OPTHALMOLOGIC THERAPY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A PORTION OF A PROCESSING VOLUME OF A TRANSPARENT MATERIAL BY APPLICATION OF FOCUSED RADIATION

Abstract

A system for processing a portion in a processing volume of a transparent material by application of focused radiation including a device for generating and an optical system for focusing radiation, with a device for changing the position of the focus of the radiation and a control device. The system includes a controller that controls the ophthalmologic therapy system. The controller is encoded with a scan pattern. The scan pattern includes adjacent strokes with each adjacent stroke having an angle of inclination (α) to the beam axis; and the angle of inclination (α) of the strokes to the beam axis is always larger than or equal to the focal angle (φ) of the focused radiation.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. An ophthalmologic therapy system for processing a portion of a processing volume of a transparent material of an eye by application of focused radiation, comprising a device that generates radiation; an optical system that focuses the radiation at a focus in the processing volume, wherein the focus of the focused radiation has a focal angle (φ) and the focused radiation is directed along a beam axis; a scanner that changes position of the focus in the processing volume, which can be described with three spatial directions x, y and z, wherein the z-direction proceeds parallel to the beam axis of the focused radiation; a controller that controls the ophthalmologic therapy system; wherein the controller is encoded with a scan pattern, which scan pattern includes adjacent strokes with each adjacent stroke having an angle of inclination (α) to the beam axis; and wherein the angle of inclination (α) of the strokes to the beam axis is always larger than or equal to the focal angle (φ) of the focused radiation.

3. The ophthalmologic therapy system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stroke comprises a straight part of a scan line and is formed by stringing together focus effective zones of the focused radiation.

4. The ophthalmologic therapy system as claimed in claim 2, the encoded scan pattern in the control device further being such that the formation of the strokes through stringing together focus effective zones of the focused radiation is always formed in an upward movement or always in a downward movement or alternatively in an upward movement and in a downward movement implemented along the scan line.

5. The ophthalmologic therapy system as claimed in claim 2, the encoded scan pattern in the control device further being such that the adjacent strokes are separated by an essentially constant distance that can vary by several percent.

6. The ophthalmologic therapy system as claimed in claim 2, the encoded scan pattern in the control device further being such that at least some of the strokes are curved.

7. The ophthalmologic therapy system as claimed in claim 2, the encoded scan pattern in the control device further being such that the angle of inclination of the strokes to the beam axis is larger than the focal angle of the focused radiation, such that a focus effective zone already realized is also not arranged in the cone area of the focal cone of a focus effective zone still to be realized.

8. The ophthalmologic therapy system as claimed in claim 2, the encoded scan pattern in the control device further being such that the angle of inclination of the strokes to the beam axis is larger than the focal angle of the focused radiation applies for each individual stroke and at any point of the stroke.

9. The ophthalmologic therapy system as claimed in claim 8, the encoded scan pattern in the control device further being such that at least some of the strokes are curved.

10. A method of processing a portion of a processing volume of a transparent material of an eye by application of focused radiation applied by an ophthalmologic therapy system which comprises a device that generates the focused radiation, and an optical system that focuses the radiation at a focus in the processing volume which can be described with three spatial directions x, y and z, wherein the focus of the focused radiation comprises a focal angle (φ) and the focused radiation comprises a beam axis, the method comprising: generating a scan pattern which has mutually adjacent strokes with angles of inclination (α) to the beam axis, wherein a stroke comprises a section of a scan line and is formed by stringing together focus effective zones of the focused radiation, wherein the angle of inclination (α) of the strokes to the beam axis is larger or equal to a focal angle (φ) of the focused radiation; changing a position of the focus on a basis of the scan pattern by scanning movement by operation of at least a first scanner in a section of the processing volume determined by the three spatial directions; and generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material at points along a scan line.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material at points along a scan line formed by stringing together focus effective zones of the focused radiation.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that the adjacent strokes are separated by an essentially constant distance that can vary by several percent.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that at least some of the strokes are curved.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that the angle of inclination of the strokes to the beam axis is larger than the focal angle of the focused radiation, such that a focus effective zone already realized is also not arranged in the cone area of the focal cone of a focus effective zone still to be realized.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that the angle of inclination of the strokes to the beam axis is larger than the focal angle of the focused radiation applies for each individual stroke and at any point of the stroke.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that at least some of the strokes are curved.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that the formation of the strokes through stringing together focus effective zones of the focused radiation is always formed in a downward movement.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that the formation of the strokes through stringing together focus effective zones of the focused radiation is always formed in an upward movement.

19. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that the formation of the strokes through stringing together focus effective zones of the focused radiation is formed alternatively in an upward movement and in a downward movement implemented along the scan line.

20. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that the stroke comprises a straight part of a scan line.

21. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising generating the mutually adjacent strokes of the scan pattern in the transparent material by application of the focused radiation to the transparent material such that the stroke comprises curvatures or deviations from a straight line of one or more degrees.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0171] Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which the present invention shall now be explained by use of example embodiments. It is shown in:

[0172] FIGS. 1a and 1b is the realization of two incision areas in a processing volume of a transparent material by application of an optical radiation according to the prior art as described above.

[0173] FIG. 2 is the realization of an incision area in a processing volume of a transparent material by lateral wobbling as described above.

[0174] FIG. 3 is a first example of a system for processing an area in a processing volume of a transparent material by application of a focused radiation.

[0175] FIG. 4 is a scheme of the entire optical structure of an ophthalmologic therapy system according to the invention with an optical system for focusing a radiation and a device for changing the position of the focus of the radiation,

[0176] FIG. 5 is a z-scan module of a fast and slow scanner.

