206 results about "Ocular surgery" patented technology

An apparatus and method for ocular surgery includes a delivery system for generating and guiding a surgical laser beam to a focal point on a target surface in a treatment area of an eye. A detector is coupled to the beam path of the surgical laser to create a three-dimensional image of the target surface, and a computer morphs this three-dimensional image into a two-dimensional image. Operationally, the computer then uses the two-dimensional image to position and move the focal point in the treatment area for surgery.

Disclosed are an intraocular lens (IOL) push rod, an IOL cartridge, multiple embodiments of an IOL cartridge housing, and a method for folding an IOL for insertion into an eye during ocular surgery. The distal end of the push rod is contoured to apply force to a substantial portion of the perimeter of an IOL to advance the IOL through a bore of the cartridge. Two hinges couple flanges on the IOL cartridge to a central portion that supports an IOL when protected by a cover for an extended storage time. The IOL cartridge has a locking element that engages a cartridge housing or IOL inserter. Each cartridge housing accepts the IOL cartridge with the IOL in an unfolded state. The cartridge bore is unobstructed and is tapered to fold one side of the IOL over the other as the IOL is advanced through the bore and into an eye.

Improved systems, devices, and methods measure and / or change the shape of a tissue surface, particularly for use in laser eye surgery. Fluorescence of the tissue may occur at and immediately underlying the tissue surface. The excitation energy can be readily absorbed by the tissue within a small tissue depth, and may be provided from the same source used for photodecomposition of the tissue. Changes in the fluorescence spectrum of a tissue correlate with changes in the tissue's hydration.

Featured are new methods for performing intra-ocular surgery that allow surgical personnel to access the intra-ocular volume to perform a surgical procedure or technique but which does not require the use of sutures to seal the sclera and / or conjunctiva following the procedure. The methods of the present invention generally include providing an entry alignment device and inserting the entry alignment device into an eye through both the conjunctiva and sclera so as to form an entry aperture that extends between the exterior of the eye and the intra-ocular volume within the eye. The provided alignment device is configured so as to form or provide an aperture or opening in each of the conjunctiva and sclera of the eye and to maintain these apertures or openings in each of the conjunctiva and sclera aligned during the surgical procedure so these apertures or openings form the entry aperture. In more particular aspects, the provided entry alignment device is sized such that when the entry alignment device is removed from the eye following the completion of the surgical procedure, the aperture or opening formed in the sclera seals without the use of sutures. In a more specific aspect of the present invention, the provided entry alignment device is sized such that the apertures or openings and thus the entry aperture are self sealing. In other embodiments, a plurality of entry alignment devices are provided so a plurality of entry apertures can be formed in the eye. The invention also features a high speed vitreous cutting and aspirating device particularly configured for use in such methods and surgical procedures and techniques as well as the related entry alignment devices and other surgical instruments.

Provided herein is a wound closure device comprising a plug adaptable to be inserted into an opening formed in two or more tissue layers, one tissue layer transposable relative to a second layer, the plug comprising a material having a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the plug is adaptable to be inserted into the opening in the first configuration and further adaptable to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration after being inserted into the opening. The wound closure device can be used in cases where ocular surgery has been preformed.

Improved devices, systems, and methods for diagnosing, planning treatments of, and / or treating the refractive structures of an eye of a patient incorporate results of prior refractive corrections into a planned refractive treatment of a particular patient by driving an effective treatment vector function based on data from the prior eye treatments. The exemplary effective treatment vector employs an influence matrix which may allow improved refractive corrections to be generated so as to increase the overall accuracy of laser eye surgery (including LASIK, PRK, and the like), customized intraocular lenses (IOLs), refractive femtosecond treatments, and the like.

Devices, systems, and methods for treating and / or determining appropriate prescriptions for one or both eyes of a patient are particularly well-suited for addressing presbyopia, often in combination with concurrent treatments of other vision defects. High-order spherical aberration may be imposed in one or both of a patient's eyes, often as a controlled amount of negative spherical aberration extending across a pupil. A desired presbyopia-mitigating quantity of high-order spherical aberration may be defined by one or more spherical Zernike coefficients, which may be combined with Zernike coefficients generated from a wavefront aberrometer. The resulting prescription can be imposed using refractive surgical techniques such as laser eye surgery, using intraocular lenses and other implanted structures, using contact lenses, using temporary or permanent corneal reshaping techniques, and / or the like.

