POSTERIOR CAPSULOTOMY USING LASER TECHNIQUES

Abstract

A system and method are provided for removing a natural lens and inserting an Intraocular Lens (IOL) into the lens capsule of an eye. Specifically, this is accomplished by inserting the IOL through an opening on the posterior capsule that is created using a focused laser beam. The system includes a laser unit, a detector for creating images of the interior of the eye, and a computer that controls the cooperative functions of the detector and the laser unit. Based on images of the posterior capsule provided by the detector, the computer is used to control movements of the focal point through tissue of the posterior capsule to perform Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) on posterior capsule tissue. The result is a laser capsulotomy that creates an opening through the posterior capsule allowing the natural lens to be removed and the IOL to be implanted.

Claims

1. A method for performing ophthalmic surgery inside an eye which comprises the steps of: performing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) on tissue of the posterior capsule of the eye to create a section of separated tissue defining an opening into the lens capsule of the eye; removing the section of separated tissue from the lens capsule to establish the opening; extracting the lens of the eye from the lens capsule of the eye through the opening in the posterior capsule; and implanting an optical device in the lens capsule through the opening in the posterior capsule to replace the extracted lens.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the performing step comprises the steps of: generating a pulsed laser beam; focusing the pulsed laser beam to a focal point; and directing the focal point of the pulsed laser beam onto tissue of the posterior capsule inside the eye.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the performing step further comprises the steps of: creating images of the inside of the eye; and using an image from the creating step to control movements of the focal point through tissue of the posterior capsule to create the opening.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the creating step is accomplished using imaging techniques selected from a group comprising Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Scheimpfiug imaging, confocal imaging, two-photon imaging, laser (optical) range finding and acoustical imaging.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the removing step comprises the steps of: incising the sclera to establish an access port to the vitreous body of the eye; advancing a probe through the access port for engagement of the probe with the section of separated tissue; and withdrawing the separated section of tissue from the eye with the probe to establish the opening.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the optical device is an Intraocular Lens (IOL).

7. A method as recited in claim 6 further comprising the step of establishing LIOB marks on the lens capsule to assist in aligning the IOL in the lens capsule.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 further comprising the step of dimensioning the opening to receive a specific IOL into the lens capsule via the opening.

9. A method for performing ophthalmic laser surgery inside an eye which comprises the steps of: generating a pulsed laser beam; creating images of the inside of the eye; using images from the creating step to control movements of the focal point of the laser beam through tissue of the posterior capsule to perform Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) on tissue of the posterior capsule to create an opening into the lens capsule of the eye; extracting the lens of the eye from the lens capsule of the eye through the opening in the posterior capsule; and implanting an optical device in the lens capsule through the opening in the posterior capsule to replace the extracted lens.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of preparing the lens of the eye for removal from the posterior capsule prior to the extracting step.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the preparing step is accomplished by a procedure selected from the group consisting of hydrodissection, phacoemulsification and lens fragmentation.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: incising the sclera to establish an access port into the vitreous body of the eye; and advancing a probe through the access port to accomplish the extracting step.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the optical device is an Intraocular Lens (IOL).

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of establishing LIOB marks on the lens capsule to assist in aligning the IOL in the lens capsule.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dimensioning the opening to receive a specific IOL into the lens capsule via the opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic presentation of components for the system of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2A is a cross section view of the anterior portion of an eye showing the removal of tissue from the posterior capsule of the eye to create an opening into the lens capsule; and

[0023] FIG. 2B is a cross section view of the anterior portion of the eye as seen in FIG. 2A, showing the insertion of an Intraocular Lens (IOL) through the opening into the lens capsule of the eye, after the crystalline lens of the eye has been removed from the lens capsule.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a system in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally designated 10. As shown, the system 10 includes a laser unit 12 and a computer 14. As shown, the computer 14 is connected with the laser unit 12 for the purposes of guiding and controlling the movement of a laser beam 16 that is generated and focused by the laser unit 12. Necessarily, the laser unit 12 is of a type that generates a pulsed laser beam 16 which is capable of performing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) on sub-surface anatomical tissue. Preferably, the laser beam 16 will have laser pulses with pulse durations in the femtosecond range.

[0025] FIG. 1 also shows that the system 10 can include a detector 18 for creating images of the interior of the eye 20. For example, the detector 18 can include an imaging unit that employs imaging techniques such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Scheimpflug imaging, confocal imaging, two-photon imaging, laser (optical) range finding and acoustical imaging. As shown, the computer 14 is connected to the detector 18 to receive and process image data from the detector 18 and control the operation of the detector 18. More specifically, images of tissue inside the eye 20 can be processed by the computer 14 to establish an accurate location for the crystalline lens 22 and posterior capsule 24 of the eye 20.

[0026] FIG. 2A illustrates a procedure for creating a section of separated tissue 26 and removing the tissue 26 from the posterior capsule 24 of the eye 20 to create an opening 28 into the posterior capsule 24. For this procedure, images of the posterior capsule 24 (FIG. 1) are provided by the detector 18 to the computer 14 which uses the image data to control movements of the focal point through tissue of the posterior capsule 24. As this is done, Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) occurs on tissue of the posterior capsule 24 to create a section of separated tissue 26. Once the separated tissue is removed, an opening 28 is established through the posterior capsule 24 that can be used for removing the lens 22 and/or inserting an IOL 30 (FIG. 2B) into the lens capsule 31. For this process, the opening 28 can be dimensioned and customized to allow a specific IOL 30 (FIG. 2B) to pass through the opening 28 and be implanted into the lens capsule 31.

[0027] Continuing with FIG. 2A, it can be seen that the separated tissue 26 can be removed from the eye 20, by first incising the sclera 32 to establish an access port 34 to the vitreous body 36 of the eye 20. As shown, a probe 38 can then be advanced through the access port 34 for engagement of the probe 38 with the section of separated tissue 26. After the probe 38 has engaged with the separated section of tissue 26, the separated section of tissue 26 can be removed from the eye 20 by the probe 38 (in the direction of arrow 40) and through access port 34 to establish the opening 28. Once an opening 28 has been established through the posterior capsule 24 of the eye 20, as shown, the crystalline lens 22 can be extracted from the lens capsule 31 and removed from the eye 20 through the access port 34.

[0028] FIG. 2B shows that an IOL 30 can be introduced through the access port 34 in the sclera 32 and inserted through the opening 28 (in the direction of arrow 42 and into the lens capsule 31. As shown, probe 44 can be used to place the IOL 30 into the lens capsule 31. As an additional feature of the present invention, LIOB marks (not shown) can be established on the lens capsule 31 during the procedure to assist in aligning the IOL 30 in the lens capsule 31. For example, these LIOB marks may be used to properly orient a toric IOL (not shown) that is to be used for the correction of astigmatism.

[0029] While the particular Posterior Capsulotomy Using Laser Techniques as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.