[0177] FIG. 6 is the change of divergence during the movement of the focus in the z-direction.

[0178] FIG. 7 is the structuring of a scan pattern for an area to be processed in a processing volume.

[0179] FIGS. 8a to 8c is the position of the focal cone of a focus effective zone to be realized to focus effective zones that are already realized for different scan patterns.

[0180] FIG. 9 is the advantageous juxtaposition of inclined scan lines for processing a closed, cylindrical area.

[0181] FIG. 10 is the superposition of a sinusoidal oscillation of the fast z-scanner with a synchronous sinusoidal oscillation of a fast lateral scanner with slow change of the oscillation center point in the positive x-direction for generating straight strokes.

[0182] FIG. 11 is the superposition of a sinusoidal oscillation of the fast z-scanner with a synchronous sinusoidal oscillation of a fast lateral scanner with slow change of the oscillation center point in the negative x-direction for the bidirectional generation of strokes.

[0183] FIG. 12 is a first scan pattern for generating a capsulotomy incision.

[0184] FIG. 13 is a second scan pattern for generating a capsulotomy incision.

[0185] FIG. 14 is a third scan pattern for generating a capsulotomy incision.

[0186] FIGS. 15a to 15c are different phases of a scan pattern for generating a lens fragmentation incision.

[0187] FIGS. 15d and 15e are an advantageous scan pattern with crossed incision planes.

[0188] FIGS. 16a to 16c are a scan pattern for generating an arcuate incision in different views.

[0189] FIGS. 17a to 17c are a first scan pattern for generating an access incision in different phases.

[0190] FIGS. 18a to 18c are a second scan pattern for generating an access incision in different phases.

[0191] FIG. 19 is a second example of a system for processing an area in a processing volume of a transparent material by application of a focused radiation.

[0192] While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0193] FIG. 3 shows a first example of an ophthalmologic therapy system for processing an area in a processing volume of a transparent material by application of a focused radiation.

[0194] The system comprises a device for generating a radiation 100 comprising a femtosecond laser with a wavelength in the range of 1020-1060 nm. The pulse duration of this femtosecond laser is 500-600 fs, the pulse energy about 100 and the laser pulse repetition rate about 100 kHz. In addition, the system comprises an optical system 2, 200 for focusing the radiation in a focus 4, with a numerical aperture of 0.2, which has a field of view of about 1 mm.

[0195] The system also includes a device for changing the position of the focused radiation. This device can carry out, in any arbitrary direction determined by the three spatial directions, a slow scanning movement in the processing volume 300 of the transparent material 3, here the eye, and a fast scanning movement, which is independent of the slow scanning movement, in a section 600 of the processing volume 300, wherein the section 600 of the fast scanning movement can be moved by the slow scanning movement in the entire processing volume 300.

[0196] Altogether six-scanners are used. For each of the spatial direction x, y and z, where the z-direction extends parallel to the initial base position beam axis 120 and the x- and y-direction extend vertical to the base position beam axis 120, there is respectively a fast scanner 401, 402, 403, which allows to scan a section 600 of about 1 mm×1 mm×1 mm of the three-dimensional processing volume 300 with several hundred Hertz. In addition there is a slow scanner 411, 412, 413 for each spatial direction. These allow the complete necessary processing volumes 600 of about 15 mm×15 mm×15 mm for the generation of incisions in an eye tissue 3.

[0197] The overall implemented scanning movement at a time t is composed of slowly changeable components in the x-, y- and z-direction, which are identified by the index s, and rapidly changeable components in the x-, y- and z-direction, which are identified by the index f:

[00001]$\left(\begin{array}{c}x\left(t\right)\\ y\left(t\right)\\ z\left(t\right)\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{c}{x}_s\left(t\right)\\ y_s\left(t\right)\\ z_s\left(t\right)\end{array}\right)+\left(\begin{array}{c}{x}_f\left(t\right)\\ y_f\left(t\right)\\ z_f\left(t\right)\end{array}\right).$

[0198] The slowly changeable components (x.sub.s, y.sub.x, z.sub.s) can show an arbitrary time behavior and must only remain below a maximum speed v.sub.max- and/or a maximum acceleration a.sub.max.

[00002]$\frac{dx\left(t\right)}{dt}\le v_{\max };\text{?}{a}_{\max }\left(\mathrm{dito}f\stackrel{\mathrm{.Math.}}{u}ry\left(t\right)\mathrm{und}z\left(t\right)\right).\text{?}\text{indicates text missing or illegible when filed}$

[0199] The rapidly changeable components (x.sub.f, y.sub.f, z.sub.f) are not subject to these restrictions. However, for the area filling, recurring similar movement paths have to be passed, and the strokes 7 are generated therewith. An example of recurring similar movement paths, which shall not be restricting at this point, would be an oscillation with a period T:

[00003]$x_f=X\left(t\right)\sin \left(2\pi \frac{t}{T}\right)+O\left(t\right).$

[0200] The amplitude X and a center position O may thereby slowly change with time, too, similar to the slow components of the scanning movement. It is only necessary that recurring similar movement paths, thus the traversed locus curves, are similar. That these will always pass through in similar times, is not mandatory but a typical realization. In conjunction with the slow movement, similar strokes 7 are then placed close together and form an incision area 11.

[0201] The system further comprises a one-piece central control system 500, which is connected via the communication paths 501 to the device for generating a radiation 100, thus the femtosecond laser system, and to the device for changing the position 400 of the focus 4, and which is adapted to control the femtosecond laser system and all scanners 401, 402, 403, 411, 412, 413 of the device for changing the position 400 of the focus 4.