A surgical microscopy system comprises microscopy optics for generating an image of an eye under surgery. A pattern generator generates a pattern to be superimposed with the image. An eye-tracker is provided for tracking a position of the superimposed pattern with respect to the image in case of a movement of the eye. The superimposed pattern comprises pattern elements that are equally distributed on first and second circles of different sizes, in order to give assistance when placing a suture during a corneal transplant. The superimposed pattern may also provide an assistance for orientating a toric intra-ocular lens.

Described herein are apparatus and associated methods for the generation of at least one user adjustable, accurate, real-time, virtual surgical reference indicium. The apparatus includes one or more real-time, multidimensional visualization modules, one or more processors configured to produce real-time, virtual surgical reference indicia, and at least one user control input for adjusting the at least one real-time virtual surgical reference indicium. The associated methods generally involve the steps of providing one or more real-time multidimensional visualizations of a target surgical field, identifying at least one visual feature in a pre-operative dataset, aligning the visual features with the multidimensional visualization, and incorporating one or more real-time, virtual surgical reference indicium into the real-time visualization. In exemplary embodiments, the apparatus and methods are described in relation to ocular surgery, more specifically capsulorrhexis.

Devices, systems, and methods for treating and / or determining appropriate prescriptions for one or both eyes of a patient are particularly well-suited for addressing presbyopia, often in combination with concurrent treatments of other vision defects. High-order spherical aberration may be imposed in one or both of a patient's eyes, often as a controlled amount of negative spherical aberration extending across a pupil. A desired presbyopia-mitigating quantity of high-order spherical aberration may be defined by one or more spherical Zernike coefficients, which may be combined with Zernike coefficients generated from a wavefront aberrometer. The resulting prescription can be imposed using refractive surgical techniques such as laser eye surgery, using intraocular lenses and other implanted structures, using contact lenses, using temporary or permanent corneal reshaping techniques, and / or the like.

A Computer program for determining a working profile for controlling a radiation system in refractive eye surgery, said program comprising:a user interface for input of data by a user; a data receiving interface for receiving measured data regarding the eye to be corrected; a working profile generator for generating a working profile on the basis of the input data and measured data; a generator for generating control data for controlling electromagnetic radiation; a simulator for simulating a treatment result on the basis of said control data for controlling the electromagnetic radiation and the effect of said radiation on eye tissue; a judgment stage for judging said treatment results by applying pre-given criteria; an iteration loop for generating iteratively, in case of a negative judgment, another amended profile on the basis of other data or for generating iteratively other control data for controlling the electromagnetic radiation; and a transfer means for transferring control data to a control of the radiation system in case of a positive judgment in the judgment stage.

A device for removing undesired tissue such as residual tissue, epithelial cells and / or other undesired material(s) from an inner surface of a lens capsule of an eye, includes an elongated body [2] having a proximal and a distal end and at least one central lumen extending between the ends. A flexible shaving filament (4) is movably provided in the lumen so as to be insertable into the lens capsule. The filament has an overall stiffness such that it will be able to conform to an inner surface of a lens capsule when inserted into the capsule, and also to enable shaving off of material from the inner surface. The invention also relates to a method for removing the undesired tissue is also disclosed.

Devices and methods for measuring axial distances, particularly during eye surgery, are provided.

A method of manufacturing an intraocular lens inside a capsular bag after the natural lens has been removed employs a sealing device comprising a plug part adapted to seal a rhexis in a capsular bag, thus preventing displacement through the rhexis of a lens-forming liquid material injected through the rhexis and adapted to replace the natural lens and form an intraocular lens implant. The plug part has a slightly larger area than the capsulorhexis and is made of a deformable polymer. The sealing device further comprises an adjusting means connected to the plug part and adapted to position the plug part to a desired location.

