METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A LASER OF A LASER DEVICE, METHOD FOR PERFORMING A SURGICAL PROCEDURE, LASER DEVICE, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a laser (12) of a laser device (10) and/or to a method for performing a surgical procedure comprising at least the steps of: generating laser pulses (40) with a first energy density (42) below a photodisruption regime of a polymer material (26) of a region (16) of an optical element; irradiating a core region (30) with the laser pulses (40), wherein a refractive index of the polymer material (26) changes depending thereon; generating first irradiation lines (34) within the core region (30) and generating a first optical correction (44) in the core region (30); generating laser pulses (40) with a second energy density (46) below a photodisruption regime; irradiating an edge region (36) with the laser pulses (40), wherein the refractive index of the polymer material (26) changes depending thereon; and generating second irradiation lines (38) within the edge region (36) and generating a second optical correction (48) in the edge region (36). Further, the invention relates to a laser device (10), to a computer program as well as to a computer-readable medium.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a laser of a laser device comprising at least the following steps: generating a plurality of first laser pulses with a first energy density within a preset energy range and below a photodisruption regime of a polymer material of a region of an optical element; irradiating a core region of the region with the first laser pulses, wherein a refractive index of the polymer material changes at each irradiation spot irradiated with the first laser pulses depending thereon; generating a plurality of first irradiation lines within the core region by means of a plurality of irradiation spots and thereby generating a first optical correction in the core region; generating a plurality of second laser pulses with a second energy density within the energy range and below a photodisruption regime of the polymer material of the region of the optical element, wherein the second energy density is different from the first energy density; irradiating an edge region of the region, which surrounds the core region at least in certain areas, with the second laser pulses, wherein the refractive index of the polymer material changes at each irradiation spot irradiated with the second laser pulses depending thereon; and generating a plurality of second irradiation lines within the edge region by means of a plurality of irradiation spots and thereby generating a second optical correction different from the first optical correction in the edge region.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second optical correction in the edge region is generated inferior than the first optical correction in the core region.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first irradiation lines and/or the second irradiation lines are substantially annularly generated in the region.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first irradiation lines and/or the second irradiation lines are generated concentrically to each other.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a transition from the core region to the edge region is preset depending on at least one parameter limiting the laser device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the edge region is used as a transitional zone from the region to be treated to a region not to be treated.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a predefined correction of the optical element is performed in the core region.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least the first energy density is adjusted depending on a respective distance of the irradiation spots to each other and/or depending on respective distances of the first irradiation lines to each other and/or depending on a laser pulse energy of the respective laser pulses.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein an axicon shape of the optical region is generated by means of the method.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a height of the second irradiation line is generated differently than the height of the first irradiation lines and/or a distance between the second irradiation lines is generated differently than a distance of the first irradiation lines and/or the laser pulses are generated with a lower predefined second energy for the second irradiation lines than the laser pulses with the predefined first energy for the first irradiation lines for generating the second optical correction.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein different second corrections are generated in the edge region from an inner edge, which faces the core region, to an outer edge, which faces away from the core region.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein at the outer edge of the edge region, an inferior correction is generated than at the inner edge of the edge region.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the laser pulses are emitted in a wavelength range between 200 nm and 2 μm, in particular between 400 nm and 1450 nm, at a respective pulse duration between 1 fs and 1 ps, in particular between 10 fs and 100 fs, and a repetition frequency of greater than 10 kHz, in particular between 1 MHz and 100 MHz.

14. 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 a cornea as the polymer material is taken into account.

15. A laser device with at least one eye surgical laser and with at least one control device for the laser or lasers, which is formed to execute the steps of the method according to claim 1.

16. The laser device according to claim 15, 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 for focusing individual laser pulses in the polymer material; 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.

17. The laser device according to claim 16, wherein the laser device is formed as an eye surgical treatment apparatus.

18. A computer program including commands, which cause a laser device with at least one eye surgical laser and with at least one control device for the laser or lasers, to execute the method steps according to claim 1.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, on which the computer program according to claim 18 is stored.

