Femtosecond Laser Ophthalmic Apparatus Matrix Grid Ablation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current femtosecond laser systems for ophthalmological procedures are large, require fixed laser beam delivery, and result in increased surgery time due to the need for patient movement and alignment complexities, which negatively impact patient and surgeon comfort and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A femtosecond laser ophthalmological apparatus using a rotating mirror set module and a two-dimensional XY scanner to create a matrix grid pattern of laser pulses on the cornea, eliminating the need for compensating optics and allowing for flexible alignment and reduced surgery time through a slide lock mechanism for attaching the suction ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a mirror-lens relay optical arm is used to deliver the laser beam, then the laser can be delivered to the hand piece, but alignment errors are amplified and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic lenses from the optical delivery system, retaining only mirrors in the relay optical arm. This eliminates the alignment errors that lenses introduce while maintaining the essential laser beam delivery function. The hand piece module receives laser beams through a simplified mirror-only optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical alignment adjustments that would be needed for lens-based systems with a fixed mirror configuration. The mirrors are positioned to provide a fixed optical path from the laser source through the hand piece to the treatment site, eliminating the need for complex alignment mechanisms.
2Productivity
If a line scanning pattern method is used with rotation elements, then the laser can ablate the necessary area, but the apparatus becomes more complex and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ablation area into a matrix grid pattern that is scanned by the laser beam. Instead of using complex rotation elements to move the laser pattern, the system uses a fixed mirror configuration combined with a scanning mechanism that moves the laser beam in a predetermined pattern across the treatment area, achieving complete coverage without additional rotating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic scanning mechanism that moves the laser beam across the treatment area in a controlled manner. The scanning system adjusts the beam position rapidly to cover the entire ablation area, replacing the need for mechanical rotation elements while maintaining productivity.
3Reliability
If the suction ring is attached to the hand piece, then the hand piece can be secured on the patient's eye, but centering alignment becomes cumbersome and requires additional fine movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate mounting module that acts as an intermediary between the suction ring and the hand piece. The suction ring is mounted on this intermediate module, which provides a stable base and simplified alignment interface. This separates the securing function from the hand piece, allowing the suction ring to be centered and attached more easily without requiring additional fine movements of the hand piece itself.
4Reliability
If femtosecond laser is used to create corneal flaps, then safety and reproducibility are improved, but surgery time increases due to cavitation gas bubble diffusion wait time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous laser operation by using a scanning mechanism that rapidly moves the laser beam across the treatment area, creating the corneal flap without interruption. The system maintains continuous laser emission while the beam is scanned across different positions, eliminating idle wait time between pulses and reducing the overall surgery time while maintaining the safety and quality benefits of femtosecond laser ablation.
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 solution simplifies the optical system, reduces alignment errors, enhances flexibility in 3D trajectories, and decreases surgery time by allowing for efficient, precise ablation of the cornea without the need for complex rotation elements, improving both patient and surgeon comfort and workflow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
generating a pulsed laser beam from a femtosecond laser... The scanning pattern is applied coaxially to a zoom-able scan focusing lens... and it focuses the scanning pattern onto the patient's eye
Implementation Method 2
a femtosecond laser that creates a flap on the cornea... using a series of hundreds of thousands of small laser pulses to create a cleavage plane
Implementation Method 3
directing the generated laser beam through a beam expander
Implementation Method 4
A computer controlled electronically activated shutter and a rotating mirror set module are used so that the laser beam enters the hand piece module at normal incidence
Implementation Method 5
The laser beam is applied to a two dimensional XY scanner in the hand piece module to generate a predetermined scanning pattern of laser pulses
Implementation Method 6
The scanning pattern is applied coaxially to a zoom-able scan focusing lens supported by an XYZ translation motor in the hand piece module, and it focuses the scanning pattern onto the patient's eye
Implementation Method 7
a detachable suction ring that is aligned and attached to eye center separate from the hand piece
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a femtosecond laser ophthalmological apparatus (10) and method that creates a flap on the cornea for LASIK refractive surgery or for other applications that require removal of corneal and lens tissue at specific locations, such as in corneal transplants, stromal tunnels, corneal lenticular extraction and cataract surgery. The femtosecond laser (15) beam is transferred from the main cabinet (11) to a hand piece module (17) via a rotating mirror set module (16). In the hand piece (17), the femtosecond laser (15) beam is scanned and guided to a patient's eye (23). The ablation pattern is based on dividing the area of the ablation area into a matrix grid (32) made up of cells (31). Predetermined ablation pattern (33,35) is completed in an individual cell (31) before moving on to the next cell until ablation is complete in the entire matrix grid (32) mapped on the ablation area.