Compact Ophthalmic Laser Workstation With Integrated Beam Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultra-short pulsed laser systems for ophthalmic surgery are large, bulky, complex, and costly, requiring significant storage space and cumbersome maintenance, which complicates workflow and sterility, and often necessitate separate locations for different surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A compact ophthalmic surgical laser system utilizing a mode-locked fiber oscillator-based laser, resonant optical scanner, XY-scanning stage, and z-scan mechanism, capable of delivering pulsed laser beams with precise control and flexibility for various eye surgeries, including corneal flap creation and incisions, while allowing patient positioning in either upright or reclining positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ultra-short pulsed laser systems are used for ophthalmic surgery, then surgical precision and reliability are improved, but system size, complexity, and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the laser source, scanning system, and surgical delivery components into an integrated compact workstation. The laser head incorporates both the ultra-short pulsed laser source and the scanning mirrors, eliminating the need for separate laser rooms and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining surgical precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the scanning mirrors and optical components within the laser head assembly, creating a compact integrated unit. The resonant scanner and galvanometer are housed within the same enclosure as the laser source, with optical paths carefully arranged to minimize external space requirements while preserving beam quality and surgical accuracy.
2Reliability
If conventional ultra-short pulsed laser systems are used for ophthalmic surgery, then surgical precision and reliability are improved, but storage space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the laser source, scanning system, and control electronics into a single compact workstation measuring approximately 20 inches wide by 20 inches deep by 30 inches high. This integration eliminates the need for separate laser rooms and reduces storage space requirements while maintaining all necessary surgical functions and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the spatial arrangement of components by utilizing vertical space and three-dimensional packaging. The laser head is designed with stacked optical paths and compact mounting arrangements that maximize component density while maintaining accessibility and serviceability, reducing the system's footprint from conventional large floor-standing units to a desktop-sized workstation.
3Reliability
If conventional ultra-short pulsed laser systems are used for ophthalmic surgery, then surgical precision is improved, but maintenance becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the compact workstation with modular components that can be independently accessed and serviced. The laser head, scanning system, and cooling mechanisms are separated into distinct serviceable modules with quick-connect interfaces, allowing maintenance personnel to perform repairs and maintenance without disassembling the entire system, thereby simplifying maintenance while preserving surgical precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates self-diagnostic capabilities and automated alignment systems that reduce the need for complex manual maintenance. The system includes built-in sensors and feedback mechanisms that automatically compensate for component drift and wear, maintaining surgical precision with minimal intervention while simplifying routine maintenance tasks.
4Reliability
If conventional ultra-short pulsed laser systems are used for ophthalmic surgery, then surgical precision is improved, but workflow efficiency decreases due to separate locations required for different procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the compact workstation to perform multiple surgical functions including flap creation, refractive ablation, and other corneal procedures within a single integrated platform. The resonant scanner and galvanometer system can be programmed for different scan patterns and laser parameters to accommodate various surgical techniques, eliminating the need for separate laser systems and rooms while maintaining surgical precision for each procedure type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines previously separate laser systems and procedural capabilities into a single compact workstation that can handle multiple surgical steps in sequence without requiring patient repositioning or equipment changes. The integrated design allows the surgeon to perform flap creation, refractive ablation, and other procedures in the same surgical field with the same laser system, improving workflow efficiency while maintaining 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 high precision and reliability in ophthalmic surgeries with reduced size, cost, and complexity, enabling efficient workflow and improved sterility by integrating key components into a compact, portable design.
Implementation Method 1
a mode-locked fiber oscillator-based laser
Implementation Method 2
fiber laser amplifier
Implementation Method 3
resonant optical scanner is provided with the scanner oscillating at a frequency between 200 Hz and 21000 Hz
Implementation Method 4
xy-scan device is configured to move the pulsed laser beam in a lateral direction
Implementation Method 5
z-scan device is configured to modify a depth of focus of the pulsed laser beam
Implementation Method 6
photoablates with an ultraviolet excimer laser to reshape the cornea
Implementation Method 7
non-ultraviolet, ultra-short pulsed lasers that emit radiation in the picosecond or femtosecond range
Data Source
AI summary
A compact system for performing laser ophthalmic surgery is disclosed. An embodiment of the system includes a mode-locked fiber oscillator-based ultra-short pulsed laser capable of producing laser pulses in the range of 1 nJ to 5 μJ at a pulse repetition rate of between 5 MHz and 25 MHz, a resonant optical scanner oscillating at a frequency of 200 Hz and 21000 Hz, a scan-line rotator, a movable XY-scan device, a z-scan device, and a controller configured to coordinate with the other components of the system to produce one or more desired incision patterns. The system also includes compact visualization optics for in-process monitoring using a beam-splitter inside the cone of a patient interface used to fixate the patient's eye during surgery. The system can be configured such that eye surgery is performed while the patient is either sitting upright, or lying on his or her back.