Abstract
A laser system for performing ophthalmologic procedures comprising a pulsed laser for emitting laser pulses, a focusing optics for generating at least one focal point in the anterior region of a patient's eye, a deflection device for varying the position of the focal point in the anterior region of the patient's eye, and a control unit for controlling the deflection device. The pulsed laser has a pulse duration in the range of nanoseconds, and the laser system is designed as a handheld device.
Claims
1. A laser system for performing an ophthalmologic procedure, the laser system comprising: a pulsed laser for emitting laser pulses, the pulsed laser having a pulse duration in a range of nanoseconds, a focusing optics for generating at least one focal point in an anterior region of a patient's eye, a deflection device for varying a position of the focal point in the anterior region of the patient's eye, and a control unit for controlling the deflection device, wherein the laser system is configured in a housing of the laser system in order to form a handheld device, the housing comprising handles and support points, wherein the support points are configured to rest on a face and on nose of the patient during the ophthalmologic procedure.
2. A laser system according to claim 1, wherein the laser system is designed for performing an anterior capsulotomy or a posterior capsulotomy on the freely movable eye.
3. A laser system according to claim 2, wherein the pulsed laser comprises a device which is designed for varying a frequency of the laser pulses in order to perform operations on the posterior region of the eye.
4. A laser system according to claim 1, wherein the laser system is designed for a fragmentation of a lens of the eye.
5. A laser system according to claim 1, wherein that the laser system comprises a touchscreen.
6. A laser system according to claim 1, wherein the laser system has at least one lighting means designed for illuminating the eye during the ophthalmologic procedure.
7. A laser system according to claim 1, wherein the laser system has a cable for power supply, via which the laser system can be plugged into a power socket.
Description
[0013] Further advantageous embodiment variants of the laser system according to the invention for performing ophthalmologic procedures will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the figures.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment variant of a laser system according to the invention in a perspective view.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a beam path of the laser system according to FIG. 1 in a schematic view.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment variant of a laser system 1 according to the invention installed in a housing 2 during the implementation of an ophthalmologic procedure on one eye 18 or both eyes of a patient. The laser system 1 is designed as a handheld device and can be plugged into a power socket by means of a cable 8 for powering the laser system 1. The laser system 1 comprises a nano-pulsed laser 3, a focusing optics 5, a deflection device 6 and a control unit, which is not illustrated. The nano-pulsed laser 3, the focusing optics 5 and the deflection device 6 are shown schematically in FIG. 2. In addition, the laser system 1 comprises a touchscreen 9, lighting means, which are not illustrated, handles 10 and support points 11 for placing the handheld device on the patient.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a beam path 12 of the laser system 1 according to FIG. 1 in a schematic view. A laser pulse generated by the nano-pulsed laser 3 is focused on a focal point on the tissue to be operated on via the deflection device 6 and the focusing optics 5, wherein a position of the focal point on the tissue to be operated on can be varied by means of the deflection device 6. For this purpose, the deflection device 6 has an electric motor 13 the position of which relative to a frustoconical mirror 14 is alterable along the double arrow 7 by means of a linear actuator, which is not illustrated. The nano-pulsed laser 3 is designed for performing surgical procedures on the anterior region 17 of the eye 18, wherein the nano-pulsed laser 3 is advantageously designed for emitting laser pulses in the infrared range. Furthermore, the deflection device 6 comprises a dichroic mirror 15, and the laser system 1 has an image sensor 16. The nano-pulsed laser 3, the electric motor 13, the linear actuator, the lighting means and the touchscreen 9 are connected for communication by means of a control unit, which is not illustrated. Suitably, the lighting means are formed by LEDs and are oriented with respect to the eye 18 in such a way that the eye 18 is located in the light cone of the lighting means.
[0018] Subsequently, the implementation of an ophthalmologic procedure with the laser system 1 according to FIG. 1 will be described in more detail. After the patient has assumed an operating position which, in particular, is horizontal, the handheld device is placed on the face of the patient by a surgeon, with the handheld device supported on the face, in particular on the nose of the patient, via the support points 11. For this, the support points 11 are advantageously formed of a soft material, e.g., an elastomer. On the touchscreen 9, the surgeon can choose which operation is carried out. For example, an anterior capsulotomy or a posterior capsulotomy can be performed with the handheld device. In the present case, the surgeon chooses, for example, an anterior capsulotomy. By means of the image sensor 16, the surgeon can orient the focusing optics 5 precisely above the eye 18 of the patient via the touchscreen 9. By activating a switch mounted on the housing 2, which switch is not illustrated, or by choosing an icon on the touch display 9, the capsulotomy is started, wherein fixing, tracking and/or scanning of the eye 18 can be omitted due to the high energy input of the nano-laser 3 and, resulting therefrom, a short exposure time for the tissue of the capsular sac of the eye 18. After the capsule sac has been opened, the handheld device can be removed and set aside. The actual operation on the eye 18 can now be started. For example, the implementation of a fragmentation of a lens 4 by means of phacoemulsification.
[0019] In a further embodiment variant, the laser system 1 is designed for fragmenting the lens 4 of the eye 18. As a result, the advantage is obtained that two surgical steps can be performed with the same device, and the duration of the procedure is again minimized.
[0020] In a further embodiment variant, the pulse frequency of the laser pulses can be modulated. As a result, the advantage is obtained that procedures on the posterior region 19 of the eye 18 can be carried out as well.
[0021] In a further embodiment variant, the laser system 1 has a battery for power supply, which is accommodated in the housing 2.
