In the case of spatial shaping of a laser beam, only the spatial variation of the phase is taken into account.

[0019] A wavefront is defined as the surface of points of a beam that have equal phase (i.e., points that have equal travel times from the laser source that generated the beam), so changing the spatial phase of a beam is associated with changing the wavefront.

[0020] This technique allows for faster and more efficient incision surgery, since it executes several laser spots, each of which performs an incision according to a monitored profile.

[0021] Placing an optical coupler comprising a photonic crystal optical fiber between the femtosecond laser and the shaping system makes it possible to avoid disturbances in the shaping of the laser beam performed by the shaping system.

[0022] Preferred, but non-limiting, aspects of the lancing device are as follows: a polarization corrector may be provided between the laser source and the shaping system, the polarization corrector being capable of modifying the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam upstream of the optical coupler such that the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam downstream of the optical coupler corresponds to a desired reference polarization; - a measuring means can be optically connected to the output end of the optical coupler, the measuring means being capable of measuring a polarization change of the treatment laser beam from a measurement laser beam generated by the laser source, the intensity of the measurement laser beam being lower than the intensity of the treatment laser beam; - The measuring means is a polarizer for selectively filtering the plane of polarization of the measurement laser beam; a polarization analyzer downstream of the polarizer for measuring information representative of the polarization of the measurement laser beam at the output of the optical coupler; - The measuring means determines, from the information measured by the polarimeter, Polarization of a measurement laser beam generated by a laser source; and The polarization of the measurement laser beam received by the polarization analyzer and Polarization change Δ polarization The device may further include a computer for calculating - the means for modifying the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam may be arranged between the laser source and the optical coupler, the means for modifying the polarization being capable of rotating the plane of polarization of the therapeutic laser beam upstream of the optical coupler to an angle opposite to the measured polarization change; - the desired reference polarization may be the same as the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam at the output of the laser source (i.e. before traveling through the polarization corrector and the optical coupler); - The incision device is a sweeping optical scanner disposed downstream of the molding system for moving the pattern along a predetermined path of movement in the focal plane; an optical focusing system disposed downstream of the sweeping optical scanner for moving a focal plane of the modulated laser beam at the incision plane relative to the desired tissue; A control unit for driving the laser source, the shaping system, the optical coupler, the sweeping optical scanner, and the optical focusing system; The device may further include:

[0023] The present invention also relates to a treatment device comprising a housing and a hinged arm provided on the housing, the arm comprising several arm segments connected by hinges, the treatment device further comprising the above-mentioned cutting device, characterized in that the shaping system, the sweeping optical scanner and the optical focusing system are provided on the end segments of the hinged arm, and the laser source and the control unit are integrated in the housing.

[0024] Advantageously, the means for modifying the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam can be integrated into the housing.

[0025] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and without limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic representation of an implementation including a cutting device. [Diagram 2] 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a treatment device having a hinged robotic arm incorporating the cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a schematic of the optical coupler, polarization corrector and control unit of the dissection device. [Figure 4] 1 shows schematic details of an optical coupler and a polarization corrector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The present invention relates to an apparatus for incising human or animal tissue using a femtosecond laser source. In the remainder of this specification, the invention will be described, by way of example, for incising the cornea of ​​a human or animal eye, although it will be understood that the invention can be used for any other type of treatment of eye tissue.

[0028] 1. overview 1.1. incision device As shown above, the cutting device is a femtosecond laser source 1 capable of generating a therapeutic laser beam 11 in the form of high intensity pulses; a shaping system 2 arranged downstream of the laser source 1 for modulating the phase of the therapeutic laser beam 11 to obtain a single phase-modulated laser beam 21, by which the energy of the therapeutic laser beam 11 is distributed to a number of impingement points in its focal plane, the impingement points defining a pattern; an optical coupler 3 between the laser source 1 and the shaping system 2, which allows the propagation of the therapeutic laser beam 11 originating from the laser source 1 to the shaping system 2; a sweeping optical scanner 4 downstream of the shaping system 2, which directs the modulated laser beam 21 to move the pattern along a movement path predetermined by the user in a focal plane 81; an optical focusing system 5 downstream of the sweeping optical scanner 4 for moving a focal plane 81 of the deflected laser beam 41 resulting from the sweeping optical scanner 4, the focal plane 81 corresponding to the cutting plane; A control unit 6 for driving the laser source 1, the shaping system 2, the optical coupler 3, the sweeping optical scanner 4, and the optical focusing system 5; Equipped with.

