Corneal Cut Surface Planning for Refractive Re-treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for refraction-correcting ophthalmic surgery, such as LASIK and FLEX, lack a practical solution for re-treatment or continuation of a terminated treatment without ablation of corneal tissue, especially when previous operations are incomplete or not fully satisfactory.
Innovation Solution
A planning device and treatment apparatus that utilize a laser device to generate control data for creating additional cut surfaces in the cornea, taking into account pre-operative cuts, allowing for re-treatment by isolating a corneal volume without intersecting existing cuts, thereby enabling precise and safe refractive correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a laser device is used to separate corneal volume by cut surfaces in refraction-correcting surgery, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but the ability to perform re-treatment without ablation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The corneal volume is segmented into distinct regions by creating multiple cut surfaces (first cut surface and second cut surface) that define a bounded corneal volume. This segmentation allows the isolated corneal volume to be removed without affecting surrounding tissue, enabling precise re-treatment. The planning device calculates and generates control data for these segmented cut surfaces based on pre-operative cuts and desired refractive correction.
2Reliability
If previous ophthalmic operations are incomplete or terminated, then treatment continuity is disrupted, but performing additional ablation for re-treatment increases loss of corneal tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The planning device performs preliminary calculation and planning of cut surfaces before the actual laser treatment. It takes into account pre-operative cuts and determines the optimal corneal volume to be removed, generating control data that defines precise cut surfaces. This preliminary action ensures that the treatment can be completed or re-treatment performed without unnecessary additional ablation, minimizing corneal tissue loss while ensuring treatment reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple treatment apparatuses are used (laser keratome and excimer laser), then cut quality and lamella thickness consistency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment apparatus is designed with a single laser device that performs multiple functions: creating the first cut surface, creating the second cut surface, and defining the corneal volume to be removed. The planning device generates comprehensive control data that guides the laser through all treatment stages. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate laser keratome and excimer laser devices, reducing device complexity while maintaining the precision benefits of laser-based cutting.
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
Enables re-treatment by defining corneal cut surfaces that avoid intersecting pre-operative cuts, ensuring accurate and predictable refractive correction, even in cases where previous operations were incomplete or terminated, thus providing a reliable solution for residual refractive defects.
Implementation Method 1
When generating cut surfaces in the cornea by laser radiation, the optical radiation effect is usually taken advantage of to generate an optical breakthrough.
Data Source
AI summary
A planning device generating control data for a treatment apparatus for refraction-correcting ophthalmic surgery is provided, said apparatus using a laser device to separate a corneal volume, which is to be removed for correction, from the surrounding cornea by at least one cut surface in the cornea of an eye, said planning device comprising an interface for receiving corneal data including information on pre-operative cuts which were generated in a previous ophthalmic operation, and computing means for defining a corneal cut surface which confines the corneal volume to be removed, said computing means defining the corneal cut surface on the basis of the corneal data and generating a control dataset for the corneal cut surface for control of the laser device.