A transparent illuminated infusion cannula is provided for illuminating an area during eye surgery. An optical fiber may be spaced a certain distance away from the cannula such that fluid flow around the distal end of the fiber and into the transparent cannula may occur with a much higher flow rate than what had previously been possible. The fiber cannula airspace may be optimized so that the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit remains substantially constant in order to achieve a best compromise between high light transmittance and high fluid flow rate.

Ophthalmic compositions including compatible solute components and / or polyanionic components are useful in treating eyes, for example, to relieve dry eye syndrome, to protect the eyes against hypertonic insult and / or the adverse effects of cationic species on the ocular surfaces of eyes and / or to facilitate recovery from eye surgery.

Delivery devices, systems and methods are provided for inserting an implant into an eye. The delivery or inserter devices or systems can be used to dispose or implant an ocular stent or implant, such as a shunt, in communication with the suprachoroidal space, uveal scleral outflow pathway, uveoscleral outflow path or supraciliary space of the eye. The implant can drain fluid from an anterior chamber of the eye to a physiologic outflow path of the eye, such as, the suprachoroidal space, uveal scleral outflow pathway, uveoscleral outflow path or supraciliary space. Alternatively, or in addition, the implant can elute a drug or therapeutic agent. The delivery or inserter devices or systems can be used in conjunction with other ocular surgery, for example, but not limited to, cataract surgery through a preformed corneal incision, or independently with the inserter configured to make a corneal incision. The implant can be preloaded with or within the inserter to advantageously provide a sterile package for use by the surgeon, doctor or operator.

The invention relates to a method of performing ocular surgery, after an anterior capsulotomy has been made, by forming a sealed expanded capsular bag. The method includes sealing the capsular bag with a viscoelastic material to provide a gas tight seal to prevent leakage into the anterior chamber of the eye during the surgical process; expanding the capsular bag by introducing a gas capable of exerting a pressure on the inner surface of the capsular bag wall; inspecting and / or treating the capsular bag with one or several devices and / or agents suitable for performing inspection and / or treatment. The inspection and / or treatment can comprise any of visual inspection, estimation of capsular bag volume; labeling any residual epithelial cells to detect the presence thereof; removing residual epithelial cells, implanting one or more intracapsular implants; injecting a lens forming material for molding a lens in situ; drying the lens capsule; alone or in any combination. Use of a viscoelastic compound for the preparation of a temporary intraocular seal capable of sealing the capsular bag is also provided.

A ring that can maintain a pupil in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure. The ring has a plurality of loops that capture iris tissue. The ring is configured to extend the pupil when iris tissue is inserted into each loop. An ophthalmic procedure such as phacoemulsification can then be performed on the patient. The ring has a center opening that provides a wide view of the ocular chamber during the procedure.

A system and method for ocular surgery includes a delivery system for generating and guiding a surgical laser beam to a focal point in a treatment area of an eye. Additionally, a contact device is employed for using the eye to establish a reference datum. Further, an optical detector is coupled to the beam path of the surgical laser to create a sequence of cross-sectional images. Each image visualizes both the reference datum and the focal point. Operationally, a computer then uses these images to position and move the focal point in the treatment area relative to the reference datum for surgery.

An improved ophthalmic imaging instrument including a wavefront sensor-based adaptive optical subsystem that measures phase aberrations in reflections derived from light produced by an imaging light source and compensates for such phase aberrations when capturing images of reflections derived from light produced by the same imaging light source. The high-resolution image data captured by the improved ophthalmic imaging instrument can be used to assist in detection and diagnosis (such as color imaging, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography) of abnormalities and disease in the human eye and treatment (including pre-surgery preparation and computer-assisted eye surgery such as laser refractive surgery) of abnormalities and disease in the human eye.

Systems and methods for testing a laser eye surgery system are provided. Methods include establishing an image scale based on a calibration pattern, imageably altering a series of regions of a test surface with the laser system, laterally redirecting a laser beam to form a test pattern, imaging the test pattern, determining a lateral redirecting characteristic of the beam delivery system, and qualifying or calibrating the beam delivery system. Systems can include an input module that accepts an input member such as a calibration pattern parameter, a calibration pattern image, an intended pattern parameter, a test pattern image, an imaging device position, a calibration pattern position, a test pattern position, and a beam delivery system position, a characterization module that determines a beam delivery system characteristic, and an output module that generates a calibration for the beam delivery system of the laser eye surgery system.

