Corneal Procedure Advisor for Topography-Based Astigmatism Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing excimer laser refractive surgery methods fail to accurately predict the optical effects of topographic irregularities on a patient's vision, leading to inconsistent vision improvements due to under-corrections or overcorrections, particularly in cases with astigmatism.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent advisor system that utilizes mathematical and optical physics principles to generate precise treatment recommendations for excimer laser refractive surgery, incorporating topographic vectors and astigmatism vectors to determine optimal ablation patterns based on corneal topography maps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional excimer laser refractive surgery methods are used, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the optical effects of topographic irregularities cannot be accurately predicted, leading to under-corrections or overcorrections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprediction accuracy of optical effectsVSAvoidconsistency of vision improvement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of corneal topography maps before surgery to predict the optical effects of topographic irregularities. By calculating topographic vectors and astigmatism vectors in advance, the system enables practitioners to adjust the ablation profile beforehand, preventing under-corrections or overcorrections during the actual surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The intelligent advisor system acts as an intermediary between the corneal topography measurements and the ablation profile design. It processes the topographic data through mathematical and optical physics principles, generating treatment recommendations that mediate between the measured irregularities and the desired surgical outcome, thereby improving prediction accuracy and consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If topographic-guided applications are used to correct corneal irregularities, then individualized treatments can be performed, but the refractive effects of topographic irregularities remain difficult to predict

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividualized treatment capabilityVSAvoidprediction of refractive effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system analyzes local topographic features by identifying and characterizing specific irregularities such as taluses on the corneal surface. By examining local curvature changes and generating location-specific topographic vectors, the system provides adapted treatment recommendations for each unique corneal topology while maintaining accurate prediction of refractive effects through optical physics calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If corneal topography maps are analyzed to determine ablation patterns, then precise treatment can be designed, but the complexity of analyzing topographic vectors and astigmatism vectors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of ablation profileVSAvoidcomplexity of analysis system

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex manual analysis methods with automated computational algorithms based on mathematical and optical physics principles. The intelligent advisor uses computer-based calculations to process topographic vectors and astigmatism vectors, substituting manual measurement and analysis with algorithmic processing, thereby maintaining high precision ablation profile design while reducing operational complexity for practitioners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12544264B2Intelligent topographic corneal procedure advisor

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 ALCON INC

AI summary

Generation of treatment recommendations for topographic-based excimer laser surgical procedures is described that includes generating accurate cylinder compensation and spherical compensation values that are adjusted to compensate for unique characteristics of advanced topographic-based excimer laser surgical systems. Generating treatment recommendations generally includes determining a topographic vector from a topographic corneal map of the eye, determining a posterior astigmatism vector and an anterior astigmatism vector for the eye, and generating an interior astigmatism vector using the topographic vector, the posterior astigmatism vector, the anterior astigmatism vector, and a manifest astigmatism vector. In various embodiments, the cylinder compensation is generated using the interior astigmatism vector and the posterior astigmatism vector, and the spherical compensation is generated using an initial spherical compensation modified by a topographic addback modifier and a cylinder addback modifier.