[0029] The shaping system 2 makes it possible to modulate the phase of the therapeutic laser beam 11 coming from the laser source 1 in order to form a number of intensity peaks in the focal plane 81, each generating an impact point in the focal plane corresponding to the incision plane. The shaping system 2 is, according to the illustrated embodiment, a liquid crystal spatial light modulator, also known as SLM. In a known manner, the SLM executes a phase mask, i.e. a map which determines to what extent the phase of the therapeutic laser beam has to be modified in order to obtain a given amplitude distribution in the focal plane 81. The use of such a shaping system makes it possible, on the one hand, to reduce the incision time of the biological tissue (by generating several impact points simultaneously) and, on the other hand, to obtain substantially equal impact points (the shape, position and diameter of each point are calculated by the shaping system and dynamically monitored by a phase mask displayed on the shaping system).

[0030] The optical coupler 3 allows the transmission of the therapeutic laser beam 11 between the laser source 1 and the shaping system 2. The optical coupler 3 advantageously comprises an optical fiber. This optical fiber can be a photonic crystal fiber (PCF), in particular a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. Hollow-core photonic crystal fibers are particularly adapted for the propagation of high-energy short laser pulses. The use of such a fiber is therefore advantageous for optimal transmission of the therapeutic laser beam 11 originating from the laser source 1.

[0031] 1.2. treatment equipment The use of the optical coupler 3 allows the cutting device to be attached to a treatment device including a hinged arm 200 and a fixed housing 210 to which the hinged arm 200 is attached, as shown in Figure 2. However, the reader will understand that the cutting device does not necessarily have to be attached to a treatment device including an arm and a fixed housing. In particular, the treatment device can be used alone, i.e. without being attached to a hinged arm and a housing.

[0032] The arm 200 comprises several arm segments 201-204 connected by motorized hinges 205-207 (pivot or ball joints) to allow automatic rotational movement of the various segments 201-204 relative to one another.

[0033] The arm 200 is a rest position (not shown) that facilitates transporting the arm 200 from one operating room to another and / or into an operating room; an operating position in which the end of the arm 200 extends above the eye tissue to be treated; It is possible to move between

[0034] The shaping system 2, the sweeping optical scanner 4, and the optical focusing system 5 may be mounted to an end segment 204 (ie, the “working head”) of the arm 200.

[0035] The laser source 1 and control unit 6 can be incorporated into a movable housing 210 of the treatment device, and an optical coupler 3 extends between the housing 210 and the end segment 204 to transmit the treatment laser beam 11 generated from the laser source 1 to the shaping system 2.

[0036] 2. Polarization Corrector 2.1. overview As shown in FIG. 3, the dissection device also includes a polarization corrector 7 .

[0037] This polarization corrector 7 makes it possible to modify the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 at the input of the optical coupler 3 so that the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam at the output of the optical coupler 3 is substantially the same as the desired reference polarization for the therapeutic laser beam before it is introduced into the shaping system 2.

[0038] Indeed, as described above, the shaping system 2 makes it possible to modulate the phase of the therapeutic laser beam 11 generated from the laser source 1 so as to form multiple intensity peaks in the focal plane 81, each intensity peak generating a respective impact point in the focal plane corresponding to the incision plane.

[0039] The phase modulation of the wavefront can be seen as a phenomenon of two-dimensional interference. Each part of the therapeutic laser beam 11 originating from the laser source 1 is retarded or advanced with respect to the initial wavefront so that each of these parts is redirected to obtain constructive interference at N different points in the focal plane of the lens. The redistribution of energy to multiple impingement points occurs only within a single plane (i.e., the focal plane 81) and not along the entire propagation path of the modulated therapeutic laser beam.

[0040] However, the shaping system 2 is sensitive to the polarization of the incoming treatment laser beam. For example, in the case of a liquid crystal spatial light modulator, "pure" phase modulation is possible when the polarization of the wavefront of the treatment laser beam entering the shaping system 2 coincides with the extraordinary axis of the liquid crystal of the spatial light modulator.

[0041] Therefore, to achieve a "pure" phase modulation of the treatment laser beam 11 generated by the laser source 1, it is preferable that the polarization of the treatment laser beam entering the shaping system 2 corresponds to the desired reference polarization (e.g., in the case of a liquid crystal spatial light modulator, the polarization of the treatment laser beam entering the SLM is preferably aligned with the optical axis of the liquid crystal).

[0042] However, movement of the working head 204 to reach the working position induces changes in the position and orientation of the optical coupler (and in particular the optical fiber of the coupler, which may become twisted), which may alter the polarization of the treatment laser beam entering the shaping system 2.

