METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN EYE SURGICAL LASER AND TREATMENT DEVICE

Abstract

Method for controlling an eye surgical laser (18) of a treatment device (10) for the separation of a volume body (12) with a predefined posterior interface (14) and a predefined anterior interface (16) from a human or animal cornea, comprising controlling the laser (18) by means of a control device (20) of the treatment device (10) such that it emits pulsed laser pulses in a shot sequence in a predefined pattern into the cornea, wherein the interfaces (14, 16) of the volume body (12) to be separated are defined by the predefined pattern and the interfaces (14, 16) are generated by means of an interaction of the individual laser pulses with the cornea by the generation of a plurality of cavitation bubbles generated by photodisruption, wherein the plurality of cavitation bubbles is generated along at least one cavitation bubble path, wherein at least a partial area (42) of an outer cavitation bubble path of an outer edge area (50), as radially viewed, of the volume body (12) to be separated is generated with a higher cavitation bubble density than an inner cavitation bubble path.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an eye surgical laser of a treatment device for the separation of a volume body with a predefined posterior interface and a predefined anterior interface from a human or animal cornea, comprising: controlling the laser by means of a control device of the treatment device such that it emits pulsed laser pulses in a shot sequence in a predefined pattern into the cornea, wherein the interfaces of the volume body to be separated are defined by the predefined pattern and the interfaces are generated by means of an interaction of the individual laser pulses with the cornea by the generation of a plurality of cavitation bubbles generated by photodisruption, wherein the plurality of cavitation bubbles is generated along at least one cavitation bubble path, and wherein at least a partial area of an outer cavitation bubble path of an outer edge area, as radially viewed, of the volume body to be separated is generated with a higher cavitation bubble density than an inner cavitation bubble path.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that the higher cavitation bubble density is generated over an entire circumference of the outer edge area of the volume body to be separated.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that the partial area, in which a higher cavitation bubble density is generated, is generated at the outer edge area of the volume body to be separated, which is arranged in the direction of an incision of the cornea.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the partial area is generated concentrically or parallel to the incision.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the partial area is generated with a length greater than or equal to a length of the incision.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that at least the one partial area is generated in an anterior-posterior direction over an entire height of the volume body to be separated, which the volume body has in the edge area.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the higher cavitation bubble density is generated depending on a repetition frequency of the laser and/or a distance of the respective cavitation bubbles to each other.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the repetition frequency of the laser is increased radially outwards depending on a position of the cavitation bubble in the cornea and/or the distance of the respective cavitation bubbles is reduced radially outwards depending on a position of the cavitation bubble in the cornea.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that the higher cavitation bubble density is generated by tracing at least the partial area of the outer cavitation bubble path multiple times.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that for generating the volume body, the posterior interface is generated from inside to outside and the anterior interface is generated from outside to inside, as radially viewed, by the predefined pattern, or wherein the anterior interface is generated from inside to outside and the posterior interface is generated from outside to inside, wherein the outer cavitation bubble path of the outer edge area of the volume body is respectively generated as an intersection curve of the interfaces.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that a lenticular volume body is separated.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that topographic and/or pachymetric and/or morphologic data of the cornea is taken into account.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that the laser emits laser pulses in a wavelength range between 300 nm and 1400 nm, in particular between 700 nm and 1200 nm, at a respective pulse duration between 1 fs and 1 ns, in particular between 10 fs and 10 ps, and a repetition frequency of greater than 10 kHz, in particular between 100 kHz and 100 MHz.

14. A treatment device with at least one eye surgical laser for the separation of a volume body with predefined interfaces of a human or animal eye by means of photodisruption and with at least one control device for the laser or lasers, which is formed to perform the steps of the method according to claim 1.

15. The treatment device according to claim 14, wherein the control device comprises: at least one storage device for at least temporary storage of at least one control dataset, wherein the control dataset or datasets include(s) control data for positioning and/or focusing individual laser pulses in the cornea; and at least one beam device for beam guidance and/or beam shaping and/or beam deflection and/or beam focusing of a laser beam of the laser.

16. A computer program including instructions, which cause a treatment device with at least one eye surgical laser for the separation of a volume body with predefined interfaces of a human or animal eye by means of photodisruption and with at least one control device for the laser or lasers, to execute the method steps according to claim 1.

17. A computer-readable medium, on which the computer program according to claim 16 is stored.

18. A method for performing a surgical procedure on a human or animal cornea for the separation of a volume body from the cornea, wherein for separating the volume body by an eye surgical laser, a plurality of cavitation bubbles is generated along at least one cavitation bubble path in the cornea, and wherein at least a partial area of an outer cavitation bubble path of an outer edge area, as radially viewed, of the volume body to be separated is generated with a higher cavitation bubble density than an inner cavitation bubble path.

19. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 18, wherein the higher cavitation bubble density is generated over an entire circumference of the outer edge area of the volume body to be separated.

20. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 18, wherein the partial area, in which a higher cavitation bubble density is generated, is generated at the outer edge area of the volume body to be separated, which is arranged in the direction of an incision of the cornea.

21. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein the partial area is generated concentrically or parallel to the incision.

22. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein the partial area is generated with a length greater than or equal to a length of the incision.

23. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 18, wherein at least the one partial area is generated in an anterior-posterior direction over an entire height of the volume body to be separated, which the volume body has in the edge area.

24. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 18, wherein the higher cavitation bubble density is generated depending on a repetition frequency of the laser and/or a distance of the respective cavitation bubbles to each other.

25. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 24, wherein the repetition frequency of the laser is radially outwards increased depending on a position of the cavitation bubble in the cornea and/or the distance of the respective cavitation bubbles is radially outwards reduced depending on a position of the cavitation bubble in the cornea.

26. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 18, wherein the higher cavitation bubble density is generated by tracing at least the partial area of the outer cavitation bubble path multiple times.

27. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 18, wherein for generating the volume body, a posterior interface of the volume body is generated from inside to outside and an anterior interface of the volume body is generated from outside to inside, as radially viewed, or wherein the anterior interface is generated from inside to outside and the posterior interface is generated from outside to inside, wherein the outer cavitation bubble path of the outer edge area of the volume body is respectively generated as an intersection curve of the interfaces.

Description

[0030] Further features are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures and explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations. Implementations and feature combinations are also to be considered as disclosed, which thus do not comprise all of the features of an originally formulated independent claim. Moreover, implementations and feature combinations are to be considered as disclosed, in particular by the implementations set out above, which extend beyond or deviate from the feature combinations set out in the relations of the claims.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a treatment device.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a treatment device.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view to an eye from the direction of a treatment device.

[0034] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a treatment device 10 with an eye surgical laser 18 for the separation of a predefined corneal volume or volume body 12 with predefined interfaces 14, 16 of a cornea of a human or animal eye by means of photodisruption. One recognizes that a control device 20 for the laser 18 is formed besides the laser 18, such that it emits pulsed laser pulses in a predefined pattern into the cornea, wherein the interfaces 14, 16 of the volume body 12 to be separated are generated by the predefined pattern by means of photodisruption. In the illustrated embodiment, the interfaces 14, 16 form a lenticular volume body 12, wherein the position of the volume body 12 is selected in this embodiment such that a pathological and/or unnaturally altered area within a stroma 36 of the cornea is enclosed. Furthermore, it is apparent from FIG. 1 that the so-called Bowman's membrane 38 is formed between the stroma 36 and an epithelium.

[0036] Furthermore, one recognizes that the laser beam 24 generated by the laser 18 is deflected towards a surface 26 of the cornea by means of a beam device 22, namely a beam deflection device such as for example a rotational scanner. The beam deflection device is also controlled by the control device 20 to generate the mentioned predefined pattern in the cornea.

[0037] The illustrated laser 18 is a photodisruptive laser, which is formed to emit laser pulses in a wavelength range between 300 nm and 1400 nm, preferably between 700 nm and 1200 nm, at a respective pulse duration between 1 fs and 1 ns, preferably between 10 fs and 10 ps, and a repetition frequency of greater than 10 KHz, preferably between 100 kHz and 100 MHz.

[0038] In addition, the control device 20 comprises a storage device (not illustrated) for at least temporary storage of at least one control dataset, wherein the control dataset or datasets include(s) control data for positioning and/or for focusing individual laser pulses in the cornea. The position data and/or focusing data of the individual laser pulses are generated based on a previously measured topography and/or pachymetry and/or the morphology of the cornea and the pathological and/or unnaturally altered area for example to be removed within the stroma 36 of the eye.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the generation of the volume body 12 to be separated according to an embodiment of the present method. One recognizes that the interfaces 14, 16 are generated by means of the pulsed laser beam 24, which is directed towards the cornea 40 or towards the surface 26 of the cornea via the beam device 22. Therein, the anterior interface 16 and the posterior interface 14 form a lenticular volume body 12, which is to be separated for correcting the cornea 40. Furthermore, an incision 34 in the cornea 40 is illustrated in this embodiment, which is generated by a cut from the surface 26 of the cornea with a predefined angle and with a predefined geometry to the volume body 12, wherein the cut can also be generated by means of the laser 18. The volume body 12 defined by the interfaces 14, 16 can then be removed from the cornea 40 via the incision 34.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the interface 14, that is the interface located deeper in the eye in the direction of an optical axis 30, is first formed by means of the laser beam 24, wherein it then corresponds to the posterior interface 14. This can be effected by at least partially circularly and/or spirally guiding the laser beam 24 according to the predefined pattern. Subsequently, the interface 16 is generated in comparable manner, which then corresponds to the anterior interface 16, such that the interfaces 14, 16 form the lenticular volume body 12. Also, the incision 34 can for example also be generated by the laser 18. However, the order of the generation of the interfaces 14, 16 and the incision 34 can also be changed.

