METHOD FOR EYE SURGICAL PROCEDURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a planning device for generating control data for a treatment apparatus, which by means of a laser device generates at least one cut surface in the cornea, and to a treatment apparatus having such a planning device. The invention further relates to a method for generating control data for a treatment apparatus, which by means of a laser device generates at least one cut surface in the cornea, and to a corresponding method for eye surgery. The planning device is thereby provided with calculating means for defining the corneal incision surfaces, wherein the calculation means determines the corneal incisions such that after inserting an implant into the cornea, existing refractive errors are counteracted.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A laser treatment apparatus for ophthalmic surgery, comprising: a laser device; a planning device that generates control data for the laser treatment apparatus for ophthalmic surgery which generates at least one cut in a cornea by application of the laser device, the planning device being operably coupled to the laser device; the planning device comprising: a calculating device that defines a pocket cut in the cornea, the pocket cut being configured to receive an implant therein and having a cap overlying the pocket cut; the calculating device defining at least one corneal relief cut, wherein the calculating device determines for the at least one corneal relief cut a correction of refraction based on data and generates a control data set for corneal relief cut surfaces that is used to control the laser device to generate the at least one corneal relief cut to a depth less than a thickness of the cap and overlying the pocket cut in the cornea, the thickness of the cap being measured from an anterior surface of the cornea to the pocket cut in the cornea and so that that the at least one corneal relief cut is located in the cap and overlies the pocket cut; wherein the calculating device determines the at least one corneal relief cut such that refraction errors are counteracted following inserting of an implant in the cornea; and wherein the planning device controls the laser device based on the control data to make the at least one corneal relief cut.

3. The laser treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the planning device is configured such that the at least one corneal relief cut is located above the implant when the implant is placed in the pocket cut.

4. The laser treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the planning device is configured such that the at least one corneal relief cut reaches no deeper than 80% of the thickness of the cap over the implant in the cornea.

5. The laser treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the calculating device that defines the at least one corneal relief cut to comprise at least one circular arc segment.

6. The laser treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the calculating device defines the at least one corneal relief cut to comprise at least one circular arc.

7. The laser treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the calculating device defines the at least one corneal relief cut to comprise at least one radial extending or diagonally radial extending cut.

8. A method of creating control data for a treatment apparatus for ophthalmic surgery that creates at least one cut in the cornea by application of a laser device, the method comprising: providing corneal data, based on data from a correction for refraction; determining a pocket cut in the cornea, the pocket cut being configured to receive an implant therein and having a cap overlying the pocket cut; determining at least one corneal relief cut; and creating a control data set for the at least one corneal relief cut to control the laser device; and determining the at least one corneal relief cut such that existing refractive errors are counteracted after inserting the implant in the cornea and such that the at least one corneal relief cut is made to a depth less than a thickness of the cap overlying the pocket cut in the cornea and the at least one corneal relief cut is made in the cap overlying the pocket cut, the thickness of the cap being measured from an anterior surface of the cornea to the pocket cut in the cornea.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising creating the control data set such that the at least one corneal relief cut reaches no deeper than 80% of the thickness of the cap over the implant in the cornea.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising creating the control data set such that the at least one corneal relief cut is located above the implant when the implant is placed in the pocket cut.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising creating the control data set such that the at least one corneal relief cut comprises at least one circular arc segment.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising creating the control data set such that the at least one corneal relief cut comprises at least one circular arc.

13. The method according to claim 7, further comprising creating the control data set such that the at least one corneal relief cut comprises at least one radial extending or diagonally radial extending cut.