[0043] Alterations in the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam entering the shaping system 2 can degrade the quality of the modulated signal at the output of the shaping system 2.

[0044] The polarization corrector 7 makes it possible to correct the polarization of the treatment laser beam entering the shaping system 2 so that the quality of the modulated treatment laser beam 21 emerging from the shaping system 2 is optimal.

[0045] 2.2. Elements of the polarization corrector The polarization corrector 7 is connected to the control unit 6 to enable transmission of data measured by the polarization corrector 7 to the control unit 6 and to enable transmission of monitoring signals issued by the control unit 6 to the polarization corrector 7.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the polarization corrector 7 includes: - means 71 for measuring the change in polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 between the input of the optical coupler 3 and the output of the optical coupler 3; means 72 for modifying the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 entering the optical coupler 3 to compensate for changes in the polarization of the laser beam measured between the input and the output of the optical coupler; Equipped with.

[0047] 2.2.1. Means for measuring polarization changes Once the hinge arm 200 is in the working position, the measurement means 71 make it possible to estimate the polarization modification that the treatment laser beam 11 has undergone as it travels through the optical coupler 3 .

[0048] In order to measure the polarization modification undergone by the treatment laser beam 11, the control unit 6 is programmed to drive the laser source 1 such that a measurement laser beam 12 is generated before the generation of the treatment laser beam 11 and such that the intensity of the measurement laser beam 12 is very low (in particular, 10 to 1000 times lower) compared to the intensity of the treatment laser beam 11.

[0049] Therefore, to measure the polarization modifications undergone by the treatment laser beam 11, it is preferable to use a (low intensity) measurement laser beam 12 originating from the laser source 1 rather than using a polarized beam originating from a secondary low intensity polarized light source such as a light emitting diode equipped with a linear polarizer.

[0050] The inventors have indeed found that identically polarized beams originating from two different light sources do not undergo the same polarization modifications when traveling through the optical coupler 3 .

[0051] In one embodiment, the measuring means 71 comprises a linear polarizer 711, such as a polarizer based on a dielectric treatment or a polarizer based on a birefringent material, and a polarization analyzer 712, such as a photodiode or phototransistor, downstream of the linear polarizer 711.

[0052] A linear polarizer 711 makes it possible to selectively filter the polarized light emerging from the optical coupler 3. A polarization analyzer 712 makes it possible to measure information representative of the polarization of the measurement laser beam 12 emerging from the optical coupler 3.

[0053] The measuring means 71 is optically connected to the output of the optical coupler 3 via an optical demultiplexer 33 , which may be integrated into the optical coupler 3 or into the linear polarizer 711 .

[0054] More specifically, the optical coupler 3 comprises an optical demultiplexer 33 disposed at the end of the hollow-core photonic crystal fiber 31 closest to the shaping system 2 .

[0055] The optical demultiplexer 33 is an input channel 333 optically connected to the photonic crystal fiber; a first output channel 331 optically connected to the shaping system 2 in order to allow the transfer of the therapeutic laser beam 11 originating from the laser source 1 to the shaping system 2; a second output channel 332 optically connected to the measuring means 71 to enable the transmission of the measuring laser beam 12 to the measuring means 71; Includes.

[0056] The optical demultiplexer 33 makes it possible to select the output channel 331, 332 to which a beam (i.e. a measurement or treatment laser beam) traveling through the input channel 333 is transmitted, in order to direct said beam either to the shaping system 2 or to the measurement means 71.

[0057] The operating principle of the means 71 for measuring the polarization change of the laser beam between the input of the optical coupler 3 and the output of the optical coupler 3 is as follows: It is assumed here that the hinged arm 200 is in the working position, i.e. the end 204 of the arm 200 (including the shaping system 2, the sweeping optical scanner 4 and the optical focusing system 5) extends above the eye tissue to be treated.

[0058] Prior to generation of a therapeutic laser beam 11 by the laser source 1 for treating tissue, the laser source 1 is activated by the control unit 6 to emit a low intensity measurement laser beam 12. The measurement laser beam 12 enters the optical coupler 3 and travels through the photonic crystal fiber 31.

[0059] When traveling through the photonic crystal optical fiber 31 , the polarization of the measurement laser beam 12 undergoes a change (eg, a rotation of the plane of polarization due to twisting of the photonic crystal optical fiber 31 ).

[0060] The measurement laser beam 12 then travels through the input channel 333 of the demultiplexer 33 and is switched to the second output channel 332 of the demultiplexer 33. The measurement means 71 senses the measurement laser beam 12. The polarization analyzer 712 measures information representative of the polarization of the received measurement laser beam 12.