[0202] In this example, the laser pulse repetition rate is 100 kHz. Neighboring focus effective zones shall have a distance of about 10 μm. The scanning speed of the fast scanners is about 1000 mm/s. With a size of about 1 mm×1 mm×1 mm of the section 600 of the processing volume 300 for the fast scanners 401, 402, 403, 100 pulses in 1 ms are resulting. Thereafter, the slow scanning movement should also have achieved a progression of about 10 μm in the corresponding direction. The slow scanners 411, 412, 413 thus have a scanning speed of about 10 mm/s. This results in a ratio of faster to slower scanning movement of approximately 100:1.

[0203] This system is used for the generation of incisions by photo disruption by application of the femtosecond laser. With this system, for example, access incisions of a lateral size of 2 mm, a capsulotomy with a lateral diameter of 5 mm or relaxation incisions in the cornea over a lateral diameter of 11 mm can be carried out. In the depth, thus in the z-direction, for simple incisions, where a certain inclined position shall be considered, an incision depth of 500 pm can be generated, a lens thickness of 3-5 mm can be penetrated, or other incisions in the cornea or the lens of 10 to 12 mm depth can be carried out.

[0204] FIG. 4 shows a scheme of the entire optical structure of an ophthalmologic therapy system with a focusing optical system 200 for focusing a radiation 1 and a device for changing the position of the focus of the radiation. This can for example be used in the first example of the ophthalmologic therapy system of FIG. 3.

[0205] A z-scan module 1400, 401, 411 generates, from the input beam 1401 with constant divergence, constant deflection and constant diameter, a beam with modulated divergence, but still constant deflection and constant diameter in the exit pupil 1403.

[0206] A fast x/y-scanner 402, 403—a so-called partial field scanner 1500—which can be swiveled about two perpendicular axes and thereby carry out oscillating movements about a zero point about both axes, additionally implies a lateral deflection upon the divergence-modulated beam 1402, which creates a deflected divergence-modulated beam 1502 from the non-deflected, divergence-modulated beam 1501.

[0207] The pupil plane 1403, in which the beam diameter is constant, is imaged from the relay 1600 into the entrance pupil 1601 of the focusing optical system 200, so that the beam at that point shows a constant diameter but a divergence- and deflection modulation. The focused beam thus has an approximately constant numerical aperture NA, which is independent of the divergence, thus the z-position of the focus 4 and the deflection, thus the x-y-position of the focus 4.

[0208] The lateral partial scan field 1800 of the fast x/y scanner, thus the x-y-extension of the section 600 of the fast scanning movement, can additionally be moved by an optional lateral displacement of the focusing optical system 200. The tracking of the beam with the movement of the focusing optical system 200 is effected by the mirrors 1701 and 1702, which respectively move along the axis of the non-deflected beam impinging thereon. The mirror 1701 moves in the direction 1704, which shall be the y-direction here, as well as in direction 1703, which shall be the x-direction, and the mirror 1702 in direction 1703, thus the x-direction, which here is arranged perpendicular to the y-direction 1704. The movement of the mirrors 1701 and 1702 is thereby coupled to the movement of the focusing optical system.

[0209] FIG. 5 shows details of a z-scan module 1400, which comprises a fast z-scanner 401 and a slow z-scanner 411. A first beam-widening telescope is thereby configured as the fast z-scanner 401. It contains a lens 1101 movable along the z-direction, which is oscillated about its zero position in a fast manner. It is advantageous to arrange such a fast oscillating lens, as shown here, in the beam path near the radiation source 100, as the beam still has a small diameter here, and this movable lens 1101 can be designed as a smallest, lightest element at this location. A negative, thus concave lens as the movable lens 1101 of the beam-widening telescope effects an oscillation of the beam divergence with a constant beam diameter in the exit pupil 1201.

[0210] A relay telescope 1200 images the exit pupil 1201 of the fast z-scanner 401 into the entrance pupil 1204 of a further beam-widening telescope 1300. This further beam-widening telescope 1300 is designed as a slow z-scanner 411 with an optional z-t-curve and a wide scanning range in such a manner that the entire height z of the processing volume 300 (see FIG. 4) can be scanned. For this, the lens 1301 can be moved in a controlled manner with arbitrary location-time curves, but limited in speed and acceleration.

[0211] In the exit pupil 1303 of this z-scan module 1400, a beam with an optionally slowly adjustable divergence is then available in a wide adjustment range 1320 with a fixed beam diameter, whose divergence additionally oscillates with a fixed amplitude given by the amplitude of the oscillation of the lens 1101 in a smaller angle range or adjustment range 1310 about the zero position with the slow but optionally movable lens 1301.

[0212] FIG. 6 shows the divergence change with a movement of the focus 4 in the z-direction. The focusing optical system 200 transmits the fast divergence oscillation in the angle range 1310, which is caused by the fast z-scanner, and the slow divergence variation in the angle range 1320, which is caused by the slow z-scanner, into an oscillation of the z-position of the focus 4 in the z-area 1710 and variation of the zero position of the oscillation in the z-area 1720. The aperture angle of the focused beam, thus the numeric aperture NA, remains constant when the exit pupil 1303 of the slow scanner 411 is placed into the entrance pupil of the focusing optical system 200.

[0213] In FIG. 7, the principal structure of a scan pattern is illustrated for an area 11 to be processed in a three-dimensional processing volume of a transparent material, concerning a multiple curved incision area 11 in this example, which is to be generated using a pulsed laser radiation.

