Microbubble Backscatter Sensing for Safe Laser Eye Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser eye surgeries often apply arbitrary and variable laser power to pigmented tissues like the iris, retina, or trabecular meshwork, leading to inconsistent results and potential tissue damage, with a lack of interest in procedures beyond cornea reshaping or lens replacement.

Innovation Solution

The method involves delivering laser light to pigmented tissues based on detecting microbubbles formed at a specific power level, using a dual-beam system with a probe beam to create a backscatter pattern, allowing precise adjustment of laser power to achieve desired effects without damaging the eye.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional laser power settings are applied to pigmented tissues, then the laser procedure can be performed, but inconsistent results and potential tissue damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment consistencyVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a probe beam to detect microbubbles formed by the treatment beam in real-time, creating a feedback loop that allows dynamic adjustment of laser power to achieve consistent treatment results while preventing tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The probe beam is applied before and during the treatment to pre-detect the power level at which microbubbles form, allowing the system to establish safe treatment parameters before delivering the full treatment power

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If laser power is increased to achieve desired treatment effects, then efficacy improves, but risk of tissue injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidtissue injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces direct mechanical observation of tissue effects with optical detection of microbubbles using a probe beam, allowing indirect measurement of the treatment effect at a distance and enabling safer power scaling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Microbubbles serve as an intermediary indicator that mediates between the treatment beam and the tissue, providing a visible signal of the treatment effect without requiring direct contact or high-power exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If a dual-beam system with probe beam is used to detect microbubbles, then precise power control is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower level detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The probe beam system serves multiple functions: it detects microbubbles, measures treatment effect, and provides feedback for power control, allowing a single additional component to perform multiple measurement and control tasks

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 ensures safe and effective delivery of laser power by detecting microbubbles, preventing unwanted tissue injury and achieving consistent outcomes in procedures such as iris color alteration, therapeutic iris iridoplasty, and retinal photocoagulation.

Implementation Method 1

The system may then detect the treatment effect by applying a probe beam to the eye and measuring a backscatter pattern

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBackscatter: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

delivering laser light to pigmented target tissues at a laser power relative to a power at which microbubbles are detected in the target tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Implementation Method 3

microbubbles form as a result of the power of the laser light delivered to the target tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrobubble formation: Cavitation

Data Source

PatentUS20250352394A1Microbubble detection

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 STROMA MEDICAL CORP

AI summary

Methods and systems described herein determine the power to apply to an eye to change the color without damaging the eye. For example, the system may apply, using a first laser supply, a treatment beam to an eye to cause a treatment effect, such as formation of microbubbles. The system may apply, using a second laser supply, a probe beam to the eye to create a backscatter pattern based on detected microbubbles resulting from the treatment effect. The system may determine the backscatter pattern using a backscatter detector and determine the treatment effect based on the backscatter pattern. The system may modulate a power of the first laser supply based on the treatment effect.