[0061] The information measured by the polarization analyzer 712 is transmitted to a computer of the measuring means 71 (which may or may not be integrated into the control unit 6). From the measured information, the computer knows the polarization of the measuring laser beam 12 emitted by the laser source 1 and determines: the polarization of the measurement laser beam 12 emitted by the laser source 1; The polarization of the measurement laser beam 12 received by the polarization analyzer 712 and Polarization change Δ polarization It is possible to calculate

[0062] The calculated polarization change is used by a computer to generate a compensation signal for correcting the polarization of the treatment laser beam 11 generated by the laser source 1 so that the polarization of the treatment laser beam 11 at the output of the optical coupler 3 corresponds to the desired reference polarization for the treatment laser beam before it is introduced into the shaping system 2.

[0063] This compensation signal is transmitted to a means 72 for modifying the polarization of the laser beam.

[0064] 2.2.2. Means for modifying polarized light The means 72 for modifying the polarization of the treatment laser beam is adapted to measure the polarization change Δ polarization This makes it possible to correct the

[0065] The means 72 for modifying the polarization can be arranged downstream of the optical coupler 3. In this case, the means 72 for modifying the polarization are integrated into the end segment 204 of the arm 200 (i.e. the "working head"). This can lead to size problems.

[0066] As a variant, the means for modifying the polarization 72 can be provided between the laser source 1 and the optical coupler 3. This allows the means for modifying the polarization 72 to be integrated into the housing 210 of the treatment device (which limits the problem of bulkiness). In this case, the means for modifying the polarization 72 makes it possible to generate a corrected polarized laser beam at the input of the optical coupler 3, such that the polarization of the laser beam at the output of the optical coupler 3 corresponds to the desired reference polarization.

[0067] More specifically, the polarization of the treatment laser beam 11 at the output of the laser source 1 corresponds to an optimal polarization, ie a desired reference polarization for the treatment laser beam, before being introduced into the shaping system 2 .

[0068] Travel through the photonic crystal optical fiber 31 modifies this polarization.

[0069] The means for modifying the polarization 72 make it possible to compensate for the polarization modifications that the therapeutic laser beam 11 undergoes when traveling through the photonic crystal optical fiber 31 .

[0070] Therefore, the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 at the output of the optical coupler 3 corresponds to the optimal polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 at the output of the laser source 1 .

[0071] The means 72 for modifying the polarization may comprise an electro-optical cell whose role is to rotate the plane of polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 arising from the laser source 1 under the action of an electrical control voltage. This cell may be one of the types known to the person skilled in the art acting on light. For example, this cell may be a liquid crystal cell (such crystals are particularly easy to control with low energy consumption) or preferably a rotating wave plate, in particular a rotating half-wave plate, which has the advantage of being much cheaper than a liquid crystal cell.

[0072] The principle of operation of the means for modifying the polarization 72 is as follows: It is assumed here that the means for modifying the polarization 72 is arranged between the laser source 1 and the optical coupler 3.

[0073] Once the compensation signals have been estimated by the computer, they are sent to the means 72 for modifying the polarizations in order to set them.

[0074] The plane of polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 originating from the laser source 1 is measured as it travels through the means for modifying the polarization 72, resulting in a change in polarization Δ polarization The polarized laser beam is then rotated in the opposite direction to the polarized laser beam.

[0075] For example, the measured polarization change Δ polarization corresponds to a rotation of the polarized light beam at an angle of 45° in the counterclockwise direction, the polarization plane of the therapeutic laser beam 11 emerging from the laser source 1 is rotated at an angle of 45° in the opposite direction (i.e. at an angle of −45° counterclockwise).

[0076] Thus, at the output of the optical coupler 3 , the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 corresponds to the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 at the output of the laser source 1 .

[0077] The polarization corrector 7 makes it possible to modify the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam 11 before it is introduced into the shaping system 2. This solution makes it possible to maintain all of the power of the modulated laser beam 21 at the output of the shaping system 2 whatever the position and orientation of the end segment 204 of the hinge arm 200 (i.e. the "working head").

[0078] 3. conclusion The present invention provides an efficient and precise dissection tool. The reconfigurable modulation of the wavefront of the laser beam allows for the simultaneous generation of multiple impact points, each having a monitored size and position in the focal plane 81. These different impact points form a pattern in the focal plane 71 of the modulated laser beam.

[0079] The use of an optical coupler 3 comprising a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber 31 makes it possible to reduce the distance between the different impingement points forming the pattern. Indeed, by limiting the phenomenon of dispersion of the optical spectrum, the optical coupler 3 comprising a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber 31 makes it possible to make the phase-modulated laser beam purer.

