Adjustable Pupil System for Ophthalmic Laser Beam Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical laser systems face challenges in maintaining beam intensity above the plasma threshold during ophthalmic surgeries due to corneal wrinkling, leading to uncut regions and reduced precision in procedures like cataract surgery.
Innovation Solution
A surgical laser system equipped with a spatio-temporal beam modulator, specifically an adjustable pupil system, that modulates the laser beam to compensate for distortions caused by corneal wrinkling, ensuring consistent beam intensity and preventing uncut regions by adjusting the phase and amplitude of the beam components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the laser beam is delivered with high energy density to maintain beam intensity above the plasma threshold, then surgical functionality is achieved, but collateral damage such as excessive heating and shock-waves increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the laser beam parameters (phase and amplitude) through a spatio-temporal beam modulator. The modulator changes the beam's spatial distribution and temporal characteristics to compensate for corneal wrinkling distortions, ensuring the beam intensity remains above the plasma threshold for effective cutting while preventing excessive energy concentration that would cause collateral damage.
2Manufacturing precision
If the laser beam is focused to a diffraction limited focus spot with large numerical aperture, then high precision is achieved, but the beam intensity becomes sensitive to corneal wrinkling distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using a wavefront sensor to detect corneal wrinkling distortions and a spatio-temporal beam modulator to compensate for these distortions in real-time. The system continuously monitors the actual beam propagation and adjusts the beam parameters dynamically, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains focus spot precision while stabilizing beam intensity against corneal surface variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by using a dynamically adjustable spatio-temporal beam modulator that can change beam parameters during the surgical procedure. The modulator adapts to real-time corneal conditions, allowing the system to maintain optimal focus spot precision and beam intensity stability despite changing corneal surface geometry throughout the surgery.
3Productivity
If the laser beam scans thin tissue such as lens capsular bag only once or a few times, then surgical efficiency is improved, but uncut regions appear when beam intensity drops below plasma threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting beam parameters through the spatio-temporal modulator to compensate for intensity variations during single-pass scanning of thin tissue. The modulator ensures that even when corneal wrinkling causes local intensity drops below the plasma threshold, the beam maintains sufficient energy density to create complete cuts, eliminating the need for multiple passes and maintaining both efficiency and precision.
4Reliability
If the adjustable pupil system modulates the laser beam to compensate for corneal wrinkling, then beam intensity consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a spatio-temporal beam modulator as a mediator between the laser source and the cornea. This modulator acts as an intermediate device that processes and adjusts the beam parameters to compensate for corneal wrinkling, achieving beam intensity consistency without requiring fundamental changes to the core laser system or surgical procedure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable pupil system effectively reduces the extent of uncut regions, maintaining beam intensity above the plasma threshold, thereby enhancing the precision and completeness of surgical cuts without increasing laser energy, and allowing for efficient re-scanning of incomplete areas.
Implementation Method 1
modulates the laser beam to compensate for distortions caused by corneal wrinkling, ensuring consistent beam intensity and preventing uncut regions by adjusting the phase and amplitude of the beam components
Implementation Method 2
Each laser pulse creates a plasma or cavitation bubble in the target tissue at the focus spot of the laser beam when the beam intensity or energy density exceeds a plasma or photodisruption threshold
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical laser system can include a laser engine to generate a laser beam of laser pulses, a scanning delivery system to direct the laser beam to a target region and to scan the laser beam along a scan-pattern in the target region, and a pupil system to modulate the laser beam. In addition, a method of adjusting a pupil of a laser beam can include: generating a laser beam of laser pulses with a laser engine, directing the laser beam to a target region with a scanning delivery system, scanning the laser beam along a scan-pattern in the target region with the scanning delivery system, and performing a modulation of the laser beam with an adjustable pupil system.