14. A method of ophthalmic surgery, wherein at least one cut is made in the cornea by application of a treatment device with a laser device, comprising: providing corneal data, based on data of a correction of refraction; determining a pocket cut in the cornea, the pocket cut being configured to receive an implant therein and having a cap overlying the pocket cut; determining at least one corneal relief cut on the basis of the corneal data, and creating a control data set for the at least one corneal relief cut; and transmitting the control data to the treatment device and creating the at least one corneal relief cut by controlling the laser device with the control data set to generate the at least one corneal relief cut to a depth less than a thickness of the cap overlying the pocket cut in the cornea and located in the cap overlying the pocket cut; wherein the at least one corneal relief cut is determined so that existing refractive errors are counteracted after inserting an implant in the cornea.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising determining the at least one corneal relief cut such that the at least one corneal relief cut reaches no deeper than 80% of the thickness of the cap over the implant in the cornea.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising determining the at least one corneal relief cut such that the at least one corneal relief cut is located above the implant when the implant is placed in the pocket cut.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising creating the control data set such that the at least one corneal relief cut comprises at least one circular arc segment.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising creating the control data set such that the at least one corneal relief cut comprises at least one circular arc.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising creating the control data set such that the at least one corneal relief cut comprises at least one radial extending or diagonally radial extending cut.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention is hereafter explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which also disclose features essential to the invention.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a treatment apparatus with a planning device for treatment in ophthalmic surgical correction of refraction.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the effect of the laser radiation which is used in the treatment apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a further schematic view of the treatment apparatus of FIG. 1 with respect to the introduction of the laser radiation.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view through the cornea to illustrate the removal of the corneal volume in connection with the ophthalmic surgical correction of refraction according to the state of technology.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation in view of the structure of the treatment unit of FIG. 1 with particular reference to the planning device present there.

[0035] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic representations for the purposes of illustration of the insertion of an inlay in connection with an ophthalmic surgical correction of refraction according to state of technology.

[0036] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic representations to demonstrate the invention.

[0037] FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic representations to demonstrate the invention in a second embodiment.

[0038] FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic representations to demonstrate the invention in a further embodiment.

[0039] FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic representations to demonstrate the invention in a further embodiment in connection with an astigmatism correction,

[0040] FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are schematic representations of various other cut geometries.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] A treatment apparatus for ophthalmic surgery is represented in FIG. 1 and is provided with the general reference signs 1. The treatment device 1 is designed to apply laser cuts on an eye 2 of a patient 3. For this purpose, the treatment apparatus 1 comprises a laser device 4 that emits a laser beam 6 from a laser source 5, which is directed in the eye 2 or the eye cornea as a focused beam. The laser beam 6 is for example a pulsed laser beam with a wavelength between 300 nanometers and 10 micrometers. The pulse length of the laser beam 6 is furthermore in the range between 1 femtosecond and 100 nanoseconds, whereby pulse repetition rates of 50 to 50,000 kilohertz and pulse energies between 0.01 microjoules and 0.01 millijoules are feasible. The treatment apparatus 1 therefore creates a cut surface in the cornea of the eye 2 by deflecting the pulsed laser beam. A scanner 8 and a radiation intensity modulator 9 are therefore still intended in the laser device 4 or its laser source 9.

[0042] The patient 3 lies on a bed 10 that is adjustable in three directions in space to align the eye 2 appropriately to the incidence of the laser beam 6. In an example embodiment, the bed is motor-adjustable.

[0043] The control can take place by use of a control unit 11 in particular, which principally controls the operation of the treatment apparatus 1 and is thereby connected with the treatment apparatus by means of suitable data connections or connecting lines 12. This communication can naturally also take place in other ways, e.g. through light guides or via radio frequencies. The control unit 11 performs the respective settings, time control on the treatment device 1, particularly on the laser device, and thereby manages respective functions of the treatment apparatus 1.

[0044] The treatment apparatus 1 furthermore still comprises a fixing unit 15, which fixes the cornea of the eye 2 in its position across from the laser device 4. This fixing unit 15 can thereby comprise a well-known contact lens 45 that the eye cornea is placed against by of negative pressure and that gives the eye cornea a desired geometric shape. Such contact lenses are known from the state of the art, such as from DE 102005040338 A1. The disclosure content of this publication is incorporated herein by reference in so far as it affects the description of a design of the contact lens 45 possible for the treatment apparatus 1.