[0080] The presence of the polarization corrector 7 makes it possible to compensate for the polarization changes that the treatment laser beam 11 undergoes as it travels through the optical coupler 3 so that the polarization of the treatment laser beam 11 at the input of the shaping system 2 corresponds to the desired polarization at the input of the shaping device.

[0081] The reader will appreciate that many modifications may be made to the invention described above without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages set forth herein, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dissecting human or animal tissue for use in treating an eye disease, the apparatus comprising: a femtosecond laser source (1) for generating a therapeutic laser beam (11) in the form of pulses; a shaping system (2) arranged downstream of the femtosecond laser source (1) for converting the therapeutic laser beam (11) into a phase-modulated single therapeutic laser beam, the shaping system being capable of modulating the phase of a wavefront of the therapeutic laser beam (11) according to a modulation setpoint calculated to distribute the energy of the phase-modulated single therapeutic laser beam to at least two impingement points forming a pattern in a focal plane (81); an optical coupler (3) between the femtosecond laser source (1) and the shaping system (2); a polarization corrector (7) for modifying the polarization of the treatment laser beam (11) upstream of the optical coupler (3) so that the polarization of the treatment laser beam (11) downstream of the optical coupler (3) corresponds to a desired reference polarization, the polarization corrector (7) being provided between the femtosecond laser source (1) and the shaping system (2); Equipped with The optical coupler includes a photonic crystal fiber (31); The polarization corrector (7) a means (71) for measuring the polarization change between the input end of the optical coupler (3) and the output end of the optical coupler (3); and means (72) for modifying the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam (11) upstream of said optical coupler (3) in order to compensate for the measured polarization change. An apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polarization corrector (7) is provided between the femtosecond laser source (1) and the shaping system (2), and the polarization corrector (7) is capable of modifying the polarization of the treatment laser beam (11) upstream of the optical coupler (3) so that the polarization of the treatment laser beam (11) downstream of the optical coupler (3) corresponds to the desired reference polarization.

3. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measuring means (71) is optically connected to the output end of the optical coupler (3), and the measuring means (71) is capable of measuring the polarization change of the treatment laser beam (11) from the measurement laser beam (12) generated by the femtosecond laser source (1), wherein the intensity of the measurement laser beam (12) is lower than the intensity of the treatment laser beam (11).

4. The measuring means (71) a polarizer (711) for selectively filtering the plane of polarization of the measurement laser beam (12); a polarization analyzer (712) downstream of the polarizer (711) for measuring information representative of the polarization of the measurement laser beam (12) at the output of the optical coupler (3); The apparatus of claim 3 , comprising:

5. The measuring means (71) determines from the information measured by the polarization analyzer (712): Polarization of a measurement laser beam (12) generated by the femtosecond laser source (1); the polarization of the measurement laser beam (12) received by the polarization analyzer (712); Polarization change Δ ｐｏｌａｒｉｚａｔｉｏｎ The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a computer for calculating:

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means (72) for modifying the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam (11) is arranged between the femtosecond laser source (1) and the optical coupler (3), and the means (72) for modifying the polarization is capable of rotating the polarization plane of the therapeutic laser beam (11) upstream of the optical coupler (3) to an angle opposite to the measured polarization change.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the desired reference polarization is the same as the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam (11) at the output of the femtosecond laser source (1) (i.e. before traveling through the polarization corrector (7) and the optical coupler (3)).

8. a sweeping optical scanner (4) arranged downstream of the shaping system (2) for moving the pattern along a predetermined movement path in the focal plane (81); an optical focusing system (5) disposed downstream of said sweeping optical scanner (4) for moving a focal plane (81) of the modulated laser beam at the incision plane relative to the desired tissue (7); a control unit (6) for driving the femtosecond laser source (1), the shaping system (2), the optical coupler (3), the sweeping optical scanner (4), and the optical focusing system (5); The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:

9. A treatment device comprising a housing (210) and a hinge arm (200) provided on the housing (210), the hinged arm (200) includes a plurality of arm segments (201-204) connected by hinges (205-207); The treatment device further comprises the apparatus of claim 8, characterized in that the shaping system (2), the sweeping optical scanner (4) and the optical focusing system (5) are provided at the end segment (204) of the hinge arm (200), and the femtosecond laser source (1) and the control unit (6) are integrated into the housing (210).

10. The therapeutic device according to claim 9, wherein the means (72) for modifying the polarization of the therapeutic laser beam (11) are integrated into the housing (210).

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