[0214] Such a scan pattern consists of individual strokes 7 which are respectively realized by a sequence of laser focus effective zones 8 on a scan line 5. The individual strokes 7 are lined up in rows to the desired incision area 11 so that they fill the incision area 11 and that the individual laser focus effective zones 8 have an approximately same distance 9 not only to their preceding and subsequent laser focus effective zones 8 on the same stroke 7, but also to the laser focus effective zones 8 of the adjacent strokes 7, wherein fluctuations of the distance, for example, by a factor of 2, are unproblematic. Here, each stroke 7 remains within the currently accessible section of the optical system 2, 200, but may slowly displace for forming the area 11. The incision area 11 then has a “band-shaped” form.

[0215] Due to the flexibility of scanning movements, thus the possibility for movement in an arbitrary direction in the processing volume 300, and in particular when using a system which enables a fast scanning movement in an arbitrary direction in a section 600 of the processing volume 300 independently of a slow scanning movement in an arbitrary direction in the processing volume 300, an arbitrary curvature with a high quality can be achieved by an advantageous arrangement of the individual strokes 7.

[0216] The strokes 7 are realized in this example by a synchronous oscillatory movement of a fast z-scanner 401 and the fast lateral scanner 402, 403, that is, a fast x-scanner 402 and a fast y-scanner 403. One of these scanners 401, 402, 403 may be a resonant scanner, the other must be able to the synchronized to its resonant frequency.

[0217] The scan pattern results from the placement of the scan lines 5 of the individual strokes 7 next to each other. This is effected by a slow scanning movement by use of the slow deflection system or scanning system, 411, 412, 413, which contains a slow x-scanner, a slow y-scanner and a slow z-scanner, with which the optical system 2, 200 itself is moved. By a combination of slow scanning movement and fast oscillatory movement, the center position of the oscillatory movement is displaced slowly in an arbitrary desired direction in the processing volume 300.

[0218] FIGS. 8a to 8c illustrate the different situations for the position of the focal cone 6 of a focused laser radiation to be realized for a laser focus effective zone 8, 82 to the laser focus effective zones 8, 81 already realized in different scan patterns. The focal cone 6 is understood to mean only the part visually marked with a bracket in these figures, not the other cone, which results in the beam direction behind the laser focus effective zone 8, 81, 82 by the “divergence” of the radiation.

[0219] In FIG. 8a, in which the laser focus effective zones 8, as already shown in the prior art and FIG. 1b, are placed along a vertical scan line 5, the scan pattern is thus constructed in columns, the focal cone 6 of yet to be realized laser focus effective zones 8, 82 projects into laser focus effective zones 8, 81 that are already realized of the strokes 7 that are already realized and thereby leads to shadowing.

[0220] Laser focus effective zones 8, 81 that are already realized should therefore not be in the focal cone 6 of the laser focus 4 for the laser focus effective zones 8, 82 still to be realized. With a line-by-line construction of the scan pattern, starting with the bottom line as shown in FIG. 8b, this is always given. However, a shadowing problem by laser focus effective zones 8, 81 already realized occurs then at least in the edge regions of a partial area already generated 11 to a next partial area of a processing area 11 to be generated—as already described above.

[0221] By an inclination of the scan lines 5 and thus of the strokes 7 such that the inclination angle α of the strokes 7 to the beam axis 12 is larger than the focal angle φ, that is, the angle between a straight line extending on the cone surface of the focal cone 6 and the beam axis 12, and such a sequence of the individual strokes 7, an inclined stroke 7 still to be realized is generated in the positive z-direction, thus against the beam direction of the focused radiation above an inclined stroke 7 already realized, as shown in FIG. 8c, any shadowing effect of laser focus effective zones 8, 81 already realized for laser focus effective zones 8, 82 still to be realized is avoided. With an appropriate inclination angle α of the strokes 7 or the scan line 5 on which the stroke 7 shall be realized, the placement of the laser focus 4 at an arbitrary location of the scan line 5 of the stroke 7 to be realized is possible in such a manner that the scan line 5 penetrates the focal cone 6 of the laser radiation only in the focal point 4. The scan pattern of FIG. 8c may be generated as shown in detail in FIG. 10.

[0222] FIG. 9 shows the advantageous side-by-side placement of inclined strokes 7 for processing a closed, cylindrical area 11. Therein, the strokes 7 are placed side-by-side such that existing strokes 7 from the part of the scan pattern already realized do not penetrate the focal cone 6 of the laser radiation, but only the diverging further cone in regions behind the laser focus 4. The processing of the area 11 is therefore not obstructed by shadowings generated by existing strokes 7.

[0223] In order to be able to close the area 11, without laser focus effective zones 8, 81 already realized reaching into the focal cone 6 of the focus 4 for laser focus effective zones 8, 82 still to be realized, the first strokes 7 should be encoded as shown in the region 22 of FIG. 9. A line 23 passing the starting points of the first side-by-side realized strokes 7 with a distance 10 to each other should form an angle α with a straight line in the z-direction, which is parallel to the base position beam axis 12, which angle is larger than the focal angle φ. In order to finally close the area 11, these first strokes 7 of the region 22 are respectively prolonged by a second stroke 7 so that the desired total height in the z-direction is reached.

[0224] The inclined strokes 7 or the inclined scan lines 5 with an inclination angle α which is larger than the focal angle φ, have a sufficiently large z-dimension despite their inclination for efficient filling of the processing area 11 with the laser focus effective zones 8.

