Automatic Centration of Curved Patient Interface on Apex
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating the eye with laser technology face challenges such as inaccurate cutting, substantial deflection of corneal tissue, and difficulties in aligning curved patient interfaces, leading to less than ideal results in correcting refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Innovation Solution
A system that couples a laser source with a measurement module and processor to measure the curved patient interface, allowing for precise alignment of the laser treatment axis with the apex of the curved surface, thereby minimizing cut depth errors and manufacturing tolerances, using a plurality of measurement locations distributed about a central axis to adjust the treatment profile and axis independently of the radius of curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a curved patient interface is used to contact the cornea, then coupling accuracy is improved, but alignment difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the curved patient interface using a measurement pattern before the laser treatment. By measuring distances at multiple locations and determining the apex position in advance, the system can pre-calculate alignment corrections, making the subsequent alignment process more manageable and accurate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the measurement module to detect deviations from the ideal curved surface and automatically adjusts the laser treatment axis. The measured distances are used to calculate correction values that realign the treatment axis with the apex of the curved interface, continuously improving alignment accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing tolerances are reduced for the curved patient interface, then cutting accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the curved patient interface using a measurement pattern before the laser treatment. By measuring distances at multiple locations and determining the apex position in advance, the system can pre-calculate alignment corrections, making the subsequent alignment process more manageable and accurate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the measurement module to detect deviations from the ideal curved surface and automatically adjusts the laser treatment axis. The measured distances are used to calculate correction values that realign the treatment axis with the apex of the curved interface, continuously improving alignment accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If the laser treatment axis is aligned with the apex of the curved surface, then depth error is reduced, but measurement and alignment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is segmented into multiple discrete measurement locations distributed about a central axis. By measuring at these separate locations and calculating the apex position from the collected data, the system achieves precise depth alignment without requiring a single complex measurement system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point alignment approach to a multi-point spatial measurement approach. By measuring distances at multiple locations in three-dimensional space and determining the apex from these measurements, the system achieves more robust and accurate alignment while distributing the measurement complexity across multiple simpler measurement points.
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 enables accurate and precise incisions with reduced decentration and depth errors, improving the alignment and cutting accuracy for procedures like LASIK, Femto-LASIK, and other corneal treatments, enhancing the centration tolerances and reducing errors associated with manufacturing inconsistencies.
Implementation Method 1
measure the curved patient interface with a measurement pattern
Implementation Method 2
A laser source configured to generate a treatment beam
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to treat a patient comprises a laser beam, a measurement module, a scanner and a curved patient interface lens. The curved patient interface is measured with a pattern so as to determine a plurality of distances of the curved surface at a plurality of measurement locations. The measurement pattern may comprise the plurality of measurement locations distributed about a central measurement axis corresponding to the laser treatment axis. The plurality of measurement locations of the curved surface may correspond to a portion of a planned treatment profile, such that the measured distances correspond to alignment of the planned treatment. The plurality of distances can be used to determine an apex of the curved surface of the patient interface and to align the laser treatment axis with the apex of the curved surface.