20. A method for performing a surgical procedure on a polymer material with a laser of a laser device comprising at least the following steps: generating a plurality of first laser pulses with a first energy density within a preset energy range and below a photodisruption regime of a polymer material of a region of an optical element; irradiating a core region of the region with the first laser pulses, wherein a refractive index of the polymer material changes at each irradiation spot irradiated with the first laser pulses depending thereon; generating a plurality of first irradiation lines within the core region by means of a plurality of irradiation spots and thereby generating a first optical correction in the core region; generating a plurality of second laser pulses with a second energy density within the energy range and below a photodisruption regime of the polymer material of the region of the optical element, wherein the second energy density is different from the first energy density; irradiating an edge region of the region, which surrounds the core region at least in certain areas, with the second laser pulses, wherein the refractive index of the polymer material changes at each irradiation spot irradiated with the second laser pulses depending thereon; and generating a plurality of second irradiation lines within the edge region by means of a plurality of irradiation spots and thereby generating a second optical correction different from the first optical correction in the edge region.

21. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein the second optical correction in the edge region is generated inferior than the first optical correction in the core region.

22. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein the first irradiation lines and/or the second irradiation lines are substantially annularly generated in the region.

23. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 22, wherein the first irradiation lines and/or the second irradiation lines are generated concentrically to each other.

24. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein a transition from the core region to the edge region is preset depending on at least one parameter limiting the laser device.

25. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein the edge region is used as a transitional zone from the region to be treated to a region not to be treated.

26. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein a predefined correction of the optical element is performed in the core region.

27. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein at least the first energy density is adjusted depending on a respective distance of the irradiation spots to each other and/or depending on respective distances of the first irradiation lines to each other and/or depending on a laser pulse energy of the respective laser pulses.

28. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein an axicon shape of the optical region is generated by means of the method.

29. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein at least a height of the second irradiation line is generated differently than the height of the first irradiation lines and/or a distance between the second irradiation lines is generated differently than a distance of the first irradiation lines and/or the laser pulses are generated with a lower predefined second energy for the second irradiation lines than the laser pulses with the predefined first energy for the first irradiation lines for generating the second optical correction.

30. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein different second corrections are generated in the edge region from an inner edge, which faces the core region, to an outer edge, which faces away from the core region.

31. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein at the outer edge of the edge region, an inferior correction is generated than at the inner edge of the edge region.

32. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein the laser pulses are emitted in a wavelength range between 200 nm and 2 μm, in particular between 400 nm and 1450 nm, at a respective pulse duration between 1 fs and 1 ps, in particular between 10 fs and 100 fs, and a repetition frequency of greater than 10 kHz, in particular between 1 MHz and 100 MHz.

33. The method for performing a surgical procedure according to claim 20, wherein the control of the laser is effected such that topographic and/or pachymetric and/or morphologic data of a cornea as the polymer material is taken into account.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] 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.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a laser device.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view to an optical element.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view to an optical element.

[0038] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a laser device 10 with a laser 12 for example for the treatment of a patient, in particular for the treatment of an eye 14 of a patient, wherein the eye 14 is also referred to as optical element below. Thus, the laser device 10 is presently formed as an eye surgical treatment apparatus. One recognizes that a control device 18 for the laser 12 is formed besides the laser 12. This form of configuration with a control device 18 is to be purely exemplarily regarded. It can be provided that the laser device 10 also comprises a plurality of, in particular more than two, control devices 18. For example, the control device 18 can emit pulsed laser pulses 40 (see FIG. 2) in a predefined pattern into the eye 14, for example into a region 16, wherein the position of the region 16 is selected in this embodiment such that a pathological and/or unnaturally altered region within a stroma of the eye 14 is enclosed. Thus, the region 16 is a region 16 to be treated.

[0040] Furthermore, one recognizes that the laser beam 22 generated by the laser 12 is deflected towards the eye 14 by means of a beam deflection device 24 such as for example a scanner, in particular a so-called rotation scanner. The beam deflection device 24 is also controlled by the control device 18 to for example generate irradiation lines 34, 38 (see FIG. 2). The beam deflection device 24 can for example comprise one or also two mirrors, which are formed for deflecting the impinging laser beam 22.

[0041] In the present embodiment, the illustrated laser 12 is a laser 12, which emits the laser pulses 40 in a wavelength range between 200 nm and 2 μm, in particular between 400 nm and 1450 nm, at a respective pulse duration between 1 fs and 1 ps, in particular between 10 fs and 100 fs, and a repetition frequency of greater than 10 kHz, in particular between 1 MHz and 100 MHz. Thereby, the laser pulses 40 can in particular be generated below the photodisruption regime, which only results in a change of the refractive index. Thereby, the method and in particular the change of the refractive index can be reliably performed without performing an invasive intervention for example in a cornea.

