Ophthalmological Laser Focus Position Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser devices used in ophthalmological surgery face challenges in ensuring precise positioning of the radiation focus due to aging components, long disuse, or data transmission errors, which can lead to deviations between desired and actual focus positions, especially when dealing with living tissue like human eye tissue, where re-machining is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A test-mode operation is implemented with the laser source turned off, using controllable scan components and a control arrangement to execute a predetermined test scan pattern, allowing for the registration of actual focus positions without stopping the scan movement, enabling the identification of deviations and ensuring precise alignment before actual machining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the laser source is turned on to verify focus position, then the actual position can be confirmed, but the risk of damaging living tissue increases if positioning is incorrect
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a test-mode operation before actual laser machining to verify the scan function and focus position. During this preliminary test, the laser source remains switched off while the scan components execute a test scan pattern, allowing the system to detect deviations between desired and actual focus positions without risking tissue damage. Only after successful verification does the system proceed to actual machining.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the laser source is turned off during testing, then tissue damage is prevented, but the actual focus position cannot be directly verified
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual model of the focus position by using measuring components to detect the actual position of the radiation focus during test-mode operation. These measuring components generate signals that are evaluated by the control arrangement to determine the actual focus position, effectively creating a digital copy or representation of where the focus would be if the laser were active, without requiring actual laser radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring components serve as intermediaries between the scan components and the control arrangement. These components detect the actual focus position during test-mode operation and transmit this information to the control arrangement, which then compares it with the desired position. This intermediary measurement system enables verification without requiring the laser source to be active.
3Productivity
If scan components are not tested before use, then the process is faster, but positioning errors may occur during actual machining
Solution Approach 1:
The control arrangement is designed to automatically execute a test-mode operation upon startup or before machining operations. During this preliminary test, the scan components perform a predetermined test scan pattern while the laser source remains off. The system evaluates the actual focus positions against desired positions to identify any deviations. This automatic preliminary testing ensures positioning accuracy is verified before actual machining begins, preventing errors without requiring manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A laser device, in particular for ophthalmological laser surgery, comprising a laser source (14) for providing laser radiation, controllable scan components (20) for setting a focus position of the laser radiation, measuring components (30) for registering information that is representative of an actual position of the radiation focus, and also a control arrangement (22) controlling the laser source and the scan components. In accordance with the invention, the control arrangement has been set up to bring about the implementation of a test-mode operation of at least some of the scan components with the laser source turned off, in accordance with a predetermined test scan pattern, the test scan pattern defining at least one scan path for the radiation focus, and the control arrangement having been set up to bring about, during a scan movement along the scan path, repeatedly in succession a registration of the actual focus position without stopping the scan movement, and to ascertain a desired focus position, assigned to each registered actual focus position.