Combined Laser Phacoemulsification System for Contactless Eye Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser delivery systems for eye surgery, particularly in cataract procedures, are complex, costly, and require a patient interface that can cause high intraocular pressures and logistical challenges, while existing methods for capsulotomy and cornea incisions lack precision and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A novel laser delivery system design that maintains the focusing lens under normal incidence to minimize aberrations, integrates with a surgical microscope, and uses a scanning system to deliver ultra-short laser pulses for precise tissue cutting without a patient interface, employing beam expanders and Galileo lenses to control spot size and depth of focus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a patient interface is used to deliver laser beams to the eye, then laser treatment can be performed, but intraocular pressure increases and logistical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the patient interface component from the laser delivery system. The laser beam is delivered directly to the eye without requiring a patient interface, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of increased intraocular pressure while maintaining laser treatment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new intermediary mechanism - a corneal contactless positioning system that uses magnetic fields and optical tracking to position and stabilize the eye during laser treatment without physical contact, replacing the traditional patient interface
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional mechanical cutting methods are used for capsulotomy, then the procedure can be performed, but precision and quality are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cutting tools and methods with a photodisruptive laser system. The laser delivers precise energy to the capsule tissue, creating clean cuts with micrometer-level precision, eliminating the limitations of mechanical cutting while maintaining procedural performability
3Manufacturing precision
If laser pulse energy is increased to achieve optical breakdown, then cutting precision improves, but cavitation bubble size increases and shock wave damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the laser pulse parameters by using ultra-short pulse durations (femtosecond to picosecond range) with carefully controlled pulse energies. This parameter optimization achieves optical breakdown and precise cutting while minimizing cavitation bubble size and reducing shock wave damage to surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a sequence of periodic laser pulses delivered in a controlled pattern. The pulsed delivery allows tissue relaxation between pulses and enables precise control of energy deposition, achieving cumulative cutting effect while limiting individual pulse damage
4Manufacturing precision
If complex laser delivery systems are used to achieve precise focusing, then cutting precision improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a unified laser delivery system that combines positioning, focusing, and treatment delivery. The system uses a combination of optical elements and control mechanisms that serve multiple purposes simultaneously, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise focusing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-aligning and self-focusing mechanisms in the laser delivery system. The system automatically compensates for positioning errors and maintains optimal focus without requiring complex external control systems, thereby reducing system complexity while preserving precision
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 system achieves precise and efficient laser incisions with minimized aberrations, reducing complexity and cost, and allows seamless integration with standard surgical setups, enhancing surgical efficiency and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
The laser pulses are always focused to a very small spot size in the range of a few micrometers, so that a laser induced optical breakdown is achieved in any tissue or liquid (e.g. aqueous humor) that falls within the spot size location. This optical breakdown (photodisruptive breakdown) creates a micro plasma followed by a small cavitation bubble.
Implementation Method 2
Priority is therefore given to minimizing the spot size to achieve an above threshold laser fluence while using laser pulses within a low pulse energy range. The high numerical aperture and minimization of aberrations is critical in achieving such small spot sizes.
Implementation Method 3
A novel laser delivery system design that maintains the focusing lens under normal incidence to minimize aberrations, integrates with a surgical microscope, and uses a scanning system to deliver ultra-short laser pulses for precise tissue cutting without a patient interface, employing beam expanders and Galileo lenses to control spot size and depth of focus.
Data Source
AI summary
Cataract surgery is in recent years more and more augmented and supported by the application of laser cuts in the eye tissue. Such laser systems are separate units from the phacoemulsification system units that are usually used for cataract extraction. The laser systems require the patient to be positioned under the laser unit and then being moved under the surgical microscope next to the phacoemulsification unit. The here described invention relates to systems combining several aspects of the laser system and the phacoemulsification system. In particular, this invention relates to combining at least some parts of the control system and the housing for both systems and thereby minimizing and optimizing setup time, operating room footprint, patient flow and cost. Furthermore the here disclosed invention relates to integrating the laser system under the surgical microscope and thereby significantly reducing the surgery setup and complexity.