[0045] The treatment apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a camera not shown here, which can record an image of the eye cornea 17 through the contact lens 45. The lighting for the camera can hereby take place both in the visible and the infrared range.

[0046] The control unit 11 of the treatment apparatus 1 furthermore still comprises a planning device 16 that will still be clarified later on.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows schematically the mode of action of the incident laser beam 6. The laser beam 6 is focused and falls into the cornea 17 of the eye 2 as a focused laser beam 2. A schematically drawn in optic 18 is intended for the focusing. It effects a focus in the cornea 17, in which the laser beam energy density is so high that a non-linear effect occurs in the cornea 17 in combination with the pulse length of the pulsed laser beam 6. Each pulse of the pulsed laser beam 6 can create an optical breakthrough in the eye cornea 17 when in focus 19, for example, which in turn initiates a plasma bubble only schematically indicated in FIG. 2. During the formation of the plasma bubble, the separation of the layer of tissue comprises an area bigger than the focus 19, even though the conditions to create the optical breakthrough can only be achieved in the focus 19. So that an optical breakthrough is created from each laser pulse, the energy density, meaning the fluence of the laser beam must be above a certain, pulse-length dependent threshold value. One skilled in the art knows about this connection from DE 69500997 T2 for example. Alternately, a tissue-separating effect may also be achieved through pulsed laser radiation, by emitting several laser beam pulses in one area whereby the focus spots overlap. Several laser beam pulses then act together to achieve a tissue-separating effect. The type of tissue separation that is used by the treatment apparatus is however not further relevant for the following description; it is merely important that a cut creation takes place in the cornea 17 of the eye 2.

[0048] In order to perform an ophthalmic correction of refraction, a cornea volume is removed by application of laser radiation 6 from an area inside the cornea 17 by separating tissue layers, which isolate the cornea volume and then enable its removal. To isolate the cornea volume to be removed, in case the laser beam is brought in as a pulse, the location of the focus 17 of the focused laser beam 7 is shifted in the cornea 17. This is schematically shown in FIG. 3. The refractive properties of the cornea 17 are specifically changed by removing the volume in order to achieve the correction of refraction. The volume is therefore mostly lens-shaped and is referred to as lenticule. It is however sufficient for the present invention that the tissue layers are separated so that a pocket is formed to include the implant.

[0049] In FIG. 3, the elements of the treatment apparatus 1 are only recorded as far as they're required for the understanding of the cut creation. The laser beam 6, as already mentioned, is bundled in a focus 19 of the cornea 19, and the position of the focus 19 in the cornea is shifted so that focused energy from laser beam pulses is brought into the tissue of the cornea 17 in different areas for the cut creation. The laser beam 6 is preferably provided by the laser source 5 as pulsed radiation. The scanner 8 is constructed in two parts in the design of FIG. 3 and consists of a xy scanner 8a that is realized in one version by two essentially orthogonally deflecting galvanometer mirrors. The scanner 8a deflects the laser beam 6 originating from the laser source two-dimensionally, so that a deflected laser beam 20 is present after the scanner 9. The scanner 8a thus effects an adjustment of the position of the focus 19 essentially perpendicular to the main incidence direction from the laser beam 6 in the cornea 17. To adjust the depth, beside the xy scanner 8a, a z scanner 8b is still intended in the scanner 8 that is formed as an adjustable telescope, for example. The z scanner 8b ensures that the z position of the location of the focus 19, meaning its position on the optical axis of the incidence is changed. The z scanner 8b may be arranged subordinate or superordinate of the xy scanner.