[0225] In the following, the generation of an inclined scan line 5 and inclined strokes 7 is now described by synchronous change-of-direction-movements, in particular by synchronous oscillatory movements, of a fast z-scanner 401 and at least one of the fast lateral scanners 402, 403.

[0226] In FIG. 10, the superimposition of a sinusoidal oscillation of the fast z-scanner is initially shown with a synchronous sinusoidal oscillation of a fast lateral scanner in the x-direction with a slow change of the oscillation center point in the positive x-direction for generating straight strokes 7.

[0227] A sinusoidal oscillation of a fast z-scanner 401, which is shown in the z-t-diagram on the top left, is superimposed with a synchronous sinusoidal oscillation of a fast x-scanner 402 with a slow change of the oscillation center point, which is shown in the x-t-diagram on bottom right, to an inclined scan pattern as shown in the z-x-diagram top right. All points initially represent potential shooting positions of a short pulse laser used for this, because of its repetition rate, thus laser focus effective zones 8. The triangles thereby mark the actually realized, thus not blocked, laser focus effective zones 8, 81. In this case, the laser focus effective zones are only realized in the upward movement 14. Laser pulses at the reversal points of the sinusoidal movement and in the downward movement are masked.

[0228] The fast scanners for the z-direction and for the lateral spatial directions x- and/or y carry out synchronous sinusoidal oscillations without phase shift. An exact opposite phase oscillation can be realized by a negative amplitude. The path of the laser focus 4 then describes a total scanning line 5. If in addition a movement is carried out by the slow scanning system or the center of oscillation of the oscillation is changed slowly, the scan line 5 moves through the processing volume 300 during its generation and leaves a “wound” sinusoidal curve in the processing volume 300:

[00004]$\stackrel{.fwdarw.}{r}\left(t\right)=\left(\begin{array}{c}x\left(t\right)\\ y\left(t\right)\\ z\left(t\right)\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{c}{A}_x\\ A_y\\ A_z\end{array}\right)\sin \left(2\pi f_{s}t\right)+\left(\begin{array}{c}{v}_x\\ v_y\\ v_z\end{array}\right)t+\left(\begin{array}{c}{x}_0\\ y_0\\ z_0\end{array}\right)$

f.sub.s is the frequency of the sinusoidal oscillation of the scanner. The slow movement can locally be linearly approximated. The x-, y- and z-components of the current amplitude of the oscillation A.sub.x, A.sub.y, A.sub.z, the x-, y- and z-components of the current speed of the slow scanning movement v.sub.x, v.sub.y, v.sub.z, and the current position, thus the starting position in the space, x.sub.o, y.sub.o and z.sub.o are, compared with the oscillation period of the fast scanners, so slowly temporally changeable that they can be assumed to be constant for a period of oscillation.

[0229] If the laser emits pulses with a fixed repetition rate, laser focus effective zones 8 with a spot-to-spot-distance, thus a distance of the two laser focus effective zones dS, 9 are generated in the space. The spot-to-spot-distances dS, 9 vary with the current position of the sinusoidal oscillation and are largest in the zero passage of the oscillation and almost zero in the reversing points.

[0230] A good approximation for dS is:

[00005]$\mathrm{dS}=.Math.\frac{dr}{dt}.Math..Math.\frac{1}{f_L}$

f.sub.L is the laser pulse repetition rate which is an integer part of the basic repetition rate of the laser. It is, depending on the duty cycle of the pulses every first, every second, every third pulse, etc. It is:

[00006]$\frac{d\stackrel{.fwdarw.}{r}\left(t\right)}{dt}=2\pi f_s\left(\begin{array}{c}{A}_x\\ A_y\\ A_z\end{array}\right)\cos \left(2\pi f_{s}t\right)+\left(\begin{array}{c}{v}_x\\ v_y\\ v_z\end{array}\right)$

dS is in the zero transitions:

[00007]$\widehat{\mathrm{dS}}=\frac{2\pi f_S}{f_L}.Math.\left(\begin{array}{c}{A}_x\\ A_y\\ A_z\end{array}\right).Math.+.Math.\left(\begin{array}{c}{v}_x\\ v_y\\ v_z\end{array}\right).Math..$

[0231] By masking the laser pulses, and thus the laser focus effective zones 8, 83, in the reversal points, an excessive variation of the spot-to-spot-distances dS, 9, and in particular the realization of laser focus effective zones in a too large proximity to each other can be avoided. For example, the laser pulses can be masked when the distance between two laser focus effective zones, thus the spot-to-spot-distance dS, has fallen to about half of the value at the zero transition, thus when:

cos(2πf.sub.st)=±1/2.

[0232] The “hatching width” as the actual height of the strokes 7, thus the part of the scan line, on which laser focus effective zones 8 were or are realized are, is then

2 sin(arccos ½)=√{square root over (3)}=1.73

thus, 1.73 times of the amplitude of the oscillation A:

[00008]$A=.Math.\left(\begin{array}{c}{A}_x\\ A_y\\ A_z\end{array}\right).Math..$

[0233] The distance between two adjacent “hatching” lines dT, 10 and thus two strokes 7 is, in the case, that cuts are only carried out in one oscillation direction, that is upwards 14 or downwards 15, is constant over an oscillation:

[00009]$\mathrm{dT}=\frac{v}{f_L}=\frac{1}{f_L}.Math.\left(\begin{array}{c}{v}_x\\ v_y\\ v_z\end{array}\right).Math..$

[0234] FIG. 11 shows the superposition of a sinusoidal oscillation of the fast z-scanner with a synchronous sinusoidal oscillation of a fast lateral scanner in the x-direction with a slow change of the oscillation center point in the negative x-direction for the bidirectional generation of strokes 7.