[0042] In addition, the control device 18 comprises a storage device 28 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 34 in or on the eye 14. The position data and/or focusing data of the individual laser pulses 40 are generated based on a previously measured topography and/or pachymetry and/or the morphology of the eye 14 and, for example, the pathological and/or unnaturally altered region within the stroma of the eye 14.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view to an eye 14. In particular, FIG. 2 shows the region 16, which is to be treated, as well as a region 20 not to be treated. The region 16 to be treated is divided into a core region 30, which is bounded by a first irradiation line 34, as well as into an edge region 36, which is bounded at an outer edge by a second irradiation line 38 as well as at the inner edge by the first irradiation line 34.

[0044] In the method according to the invention, it is provided that a plurality of first laser pulses 40 with a first energy density 42 within a preset energy range and below a photodisruption regime of a polymer material 26 of the region 16 of the optical element is generated. Irradiating the core region 30 with the first laser pulses 40 is effected, wherein a refractive index of the polymer material 26 changes at each irradiation spot irradiated with the first laser pulses 40 depending thereon. A plurality of first irradiation lines 34 is generated within the core region 30 by means of a plurality of irradiation spots, whereby a first optical correction 44 (see FIG. 3) is generated in the core region 30. Generating a plurality of second laser pulses 40 with a second energy density 46 within the energy range and below a photodisruption regime of the polymer material 26 of the region 16 of the optical element is effected, wherein the second energy density 46 is different from the first energy density 42. The edge region 36 is irradiated with the second laser pulses 40, wherein the edge region 36 surrounds the core region 30 at least in certain areas, and wherein the refractive index of the polymer material 26 changes at each irradiation spot irradiated with the second laser pulses 40 depending thereon. A plurality of second irradiation lines 38 is generated within the edge region 36, whereby a second correction 48 different from the first optical correction 44 is generated in the edge region 36.

[0045] Therein, it is in particular provided that the second optical correction 48 in the edge region 36 is generated inferior than the optical first correction 44 in the core region 30. Further, it is in particular shown that the first irradiation lines 34 and/or the second irradiation lines 38 are substantially annularly generated in the region 16, wherein it is in particular provided therein that the first irradiation lines 34 and/or the second irradiation lines 38 are generated concentrically to each other.

[0046] Further, it is in particular provided that a predefined correction of the optical element, in particular of the eye 14, is performed at least in the core region 30. Further, FIG. 2 shows that different second corrections 48 are generated in the edge region 36 from an inner edge, which is presently bounded by the first irradiation line 34 and which faces the core region 30, to an outer edge, which is presently bounded by the second irradiation line 38 and faces away from the core region 30. Therein, an inferior correction can in particular be generated at the outer edge of the edge region 36 than at the inner edge of the edge region 36.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view and sectional view, respectively, of the region 16. Presently, a type of sectional view of the region 16 shown in FIG. 2 is in particular shown.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows that a transition from the core region 30 to the edge region 36 is preset depending on at least one parameter limiting the laser device 10. In particular if the laser device 10 has reached a corresponding limit with respect to the energy density 42, 46, thus, it is transitioned into the edge region 36, to perform a further correction, in particular the second optical correction 48, with a lower energy density 42, 46 there. Thus, a corresponding correction can also be performed in the edge region 36, which can result in an improvement of the sight restriction.

[0049] Therein, it can be provided that the edge region 36 is for example used as a transitional zone from the region 16 to be treated to the region 20 not to be treated.

[0050] Further, FIG. 3 shows that at least the first energy density 42 is adjusted depending on the respective distance of the irradiation spots to each other and/or depending on respective distances of the first irradiation lines 34 to each other and/or depending on a laser pulse energy of the respective laser pulses 40. Further, at least a height of the second irradiation line 38 can be generated differently than the height of the first irradiation line 34 and/or a distance between the second irradiation lines 38 can be generated differently than a distance of the first irradiation line 34 and/or the laser pulses 40 can be generated with a lower predefined second energy for the second irradiation lines 38 than the laser pulses 40 with the predefined first energy for the first irradiation lines 34 for generating the second optical correction 48.

[0051] FIG. 3 in particular shows that the heights of the first irradiation line 34 and the second irradiation line 38 are substantially identical. Alternatively, it can also be provided that an axicon shape of the optical region 16 is generated by means of the method.