Patent classifications
A61F2009/00863
Devices, systems, and methods for calibrating an OCT imaging system in a laser surgical system
An adjustment system for an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging system includes an OCT light source; a beam splitter, splitting the OCT light beam into an imaging beam to an imaging arm, and a reference beam to a reference arm; a probe, guiding the imaging beam onto a target and receiving a returned imaging beam from the target; the beam splitter generating an interference beam from the returned imaging beam and a returned reference beam from the reference arm; an imaging detector, detecting the interference beam; an imaging processor, generating an OCT image from the detected interference beam; and an adjustment device, removably coupled to the probe, the adjustment device comprising the target attached to a distal region of a target holder at a working distance from a distal end of the imaging probe, wherein an optical length of the reference arm is adjustable to improve a calibration of the OCT image.
STIMULATION OF THE HEALING PROCESS ON THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM AFTER R:GEN WITH RTF TECHNOLOGY
The effect of laser stimulation, e.g., R:GEN, of the RPE and its impact on MMPs and RAAS pathways are used to guide patient therapies. Certain biomarkers, namely MMPs, TIMPs, and components associated with RAAS, are effective indicators of healing response levels generated by the patients undergoing the therapy. An eye disease is diagnosed in a patient and a first biomarker sample is obtained from a biomatrix, e.g., patient's blood in containers with protease inhibitors. An initial subthreshold laser treatment is then performed on the eye. By monitoring the presence, amount, and relative levels of one or more of the above biomarkers as the patient heals, it is determined when the patient's body has sufficiently responded to the previous treatment, such that retreatment may be appropriate. The present disclosure demonstrates effective treatment of eye diseases, e.g., dry age-related macular degeneration, which utilize laser treatment alone or in combination with other treatments.
ILLUMINATION APPARATUS, ILLUMINATION METHOD, ILLUMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ILLUMINATION SYSTEM
An illumination apparatus for illuminating an examination object, in particular for illuminating a fundus section of a patient's eye, includes at least one light source which emits light onto a micromirror actuator, which is controllable by a control device for the purpose of preshaping the wavefront reflected by the micromirror actuator, and at least one light guide configured to guide the reflected light of the light source that has been preshaped by the micromirror actuator to an examination object. The light guide includes a first end for coupling light into the light guide and a second end for coupling light out of the light guide. In addition, an illumination method, and also an illumination system and a method for operating an illumination system are provided.
Fundus alignment in optical treatment systems
a laser-based ophthalmological treatment system(200) may include a device housing(202), a head fixation assembly(206), and an interactive display device(324, 424). The head fixation assembly(206) may be configured to position and to retain a head of a patient relative to the device housing(202). The interactive display device(324,424) may be positioned in an optical path(304,404). The interactive display device(324,424) may be fixed relative to the head fixation assembly(206). The interactive display device(324,424) may be configured to display a simulation scene(504) that may include a target image(502) into a visual field of the patient. The target image(502) may be displayed in the simulation scene(504) such that optical focus on the target image(502) by the patient aligns a portion of a fundus(130) of an eye of the patient in the optical path(304,404).
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIGHT MODULATION DURING OPHTHALMIC SURGERY
The present disclosure relates generally to illumination devices, systems, and methods for ophthalmic surgical procedures. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an illumination system which monitors and determines the amount of light delivered to a tissue within the ocular space, based upon data received from an imaging system. In certain aspects, if the amount of light delivered to the tissue is determined to be excessive, the illumination system may modify at least one parameter associated with the delivered light to reduce and/or eliminate phototoxic effects thereof. In certain aspects, if the amount of light delivered to the tissue is determined to be excessive, the illumination system may alert a surgeon, who may then trigger modification of the at least one parameter associated with the delivered light to reduce and/or eliminate phototoxic effects thereof.
OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR AND ADAPTER
Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and devices for coupling optical fibers with laser surgical systems. In particular, certain aspects provide a push-pull connector and adapter for releasably coupling an optical fiber with a port of a laser surgical system. The connector and adapter facilitate mechanical lateral and rotational guidance of the optical fiber during insertion into the port to ensure proper alignment (e.g., clocking) of the optical fiber’s cores with a laser beam pattern propagated by the laser surgical system. Accordingly, the connector and adaptor enable improved coupling efficiency between the laser beam pattern and one or more cores of the optical fiber, and therefore improved power uniformity between multiple laser beams transmitted through the cores.
OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING SURGICAL INFORMATION
In certain embodiments, an optical system for obtaining surgical information includes a probe housing a first optical fiber, a light source, a photoanalyzer, and an optical circulator optically coupled to each of the first optical fiber, the light source, and the photoanalyzer. The optical circulator has a first port configured to receive source light generated from the light source, a second port configured to transmit the source light from the first port to the first optical fiber, and a third port configured to transmit return light in the first optical fiber from the second port to the photoanalyzer. The first optical fiber is configured to emit at least a portion of the source light in the first optical fiber from the probe to contact a body structure, and collect light returning from the body structure as a result of the portion of the source light contacting the body structure.
Semi-automated ophthalmic photocoagulation method and apparatus
An ophthalmic treatment system and method for performing therapy on target tissue in a patient's eye. A delivery system delivers treatment light to the patient's eye and a camera captures a live image of the patient's eye. Control electronics control the delivery system, register a pre-treatment image of the patient's eye to the camera's live image (where the pre-treatment image includes a treatment template that identifies target tissue within the patient's eye), and verify whether or not the delivery system is aligned to the target tissue defined by the treatment template. The control electronics control the delivery system to project the treatment light onto the patient's eye in response to both an activation of a trigger device and the verification that the delivery system is aligned to the target tissue, as well as adjust delivery system alignment to track eye movement.
Photodynamic therapy technique for preventing damage to the fovea of the eye or another body portion of a patient
A photodynamic therapy technique for preventing damage to the fovea of the eye or another body portion of a patient is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a treatment laser is applied to a body portion of a patient using a painting technique, the treatment laser being configured to provide paint brush-type photodynamic therapy (PPDT) using the painting technique to the body portion of the patient by emitting light of a predetermined wavelength that is absorbed by tissue of the body portion of the patient to which a photosensitizer has been applied, the body portion of the patient being afflicted by a medical condition. The application of the treatment laser to the body portion of a patient using the painting technique treats the medical condition, reduces the symptoms associated with the medical condition, and/or alleviates the medical condition.
APPLICATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION TO THE HUMAN IRIS
Rather than rely solely upon pupillary occlusion or tracking of eye movement to protect the fundus from accidental exposure to electromagnetic radiation, the present invention also utilizes an electromagnetic radiation pathway with a profile such that the energy density at the iris is greater than the energy density at the posterior portion of the eye. This disparity in energy density allows for efficacy at the anterior iris treatment site, without injury to the fundus.