Non-planar Mirror Laser System for Corneal Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser systems for corneal ablation face inefficiencies due to non-perpendicular incidence of laterally deflected laser beams, leading to reduced ablation depth and potential deviations from desired ablation profiles, which prolong treatment time and can increase intraocular pressure when compensating methods are used.
Innovation Solution
A laser system employing a non-planar mirror surface, potentially spherocylindrical or adjustable, ensures perpendicular incidence of laser beams on the cornea, combined with a variable lens to optimize beam alignment, allowing precise control over ablation profiles without extending treatment duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a flat mirror is used to reflect the laser beam, then the optical path is simple, but the laterally deflected laser beams strike the cornea non-perpendicularly, reducing ablation depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a curved mirror surface instead of a flat mirror to reflect laser beams. The curvature of the mirror is specifically designed to compensate for the convex shape of the cornea, ensuring that laterally deflected laser beams strike the corneal surface perpendicularly. This curvature transformation resolves the contradiction by maintaining optical path simplicity while achieving precise perpendicular incidence across the entire corneal surface.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of pulses is increased to compensate for decreased intensity at lateral positions, then ablation depth is improved, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the mirror from flat to curved, which fundamentally alters the angle of incidence parameter for laterally deflected beams. This parameter change ensures perpendicular incidence without requiring increased pulse numbers, thus maintaining uniform ablation depth while avoiding treatment time extension.
3Manufacturing precision
If the corneal surface is pressed against a translucent object to flatten it, then perpendicular incidence is achieved, but intraocular pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a curved mirror as an intermediary optical element that indirectly achieves perpendicular beam incidence without physically contacting or pressing the cornea. The mirror's curvature acts as a mediator that transforms the beam angles to match the corneal geometry, eliminating the harmful intraocular pressure effect while maintaining precise perpendicular incidence.
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 configuration ensures consistent ablation depth across the corneal surface, enabling precise and efficient ablation profiles while minimizing patient discomfort by maintaining optimal intraocular pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the laser beam deflected by the scanner device is reflected by a mirror
Implementation Method 2
Laser system for ablating the cornea of a patient's eye
Implementation Method 3
the depth to which the cornea is ablated by a single laser pulse
Data Source
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AI summary
The laser system (10'') has a laser source (14), which emits laser beam (18) to a sighting device (24) e.g. scanner device, during operation. The sighting device guides the laser beam to different positions of a reflecting surface of a reflector (36), where the reflecting surface is a non-planar surface e.g. spherical, sphere cylindrical, aspherical or ellipsoidal surfaces. The reflector is arranged downstream to a lens, where the distance between the lens and the reflector is adjustable. An independent claim is also included for a method for preparing an ablation of cornea at an eye of a patient.