Undocked Eye Laser Tracking for Refractive Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic surgical techniques using ultra-short pulsed lasers face challenges with eye movement during procedures, leading to reduced accuracy and increased patient discomfort due to the need for eye stabilization equipment, which can cause mechanical pressure and post-operative issues.
Innovation Solution
A surgical laser system that includes an ultra-short pulsed laser engine, optics, an eye tracker measuring five degrees of freedom, optical coherence tomography for depth measurement, and a controller to adjust the laser beam position, along with adaptive optics and a scleral ring or compliant contact lens with fiducial markings to facilitate precise cuts without the need for eye docking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If eye stabilizer or docking mechanism is used to restrain eye movement, then laser accuracy and precision are improved, but patient discomfort and post-operative complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical eye stabilizer/docking system with an optical tracking and control system. The eye tracker monitors eye position and the controller adjusts laser beam position in real-time to compensate for eye movements, eliminating the need for mechanical restraint devices that cause patient discomfort and post-operative complications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where the eye tracker continuously monitors eye position and provides real-time data to the controller, which then adjusts the laser beam position accordingly. This feedback loop maintains laser accuracy without requiring mechanical eye stabilization, thereby avoiding patient discomfort and post-operative issues.
2Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical pressure or vacuum suction is used to attach interfacing device to eye, then eye positioning stability is improved, but tissue damage and hemorrhaging risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical attachment methods (pressure/vacuum suction) with an optical tracking system that monitors eye position and dynamically adjusts laser beam positioning. This eliminates the need for physical attachment devices that exert mechanical stress on ocular tissues, thereby preventing tissue damage and hemorrhaging while maintaining positioning stability through software-based compensation.
3Manufacturing precision
If rigid contact lens is used to applanate or flatten the cornea, then surgical precision is improved, but corneal wrinkling and patient discomfort are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical corneal applanation method with an optical tracking and dynamic beam positioning system. Instead of using a rigid contact lens to physically flatten the cornea, the system tracks eye movements and adjusts the laser beam position in real-time to compensate for corneal shape variations, maintaining surgical precision without causing corneal wrinkling or patient discomfort.
4Extent of automation
If eye tracker is used to monitor eye position, then real-time adjustment capability is improved, but tracking accuracy and cut quality may deteriorate due to delays and precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously tracking eye position and predicting movement trends before the laser delivers each pulse. The controller pre-calculates the necessary beam position adjustments based on tracked eye movements, ensuring that the laser always targets the correct location on the eye tissue, thereby maintaining high cut quality despite the automated real-time adjustment process.
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
The system provides robust and accurate cuts during refractive and cataract procedures while minimizing patient discomfort and reducing the need for eye stabilization equipment, enhancing precision and reducing post-operative complications.
Implementation Method 1
an eye tracker to measure five degrees of freedom of movement of the undocked eye of the patient
Implementation Method 2
an optical coherence tomography module to measure depth of the undocked eye of the patient
Implementation Method 3
a laser engine to provide an ultra-short pulsed laser beam
Implementation Method 4
an ultra-short pulsed laser is used to cut a corneal flap to expose the corneal stroma for photoablation with an excimer laser
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for performing ophthalmic surgery using an ultra-short pulsed laser is provided. The system includes a laser engine configured to provide an ultra-short pulsed laser beam, optics configured to direct the laser beam to an undocked eye of a patient, an eye tracker configured to measure five degrees of freedom of movement of the undocked eye, an optical coherence tomography module configured to measure depth of the undocked eye, and a controller configured to control laser beam position on the undocked eye toward a desired laser pattern based on depth and the five degrees of freedom of movement of the undocked eye. Adaptive optics are also provided. Also disclosed are a scleral ring including fiducial markings and a complaint contact lens and fluid fillable contact lens configured to facilitate ultra-short pulsed laser surgery while reducing or eliminating eye docking requirements.