Laser Scan Verification in Cataract Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laser surgical systems for cataract surgery lack real-time confirmation of incision placement accuracy, leading to potential errors due to incorrect data entry or calibration issues, which can result in improper placement of incisions during the procedure.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that verify the placement of laser scans by imaging the object, identifying the expected scan location, performing a laser scan, detecting luminescence, and comparing the actual scanned location to the expected location within a predetermined threshold, using a pulsed laser beam with a wavelength of 320 nm to 370 nm and luminescence of 400 nm or more, to ensure accurate incision placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated laser surgical procedures are used to perform incisions based on pre-treatment measurements, then surgical efficiency is improved, but the risk of placement errors due to data entry mistakes or calibration issues increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidincision placement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures real-time images of the eye during the laser surgical procedure, automatically identifies anatomical landmarks and calculated incision locations in the images, and provides visual feedback to the physician showing both the intended and actual scan locations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows for immediate verification and correction of incision placement, eliminating the need for manual data entry while maintaining high surgical efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically identifying eye landmarks and calculating optimal incision locations before the actual laser procedure begins. The planned incision locations are displayed on the captured images for physician review and approval before any laser scanning occurs, ensuring that all preparatory calculations and verifications are completed in advance to prevent placement errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If real-time image capture and automatic location identification are implemented to verify incision placement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescan location verification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a single imaging device that serves multiple functions: capturing pre-treatment anatomical images, capturing real-time verification images during the procedure, displaying visual feedback to the physician, and providing a reference framework for automatic location identification. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex subsystems into one integrated device, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 provides real-time verification of incision placement accuracy, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring that laser surgical systems are properly calibrated, thereby improving the precision and safety of cataract surgery.

Implementation Method 1

detecting a luminescence from the scanned area and identifying an actual scanned location within the image based on the detected luminescence

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLuminescence: Luminescence

Implementation Method 2

The laser beam is a pulsed laser beam having a wavelength of 320 nm to 370 nm. The luminescence preferably has a wavelength of 400 nm or more.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP4023196A1Laser surgical systems with laser scan location verification
Publication Date: 2022.07.06 AMO DEVELOPMENT LLC
  • EP4023196A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4023196A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4023196A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of verifying a laser scan at a predetermined location with-in an object includes imaging at least a portion of the object, the resulting image comprising the predetermined location; identifying the predetermined location in the image, thereby establishing an expected scan location of the laser scan in the image; performing a laser scan on the object by scanning a focal point of the laser beam in a scanned area; detecting a luminescence from the scanned area and identifying an actual scanned location within the image based on the detected luminescence; and determining whether the difference between the actual scanned location and the expected scan location is within a threshold value.