A photodisruptive laser delivery system and method for use in eye surgery. The photo disruptive laser delivered in pulses in the range of <10000 femtoseconds, used to create incisions in eye tissue is delivered by novel means to minimize optical aberrations without the use of a complex system of multiply precisely arranged lenses. This novel means include a scanning design that allows the focusing lens to always remain under normal incidence to the photodisruptive laser beam, negating the need for overly complex aberration correction set up. The focusing lens is configured to move within a surrounding beam to facilitate two dimensional controls over the treatment space. Controlling beam divergence prior to focusing allows for 3D incisions. The system and methods of use accomplish precise treatment without the need to contact the patient and can be integrated into standard surgical microscopes to improve operational efficiency and hospital workflow.

An orientation method for corrective eye surgery that registers pairs of eye images taken at different times and with the patient in different positions includes retrieving reference digital image data on an eye of the patient, including image data on an extracorneal eye feature. Real-time image data are collected that include image data on the extracorneal eye feature. A combined image is displayed of a superposition of the data sets, and a determination is made as to whether the combined image indicates an adequate registration between them based upon the extracorneal eye feature data in the two data sets. If the registration is not adequate, one of the data sets is manipulated until an adequate registration is achieved. A system is directed to apparatus and software for orienting a corrective program for eye surgery.

Devices, systems, and methods for laser eye surgery selectively ablate tissues within the cornea of an eye along one or more target surfaces, so that corneal tissue bordered by the laser incision surface(s) can be mechanically removed. An appropriate tissue-shaping surface can be selected based on the regular refractive error of the eye, and a shape of the target laser surface(s) can be calculated so as to correct irregular refractive errors of the eye, impose desired additional sphero-cylindrical and / or irregular alterations.

A hand-held aspiration device is provided which has a relatively small suction volume along a suction path to improve responsiveness of the aspiration device when the device is activated. The device may be manually powered and may be provided without electronic controls. The device has a suction path which may be purged into a disposal enclosure to reduce the volume of material under the influence of the suction pressure during the procedure. The suction source may also be part of the hand-held unit to further reduce the suction path and suction volume.

Ocular surgery may be performed by a variety of systems, processes, and techniques. In certain implementations, a system and a process for ocular surgery may include the ability to draw ocular fluid into a channel of a hand-held pump system and separate the fluid into multiple compressible channels to create multiple flows. The system and the process may also include the ability to peristaltically pump the fluid through the compressible channels.

A surgical console display operable to provide a visual indication of status of a surgical laser or other surgical instrument or peripheral device coupled to the surgical console is provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. This facilitates the surgeon's management of a surgical procedure where a multitude of tasks and surgical control equipment are manipulated during an ocular surgery. The surgical console includes a processing module, an external interface, and a user interface having a display screen. The display screen specifically allows operators to view a status of peripheral devices and / or surgical instruments such as but not limited to a surgical laser.

Delivery devices, systems and methods are provided for inserting an implant into an eye. The delivery or inserter devices or systems can be used to dispose or implant an ocular stent or implant, such as a shunt, in communication with the suprachoroidal space, uveal scleral outflow pathway, uveoscleral outflow path or supraciliary space of the eye. The implant can drain fluid from an anterior chamber of the eye to a physiologic outflow path of the eye, such as, the suprachoroidal space, uveal scleral outflow pathway, uveoscleral outflow path or supraciliary space. Alternatively, or in addition, the implant can elute a drug or therapeutic agent. The delivery or inserter devices or systems can be used in conjunction with other ocular surgery, for example, but not limited to, cataract surgery through a preformed corneal incision, or independently with the inserter configured to make a corneal incision. The implant can be preloaded with or within the inserter to advantageously provide a sterile package for use by the surgeon, doctor or operator.