SLO Laser Guidance for Precise Vitreous Floater Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmic surgical systems for treating vitreous floaters rely on complex and expensive OCT devices to guide laser beams, which are not cost-effective and efficient.
Innovation Solution
A confocal SLO-based laser guidance system that uses a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) to generate images of floaters and aligns the SLO and treatment laser beams to focus on the same location, eliminating the need for OCT devices by moving the focal points in the z-direction to accurately target floaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If OCT devices are used to guide laser beams for treating vitreous floaters, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the imaging function and treatment function into a single integrated system. The SLO subsystem provides both imaging capability to locate floaters and guidance for the treatment laser, eliminating the need for separate OCT devices. The shared optical path and control system reduce overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision through the confocal imaging mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The SLO subsystem serves multiple functions: it images the retina, locates floaters in the vitreous, and guides the treatment laser beam. This multi-functional approach replaces the specialized OCT device, reducing system complexity while maintaining the necessary measurement precision for floater localization and treatment guidance.
2Measurement precision
If OCT devices are used to guide laser beams for treating vitreous floaters, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By combining imaging and treatment guidance functions into the SLO subsystem, the patent eliminates the need for expensive separate OCT devices. The shared optical components and control systems reduce overall system cost while maintaining measurement precision through the confocal imaging mechanism that can locate floaters and guide treatment simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The SLO subsystem performs multiple functions including retinal imaging, floater localization, and treatment laser guidance. This multi-functionality replaces specialized expensive OCT equipment, making the system more cost-effective while preserving the measurement precision needed for accurate floater treatment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate imaging and treatment systems are used, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate imaging (SLO) and treatment (laser vitreolysis) functions into an integrated system with a shared optical path. The SLO subsystem images floaters and simultaneously guides the treatment laser, reducing integration complexity while maintaining functional versatility for both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system provides both imaging capability through the SLO subsystem and treatment capability through the laser beam delivery. This multi-functional design maintains versatility for different clinical functions while reducing overall system complexity through shared optical components and unified control.
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
Enables precise and cost-effective treatment of vitreous floaters by using shared optical components to align laser beams, reducing complexity and cost while maintaining accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The SLO subsystem includes an SLO laser source and a pinhole filter. The SLO laser source provides an SLO laser beam with an SLO focal point
Implementation Method 2
The treatment laser subsystem provides a treatment laser beam with a treatment focal point that spatially coincides with the SLO focal point
Implementation Method 3
focus the SLO focal point to form the scan region at a z-scan location, move the scan region to the z-scan location of the floater, and focus the treatment focal point at the z-scan location of the floater
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic surgical laser system for imaging and treating an eye floater includes an SLO subsystem, a treatment laser subsystem, a scanner, optical elements, and a computer. The SLO subsystem provides an SLO laser beam with an SLO focal point, and the treatment laser subsystem provides a treatment laser beam with a treatment focal point that spatially coincides with the SLO focal point. The scanner scans the SLO laser beam across a scan region and directs the treatment laser beam to the xy-location of the scan region. The optical elements aim the SLO laser beam and the treatment laser beam at substantially the same point of the scan region. The computer receives an SLO image of the floater, determines an xy-location of the floater, and instructs the treatment laser subsystem to direct the treatment laser beam towards the xy-location and the z-scan location of the floater.