[0235] In contrast to the example of FIG. 10, the strokes are generated here 7 on an inclined scan line 5 with a bidirectional laser incision in both the upward movement 14 and in the downward movement 15, see strokes 7 with upward pointing triangles for the upward movement and strokes 7 with downward pointing triangles for the downward movement in order to mark the corresponding laser focus effective zones 8.

[0236] In the bidirectional incision mode, the distance between two strokes dT, 10 also varies with the respective position on the scan line 5, but is half as large in the zero transitions as with the unidirectional incision mode of FIG. 10. If, as in the unidirectional case, one cuts at √3/2 of the amplitude, with which the distance between two laser focus effective zones dS falls to half of the maximum value at the zero transition, the line spacing and thus the distance dT, 10 of two strokes 7 alternately varies from ⅓ and to 5/3 of the value in the zero transition. The distance 2 dT to the second nearest straight scan line 5, and thus to the second nearest stroke 5, remains constant 6/3 as in the unidirectional mode.

[0237] If the strokes 7 are to be introduced such that subsequent strokes still to be realized are arranged “over” the previously realized strokes 7, so that strokes 7 already realized do not shadow the focal cone 6 of the laser focus 4, the lateral oscillation, must be carried out in phase opposition to the z-oscillation for a positive slow movement in the x-direction as shown in FIG. 10, and the fast lateral oscillation in the x-direction must be carried out in phase to the fast z-oscillation for a negative movement in x-direction as shown in FIG. 11.

[0238] If a capsulotomy incision shall be carried out, there is the objective to generate an incision area 11 that cuts through the anterior skin of the lens of an eye, the so-called “anterior capsule” in a selectable hole geometry. This geometry can for example be elliptical or circular. The incision area 11 shall thereby extend with a minimum distance above and below the capsular bag, in order to ensure a safe cut.

[0239] For executing such an incision, there are different possible scan patterns for the focus 4 of a pulsed laser beam, which is used for “cutting”. A first possibility is shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows a first scan pattern for generating a capsulotomy incision, in which the slow movement follows laterally the hole geometry 17 and follows the z-height 18 of the capsular bag in the z-direction.

[0240] A fast oscillatory scanning movement in the z-direction is synchronized with fast oscillatory scanning movements tangentially to the lateral slow scanning movement 13, thus straight to the lateral component of the slow scanning movement 13, for forming the strokes 7, thus the laser focus effective zones 8 realized on a scan line 5 in the same direction. These effect therein a separation of the eye material 3 by photo disruption and thus contribute to the formation of an incision area 11. The image of a “lattice fence” inclined in the “fence direction” results.

[0241] At the top right in FIG. 12, a schematic diagram in plan view shows that the strokes 7 are aligned in the direction of progress of the slow scanning movement 13. The lower end of such a stroke 7 which is drawn thin, precedes the slow movement 13, the upper end, which is drawn thick, remains behind the slow movement 13, so that the focal cone 6 of the laser focus 4 for the laser focus effective zones 8 of the subsequent stroke 7 is never shadowed by strokes 7 already realized. At the point where the end of the incision area 11 shall meet again the starting point, the strokes 7 are limited at the beginning in such a manner that a V-shaped region remains free for forming the last strokes 7, which then fill up the initially incomplete strokes 7.

[0242] FIG. 13 shows a second scan pattern for generating a capsulotomy incision, in which the slow movement follows laterally along the hole geometry 17 and in the z-direction of the z-height 18 of the capsular bag.

[0243] A fast oscillatory scanning movement in the z-direction is synchronized to a lateral fast oscillatory scanning movement normal to the lateral slow scanning movement 13, that is, perpendicular to the lateral component of the slow scanning movement 13, for forming the strokes 7, that means the laser focus effective zones 8 realized on a scan line 5 in the same direction. These also effect a separation of the eye material 3 by photo disruption and thus contribute to the formation of an incision area 11. The image of an outwardly inclined “lattice fence” results thereof.

[0244] The top right in FIG. 13 shows a schematic diagram in plan view, in that the strokes 7 are aligned vertically to the advancement of the slow scanning movement 13. They always spare the zone for the focal cone 6 of the laser focus 4 for the subsequent stroke 7 free, regardless if the stroke 7 of the slow scanning movement 13 points up in the inside or outside area, as long as the condition that the angle of inclination a of the stroke 7 is larger than the focal angle φ of the focal cone 6 of the laser focus 4, described in FIG. 8c, is realized.

[0245] FIG. 14 shows a third scan pattern for generating a capsulotomy incision. A fast oscillatory scanning movement in the z-direction is synchronized to a lateral fast oscillatory scanning movement, which is carried out to the lateral slow scanning movement 13 at an angle between the tangential and the normal direction. This leads to the formation of the strokes 7, which also cause a separation of the eye material 3 by photo disruption and thus contribute to the formation of an incision area 11. Thus, an image similar to obliquely outwardly inclined but not fallen “pick-a-stick” game pieces results.

[0246] The top right in FIG. 14 shows a schematic diagram in plan view, in that the strokes 7 are aligned at an angle between the tangential and normal alignment to the progress of the slow scanning movement 13. The part of the strokes 7 preceding the slow scanning movement 13 which is drawn thin, is the end lower end of the strokes 7, and the thick-drawn part, which remains behind the slow scanning movement 13, is the upper end of the strokes 7. Thereby, the focal cone 6 of the laser focus 4 for the subsequent stroke 7 is not shadowed by stroke 7 already realized, provided that the condition is fulfilled that the angle of inclination a of the strokes 7 is larger than the focal angle φ of the focal cone 6 of the laser focus 4.

