Movable Deflection Mirror for Eye-Tracking Laser Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
During refractive laser surgery, eye movements complicate the measurement of eye parameters such as corneal thickness, leading to unreliable and inefficient data collection, as existing systems struggle to maintain accurate measurements due to the dynamic nature of the human eye.
Innovation Solution
A device integrating a camera for eye movement tracking, a coherent-optical interferometric measuring device, and a movable beam guidance element to adjust the measuring beam's position in real-time, ensuring consistent alignment with the eye's movements, thereby allowing precise and continuous measurement of corneal thickness and other parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual measurement methods are used during laser surgery, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to eye movements
Solution Approach 1:
The beam guidance element is made movable to dynamically track eye movements. The measuring beam's position is continuously adjusted in real-time to follow the moving eye, transforming a static measurement system into a dynamic one that adapts to physiological movements during surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses camera-based eye movement detection to provide feedback about eye position. This feedback is processed by the control unit to automatically adjust the beam guidance element, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains measurement accuracy despite eye movements
2Productivity
If continuous measurement during surgery is attempted without beam tracking, then measurement frequency increases, but measurement reliability decreases due to misalignment from eye movements
Solution Approach 1:
The beam guidance element dynamically tracks eye movements to maintain proper alignment during continuous measurements. This allows the system to perform rapid successive measurements without losing accuracy, as the beam automatically follows the eye's position in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement process becomes continuous rather than interrupted. The movable beam guidance element ensures that the measuring beam continuously intersects the cornea at the correct location throughout surgery, enabling uninterrupted data collection without manual realignment
3Adaptability or versatility
If the measuring beam position remains fixed, then device complexity is minimized, but the system cannot compensate for eye movements leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The beam guidance element is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt its position dynamically. This mechanical or optical adjustability enables the system to track eye movements and maintain measurement accuracy without requiring complex active control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The beam guidance element acts as an intermediary between the fixed laser source and the moving eye. By positioning this element strategically in the optical path and making it movable, it mediates the mismatch between the stationary beam and dynamic target with minimal system complexity
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 solution enables reliable and efficient measurement of eye parameters during laser surgery by automatically tracking the measuring beam, reducing the need for manual intervention and ensuring high accuracy and speed of data collection, allowing for real-time monitoring and adjustment of the treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
a coherent-optical interferometric measuring device for measuring a thickness or depth measure, in particular a corneal thickness, of the eye
Implementation Method 2
an evaluation and control arrangement evaluating the image data of the camera to detect eye movements
Implementation Method 3
the second beam guidance means comprise at least one beam guidance element that is movably arranged to change the beam position of the measurement beam
Data Source
AI summary
In a device for ophthalmologic, particularly refractive, laser surgery, a pachymetric measuring apparatus (34) on the basis of an optical coherence interferometric measuring method is controlled such that the position of the measuring beam emitted by the measuring apparatus (34) follows movements of the eye (10) to be treated. The eye movements are captured by means of a camera (30) of an eye tracker. In order to change the position of the measurement beam, a semi-permeable deflection mirror (42) is arranged in a movable, particularly tiltable manner, by which the measuring beam is deflected onto the eye (10).