[0041] Preferably, it is provided that before, during or after the generation of the interfaces 14, 16, at least a partial area 42 of an outer cavitation bubble path of an outer edge area 50 (FIG. 3), as radially viewed, of the volume body 12 to be separated is generated with a higher cavitation bubble density than an inner cavitation bubble path. This means that the partial area 42 is generated starting from the optical axis 30 to the outer edge area 50 of the volume body 12 in that the repetition frequency of the laser and/or a distance of the respective cavitation bubbles to each other in this cavitation bubble path is higher than an interior cavitation bubble path. In this embodiment, the partial area 42 can be generated over an entire circumference of the outer edge area 50 of the volume body 12 to be separated, wherein the partial area 42 is here illustrated as a straight line in simplified manner. Preferably, the partial area 42 can be an area with increased cavitation bubble density in the outer edge area of the posterior interface 14 and/or the anterior interface 16. That area is meant by outer edge area 50 (FIG. 3), at which the interfaces converge, that is the transition area of the interfaces 14, 16, in particular, the outer area, as radially viewed, that is from the optical axis 30 towards the edges of the volume body 12, can include the outer ten percent. The outer cavitation bubble path with the higher cavitation bubble density can then be generated in this outer edge area 50, wherein the partial area 42 is preferably generated over an entire height of the volume body 12 to be separated, which the volume body 12 has in the edge area 50. Herein, the height of the volume body 12 to be separated is meant in an anterior-posterior direction, that is parallel to the optical axis 30.

[0042] For generating the higher cavitation bubble density in the partial area 42, the outer cavitation bubble path can for example be generated by tracing at least the partial area 42 multiple times, for example in that the laser 24 traces the outer cavitation bubble path two to ten times in the partial area 42. Particularly preferably, it can be provided that the control of the laser 18 is effected such that the posterior interface 14 is first generated spirally outwards from the center by means of the predefined pattern, wherein the cavitation bubble density can increase from inside to outside, that is radially outwards, depending on a position of the cavitation bubble in the cornea 40 until the highest cavitation bubble density is generated in the partial area 42. Subsequently, the generation of the anterior interface 16 can be begun without interrupting the predefined pattern, such that an intersection curve of the interfaces 14, 16 forms in the partial area 42, wherein the cavitation bubble density herein can decrease from outside to inside as radially viewed depending on the position of the cavitation bubble. Thus, the volume body 12 can be generated in one piece, wherein the cavitation bubble density increases from inside to outside until it reaches its maximum in the outer cavitation bubble path in the partial area 42. Hereby, a complete separation from the cornea 40 can be achieved, in particular in the areas of the volume body 12, which has a low height, whereby the volume body can be more easily extracted via the incision 34.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram for generating the volume body 12 to be separated according to an embodiment of the present method. In this embodiment, a view from the direction of the treatment device 10 in an anterior-posterior direction, that is along the optical axis 30, to the cornea 40 of an eye 44 is illustrated. From a center of the eye 44 up to an edge 46, as radially viewed, there is the so-called optical zone, in which a complete correction of the refractive power of the eye 44 is to occur. From the edge 46 further outwards, there is the lenticule edge 48, at which the interfaces 14, 16 encounter each other, wherein the lenticule edge 48 can represent the end of the transition area. Between the edge 46 of the optical zone and the lenticule edge 48, there is the outer edge area 50, in which the outer cavitation bubble path with the increased cavitation bubble density is provided, wherein the outer edge area 50 encompasses the edge 46 of the optical zone and the lenticule edge 48. Preferably, a distance of 500 micrometers or less is preferably provided between the edge 46 of the optical zone and the lenticule edge 48. In this embodiment, the outer cavitation bubble path, which comprises the partial area 42 with the higher cavitation bubble density, can be located at or on the lenticule edge 48.

[0044] From the lenticule edge 48 further radially outwards, the incision 34 can be provided, through which the volume body 12 can be removed from the cornea. In this embodiment, the partial area 42 cannot extend over the entire circumference of the outer edge area 50, in particular the outer cavitation bubble path of the lenticule edge 48, but only in the partial area 42, which is arranged in the direction of the incision 34. Herein, the partial area 42 with the higher cavitation bubble density is preferably arranged concentrically to the incision 34 and has a length, which is equal to or longer than the length of the incision 34. The higher volume density in the partial area 42 can for example be generated by repeating the circular arc in the partial area 42 multiple times, for example in that the sector with the same diameter and the same depth is repeated ten to thirty times. Hereby, a different light refraction characteristic results, whereby an edge of the volume body 12 can be more easily determined. Thus, coming from the direction of the incision 34, it can be determined where the volume body 12 begins. Particularly preferably, the entire outer cavitation bubble path of the lenticule edge 48 can be generated with the increased cavitation bubble density, wherein the cavitation bubble density is additionally increased in the partial area 42. For example in that tracing multiple times occurs in the partial area 42 illustrated here. For example, the outer cavitation bubble path can be traced ten times by the laser beam and the partial area 42 can be traced twenty times in addition thereto. Thus, it can be achieved that the volume body 12 can be easily detached from the cornea 40 on the one hand and a marking is present in the direction of the incision 34 on the other hand, at which the beginning of the volume body is additionally more easily recognizable.

[0045] Overall, thinner volume bodies 12 can be formed with the treatment device and the method since a better detachment of the volume body from the cornea through the incision can be achieved, since a danger is reduced that the volume body formed as a lenticule breaks upon removal.