[0247] The scan pattern of FIG. 12 is the preferred example scan pattern for generating a capsulotomy incision. The hole geometry 17 essentially remains the same even if the capsular bag to be cut is no longer situated exactly at the planned position at the time of the incision, which might happen due to inaccuracies of measurement or a subsequent movement of the eye media, while with the scan patterns of FIGS. 13 and 14, the diameter of the capsulotomy incision actually realized depends on the actual z-position of the overlap of the incision area 11 with the capsular bag, thus a transparent eye material 3.

[0248] In practice, the scan pattern of FIG. 12 is also the one with the highest incision efficiency, thus the highest incision performance with the smallest laser energies and/or with the largest distances 9 of two laser focus effective areas 8.

[0249] FIGS. 15a to 15c show various stages of a scan pattern for generating a lens fragmentation incision that again results from photo disruption using a pulsed laser beam. FIGS. 15d and 15e show a further solution for a corresponding scan pattern for completing the incision planes at crossing points.

[0250] The pulsed laser beam is usually realized here as for many other ophthalmologic purposes, too, with a femtosecond laser. Ideally, for the use for eye surgical purposes here as well as in the examples of FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 a system for processing an area 11 in a processing volume 300 of a transparent material 3, as described in FIG. 3, is used, thus, in particular a system which permits a fast scanning movement in any direction in a section 600 of the processing volume 300 independently of a slow scanning movement in any direction in the entire processing volume 300, wherein the section 600 of the fast scanning movements is moved by the slow scanning movement through the processing volume 300.

[0251] But it is also possible, with appropriate adjustments, for example to simulate the interaction of the fast scanning movement with a slow scanning movement, to transfer it to a single scanning system, if necessary with considerable loss of speed, and thus to use other systems, such as the system for processing an area 11 in a processing volume 300 of a transparent material 3, as described in FIG. 19.

[0252] For the lens fragmentation, an incision area 11 has to be generated that divides a lens of an eye along freely selectable incision planes 19, 20. The incision planes 19, 20 should thereby comply with minimum distances to the edges of the lens, thus follow the curvature of the limiting lens surfaces above and below.

[0253] For the formation of an extended incision area 11, which cuts through the entire volume of the lens, the stroke of a fast scanning movement, in particular the stroke determined by the amplitude of an oscillatory movement of a fast z-scanner, is not sufficient to divide the lens completely.

[0254] In this case, the total incision area must be composed of several single incision bands 21. If a complete incision plane 19, 20 shall be generated in a processing volume 300, whose form is thus relevant over the entire plane, unlike to capsulotomy, where only the penetration of the capsular bag is relevant, the individual strokes 7 and thus the scan lines have to be arranged in this incision region 11. The strokes 7 thus must be inevitably inclined in the direction of progress of the slow movement 13 or inclined against the direction of progress of the slow movement 13, that is, analogous to the first scan pattern of the capsulotomy.

[0255] Again, a part of the laser pulses is masked, in order to prevent damage by the realization of two laser focus effective zones in close proximity. The laser pulses are always masked, in addition to the reversal points of the fast oscillatory scanning movements which are carried out by the fast scanners, when the scan line leaves the intended incision region of the incision planes 19, 20 at full amplitude of the oscillation. In order to not shadowing a subsequent incision band 21 by an individual incision band 21, all deep-seated incision bands 21 are created first, before proceeding with higher-seated bands 21, as shown in FIG. 15b. Thus, there is a floor type configuration. The completed pattern of the entire incision area 11 can be seen in FIG. 15c. At the penetration points of two incision bands 21 there is also a shadowing of the subsequently realized incision band 21 by the already completed incision band 21. Here, a conical region can first be left blank at the penetration point, which can be filled up from the bottom upwards only using the fast scanner after completion of the complete “floor”.

[0256] FIGS. 15d and 15e illustrate once more the problem occurring at intersection of two incision planes, as shown here for two crossed incision planes of a lens fragmentation incision, and show another solution for an appropriate scan pattern for completing the incision planes at intersections: After the crossing incision bands 21 were generated with a funnel-shaped recess at the crossing point, as shown in FIG. 15d, which corresponds to a focal cone 6 of the laser focus 4, the funnel is completed by a cross-cut band 21 in the tunnel-shaped recess, which is generated by fast lateral oscillatory scanning movements and a slow z-scanning movement, as becomes apparent from the FIG. 15e.

[0257] In FIGS. 15a to 15c, superimposed incision bands 21 are inclined in different directions. The inclination directions depend on the progress direction of the slow scanning movement 13. The progress directions of the slow scanning movement 13 selected in FIG. 15a to FIG. 15c are thereby not mandatory, but can usually be chosen freely, however, the presence of already realized incision bands 21 possibly leads to a preferred direction of the slow scanning movement 13 for an incision band 21 still to be realized. Superimposed incision bands 21, which are inclined in the same direction because they are cut in the same direction 13 are also within the scope of the invention.

[0258] A scan pattern for generating an arcuate incision, that is an arcuate incision profile that can, for example, be used for the relaxation and correction of an astigmatism of an eye, is shown in FIGS. 16a to 16c in different views: FIG. 16a shows a plan view, FIG. 16b an oblique projection and FIG. 16c is a side view of a scan pattern and incision pattern, which is suitable for an arcuate incision.

