Cornea Ablation Laser with Decoupling Unit for Resolution-Speed Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser systems for ablating the cornea face a trade-off between achieving high resolution and keeping treatment time short, as the intensity of the laser beam cannot be quickly adjusted to balance these two requirements.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of decoupling means within the laser system allows for variable energy distribution of the laser beam, enabling the control unit to adjust the energy of individual pulses and the total number of pulses to optimize resolution and treatment duration, using components like adjustable apertures or beam splitters to decouple a portion of the laser beam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the intensity of the laser beam is reduced to achieve better depth resolution, then the resolution is improved, but the treatment duration becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the laser beam intensity adjustable between pulses. The control unit varies the intensity of individual laser pulses dynamically, allowing high intensity for rapid ablation when needed and low intensity for precise profiling when needed, thereby resolving the contradiction between treatment speed and resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of laser beam intensity from a fixed value to a variable value that can be adjusted between pulses. By modifying the intensity parameter dynamically according to the ablation stage and requirements, the system achieves both high resolution and short treatment time
2Productivity
If the intensity of the laser beam is increased to shorten treatment time, then the treatment duration is reduced, but the depth resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts laser intensity based on real-time ablation requirements. High intensity is applied during early ablation stages for rapid material removal, while intensity is reduced during later stages for precise profile formation, thus achieving both short treatment time and high resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic pulsed laser action with varying intensities. Each pulse delivers energy in discrete intervals, and the intensity of successive pulses is modulated according to the ablation progress, enabling the system to alternate between high-speed ablation and high-precision profiling
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
This approach allows for precise control over the ablation process, enabling better resolution while maintaining a shorter treatment time by allowing for quick adjustments in laser pulse energy, thereby optimizing both resolution and treatment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the decoupling means decouple a part (of between 0% and almost 100%) of the laser beam that can be specified (or specified) by choosing between at least two options, so that this part of the laser beam does not project the laser system in the direction of the patient's eye
Implementation Method 2
Laser system for ablating the cornea with a laser beam
Implementation Method 3
Each pulse removes a certain amount of cornea, which depends, among other things, on the intensity of the laser beam
Data Source
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Figure 3a
AI summary
The laser system (10) has a laser source (14) emitting a laser beam (16) during operation, and a decoupling unit (26) filtering the laser beam before leaving the laser system. The decoupling unit decouples a part of the laser beam so that the part of the laser beam does not leave the laser system along a direction of a patient's eye. The source delivers laser pulses (28) in a preset frequency at a preset period. The decoupling unit is switched during a pause between the pulses. The decoupling unit is controlled such that selection between fixations of parts of the laser beam is performed.