[0050] The assignment of the individual coordinates to the direction in space is not essential for the functional principle of the treatment apparatus 1, just as little as that the scanner 8a deflects around axes that are orthogonal to each other. In fact, each scanner may be used that is able to adjust the focus 19 at a level at which the incidence axis of the optical radiation is not located. Any non-Cartesian coordinate systems may furthermore also be used for deflecting or controlling the position of the focus 19. Examples are spherical coordinates or cylindrical coordinates. The control of the position of the focus 19 is done by use of the scanners 8a, 8b while being controlled by the control unit 11, which performs respective adjustment on the laser source 5, the modulator 9 (not shown in FIG. 3), and the scanner 8. The control unit 11 enables suitable operation of the laser source 5 as well as the three-dimensional focus adjustment described here by way of example, so that a cut surface is formed ultimately, which isolates a specific cornea volume that is supposed to be removed for the correction of refraction.

[0051] The control unit 11 works based on specified control data, which are specified as target points for the focus adjustment in the laser system merely described here by way of example, for instance. The control data are usually comprised in a control data set. This one specifies geometric requirements for the cut surface to be formed as samples, such as the coordinates of the target points. In this embodiment, the control data set then also contains specific values for the adjusting mechanism of the focal position, e.g. for the scanner 8.

[0052] The creation of the cut surface with the treatment apparatus 1 is shown as example in FIG. 4. A cornea volume 21 in the cornea 17 is isolated by adjusting the focus 19, in which the focused beam 7 is bundled. Cut surfaces are formed for this purpose, which by way of example, are formed here as an anterior flap cut surface 22 as well as a posterior lenticular cut surface 23. These terms are merely to be understood as an example and shall create the reference to the conventional Lasik or Lenticular Extraction procedures (SMILE) that the treatment apparatus 1 is also designed for, as already stated. What is merely important here, is that the cut surfaces 22 and 23 as well as no further specified edge cuts, which join the cut surfaces 22 and 23 on their edges, isolate the cornea volume 21. By use of an opening cut 24, a corneal lamella limiting the cornea volume on the anterior can be folded aside so that the corneal volume 21 can be removed. This corneal lamella defined by the anterior cut has a constant thickness in the preferred version, but may also have an inhomogeneous thickness, particularly a radius-dependent thickness.

[0053] Alternatively, the SMILE procedure can be used, in which the corneal volume 21 is removed through a small opening cut as is described in DE 10 2007 019813 A1. The disclosure content of this publication is incorporated by reference here. An implant (inlay) can then be inserted in the pocket created in this or a different manner.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows schematically the treatment apparatus 1, with reference to which the significance of the planning device 16 shall be described. In this version, the treatment apparatus 1 has at least two devices or modules. The already described laser device 4 emits the laser beam 6 onto the eye 2. The operation of the laser device 4 thereby takes place, as already stated, fully automatically by operation of the control unit 11, meaning the laser device 4 starts the creating and deflecting of the laser beam 6 on a respective start signal and thus creates cut surfaces that are established in the manner described. The laser device 5 receives the control signals required for the operation from the control unit 11, which had respective control data provided for it beforehand. This is done by use of the planning device 16, which is shown for example in FIG. 5 as part of the control unit 11. The planning device 16 can naturally also be formed separately and may communicate with the control device 11 on a wired or wireless basis. It is then merely needed that a respective data transmission channel exist between the planning device 16 and the control unit 11.

[0055] The planning device 16 creates a control data set that is provided for the control unit 11 to execute the ophthalmic surgical correction of refraction. The planning device thereby uses measured data regarding the cornea of the eye. In the embodiment described here, this data comes from a measuring device 28 that has measured the eye 2 of the patient 2 beforehand. The measuring device 28 may naturally be formed in any manner and may transmit the respective data to the interface 29 of the planning device 16.