[0259] For an arcuate incision an incision area in the form of a sloping, curved incision band 24 must be generated. This is solved in analogy to the scan patterns of FIGS. 13 and 14 for the capsulotomy, wherein the oblique position, that the inclination of each stroke 7, can be changed continuously, the start and end points, thus for example the height in the z-direction, at which the corresponding stroke 7 starts and ends, can be continuously varied, and starting angle and ending angle 26, 25 of the curved incision band 24 are freely selected.

[0260] The strokes 7 extend radially starting from an axis, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 16a.

[0261] The incision band 24 starts at a starting angle 25 and ends with an end angle 26. The start and end points of each stroke 7 at its respective angular position, for example, is given by the distance from the axis 27 and a z-height 28 and may change continually when passing through the angle range from the starting angle 25 to the end angle 26. Thus, the inclination, the length and the position of the strokes 7 can be adapted to the geometry of the eye tissue 3 to be cut. Since for this application, the incision band, or the incision area 24, unlike for the capsulotomy, shall be generated in the volume of the eye tissue, the free choice of the form of the incision area 24 is of high importance here.

[0262] A first and a second scan pattern for generating an access incision that is an access incision in the context of an ophthalmological treatment process is finally shown in different phases in FIGS. 17a to 17c and FIGS. 18a to 18c.

[0263] Such access incision or “access tunnel” shall be generated with a desired width, inclination and with appropriate “bending edges” for forming a self-sealing incision geometry passing the cornea of the eye 3.

[0264] Even if an access incision can be carried out with oblique strokes 7, it does not necessarily require a z-portion of the fast oscillatory scanning movement, since the scan vertical to the access direction 30 as shown in FIG. 17a, or parallel to the access direction 30 as shown in FIG. 18a can be carried out laterally in an x-y plane.

[0265] In some cases, the amplitude of the lateral oscillatory scanning movement is smaller than the required width of the tunnel. The incision area must then be dissected into sections 31, which are carried out sequentially.

[0266] In particular, the section 31 started in FIG. 17a reaches the maximum width of the oscillatory scanning movement at the end. In the phase of FIG. 17b, therefore, the tunnel is divided into two adjacent regions 31 and processed consecutively. A further subdivision, e.g. at bending edges 29, may be advantageous.

[0267] As shown in FIGS. 17c and 18c, the next plane is started only after completion of the flat region that has been processed in an x-y plane. The slow scanning system can thereby remain in a fixed position during the execution of the strokes 7 and only subsequently go to the next position after the completion of a section: The slow lateral scanner does not have to be used for a progression during the processing of an incision area: This can also be done by a slow zero position shift of the oscillation of the fast scanners.

[0268] When generating the inclined plane, the consideration of the size of the inclination angle compared to the focal angle is in turn necessary, in order to avoid shadowing effects. If necessary, it must also be filled obliquely here, as already suggested for FIGS. 14 and 15b and shown in FIG. 9.

[0269] Due to the slow movement of the oscillation center in the access direction, the individual strokes 7 are realized side by side. By masking the focus effective zones 8 of the laser pulses when the oscillation movement passes over the edges of the sections, the dimensional accuracy of the incision area 11, 31 is ensured with an arbitrarily chosen width course over the access direction 30.

[0270] FIG. 19 shows a second example of a system for processing an area in a processing volume of a transparent material by application of a focused radiation.

[0271] The system includes a device for generating a radiation 100 comprising a femtosecond laser with a wavelength in the range of 1020 nm to 1060 nm. The pulse duration of this femtosecond laser is between 500 fs to 600 fs, the pulse energy is about 10 μJ.

[0272] In addition, the system comprises an optical system 2, 200 for focusing the radiation in a focus 4, with a numerical aperture of 0.2, which has a field of view of about 6 mm. With this system, a processing volume 600 of 6 mm×6 mm×6 mm can be obtained.

[0273] The system shown here comprises a device for changing the position 400 of the focus 4 with a scanning system that can carry out scanning movements in the x-, y- and z-directions and may execute a scanning movement in any direction by the composition of these scanning movements. The device for changing the position 400 comprises three scanners 411, 412, 413, which possibly can displace the optics accordingly. However, since it comprises no second fast scanning system, which is independently adjustable from the first scanning system, the scan patterns presented here can be only be realized under loss of time in such a system.

[0274] Furthermore, the system comprises a one-piece central control system 500, which is connected to the device for generating a radiation 100, thus the femtosecond laser system, and connected with the device for changing the position 400 of the focus 4 via communication paths 501, and is configured to control the femtosecond laser system and all scanners 411, 412, 413 of the device for changing the position 400 of the focus 4.

[0275] Despite a lack of an additional fast scanning system, it is possible with such a scanning system to realize example scan patterns such that shadowing effects of the scan pattern already realized do not or minimally result for scan patterns still to be realized, when corresponding scan patterns are encoded in the control device 500 of this system. Thereby, working in a very limited local volume at any moment—as realized here—is advantageous in eye surgery, for example, to minimize the effects of a possible movement of the eye during the surgery in the eye tissue 3.

[0276] The control value for each scanning direction is thereby composed of slow, wide-ranging base components in the three spatial directions with arbitrary timing within these limits, and short-range, fast repetitive components corresponding to synchronous change-of-direction-movements in the three spatial directions and whose time course only slightly changes in each repetition.

[0277] The characteristics mentioned above and explained in various exemplary embodiments of the invention can thereby not only be applied in the combinations shown in the examples, but also in other combinations or alone, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

[0278] A description based on system characteristics applies with respect to these features analogously to the corresponding method, while method characteristics represent corresponding functional characteristics of the described system.

[0279] Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

[0280] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

[0281] Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

[0282] Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

[0283] For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.