[0056] The planning device now supports the operator of the treatment apparatus 1 during the determination of the cut surface for isolating the corneal volume 21 or the creation of a pocket for an implant or during the creation of the relief cuts per the invention. This can go on to a fully automatic determination of the cuts, which can be effected, for example, by that the planning device 16 determines the corneal volume 21 to be removed from the measurement data for example, and which uses it to create respective control data for the control device 11. The planning device 16 may include input options on the other side of the level of automation, on which a user enters the cuts in the form of geometrical or optical parameters (refractive powers or keratometric changes) or mechanical parameters (elasticity), or where these are automatically derived from diagnosis data. Intermediate stages may be included for suggestions for the cuts, which the planning device 16 generates automatically and which can then be modified by an operator. All these concepts that were already explained above in the more general descriptive part may basically be used here in the planning device 16.

[0057] In order to perform a treatment, the planning device 16 creates control data for the cut creation, which are then used in the treatment apparatus 1.

[0058] FIG. 6a shows a schematic representation of a cut geometry for a pocket per the state of the art of technology to clarify the geometric relationships in cross section. The cornea 17 has a pocket cut P with an opening cut O under the cap C. An inlay L is inserted through the opening cut O. The inlay L thereby changes the geometry of the cornea 17 by deforming the front of the corneal front V. A possible explanation for the detected deviations between the target and the actual refraction after the implantation of an inlay could be due to the fact that the corneal rear side also deforms from H to H, but the corneal front side reacts mechanically and only displays a deformation V deviating from the target deformation V, and a refraction condition is created different from the one desired. FIG. 6B shows a top view of the cornea represented in FIG. 6A.

[0059] In order to counteract this undesired deviation of the target geometry, additional relief cuts are applied in the cornea above the cap C.

[0060] The cut geometries according to embodiments of the invention are described in detail below.

[0061] FIG. 7A depicts a schematic representation of a first cut geometry per the invention in cross section. The relief cuts T and U are thereby executed as circular arc segments, which run symmetrically around the optically effective zone of the eye. FIG. 7B shows a top view on the cornea represented in FIG. 7A.

[0062] FIG. 8A depicts a schematic representation of a second cut geometry according to an example embodiment of the invention in cross section. The relief cuts T and U are thereby executed as complete circular arcs, which run outside of the optically effective zone of the eye. The relief cuts effect a more efficient deformation of the front side of the cornea and reduce the deformation of the rear side of the cornea. FIG. 8B shows a top view on the cornea represented in FIG. 8A.

[0063] FIGS. 9A and 9B depict a schematic representation of another cut geometry according to an example embodiment of the invention in cross section. The relief cuts T are thereby executed as diagonally radially extending cuts. This cut variant may encourage the tissue expansion intended in the cap. FIG. 9B shows a top view of the cornea represented in FIG. 9A.

[0064] FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a schematic representation of another cut geometry in cross section as a variation to the geometry represented in FIG. 8. Astigmatism is corrected here through a circular arc cut U running asymmetrically relative to the eye's axis. FIG. 10B shows a top view of the cornea represented in FIG. 10A.

[0065] More possible cut geometries for the relief cuts T are represented in FIGS. 11A and 11B. Depending on the type and extent of the tissue expansion strived for; these cut variants enable a better predictability of the result of the procedure and an accelerated healing. The astigmatism correction from FIGS. 10A and 10B are represented in FIG. 11C in combination with the cut from the circular arcs according to FIGS. 8A and 8B.

[0066] As can be gathered from the figures, the relief cuts T or U don't extend to the anterior corneal surface to prevent the risk of tearing or gaping. To facilitate mechanical stability, they don't extend to the inlay L either. With a given thickness d (between 140 m and 200 m) of the cap C, it is mostly favorable, if the cuts have a maximum depth extension of 0.8d. It can however also be particularly advantageous in special cases, if relief cuts T or U extend to the inlay L.

[0067] It should also be mentioned that the treatment apparatus 1 or the planning device 16 naturally also concretely realizes the implementation of the previously generally explained procedure.

[0068] Another example embodiment of the planning device exists in the form of a computer program or a respective data carrier with a computer program, which realizes the planning device on a respective computer, so that the input of the measurement data takes places through suitable data transmission to the computer, and so that the control data is transmitted from this computer to the control unit 11.