Visx, Inc.

Amo Manufacturing Usa, LLC

Other

Affymetrix, Inc.

Visx, Incorported

Charles R Munnerlyn

John Karl Shimmick

Terrance N Clapham

Seema Somani

Mark E Arnoldussen

William B Telfair

John Osborn

Alan R McMillen

Stephen J Hinkson

Herrmann J Glockler

Jerome A Legerton

Kingman Yee

Vladimir Lemberg

Kenneth Greenberg

Marc Odrich

Dimitri A Chernyak

Charles E Campbell

Junzhong Liang

Brian M Bliven

George Caudle

Jeffrey Jonathan Persoff

Kurt E Schirmer

Brian Bliven

Herrmann J Glocker

John Shimmick

Walter Huff

Jerry Legerton

An ophthalmological surgery system and method for performing ablative photodecomposition of the corneal surface by offset image scanning. The image of a variable aperture, such as a variable width slit and variable diameter iris diaphragm, is scanned in a preselected pattern to perform ablative sculpting of predetermined portions of a corneal surface. The scanning is performed with a movable image offset displacement mechanism capable of effecting radial displacement and angular rotation of the profiled beam exiting from the variable aperture. The profiled beam is rotated by rotating the aperture in conjunction with the offset displacement mechanism. The invention enables wide area treatment with a laser having a narrower beam, and can be used in the treatment of many different conditions, such as hyperopia, hyperopic astigmatism, irregular refractive aberrations, post ablation smoothing and phototherapeutic keratectomy.

Method and system for laser treatment of refractive errors using offset imaging

Apparatus for homogenizing a laser beam includes a lenslet array. In some embodiments, the lenslets have a negative power. The lenslet array may include from 16 to 36 effective lenslets in some embodiments, or any other suitable number in alternative embodiments. Some embodiments additionally include a re-focusing lens for directing the beamlets onto a target so that the beamlets overlap and the energy distribution is homogenized. In an alternative embodiment, the lenslet array and re-focusing lens are combined in one optic.

Lenslet array for beam homogenization

A wavefront sensor enhances calibration of a laser ablation system, such as a laser eye surgery system, by measuring one or more characteristics of an ablated test surface. Typically, light is passed through the ablated test surface, and the light is analyzed to determine the test surface characteristics. In some embodiments, the ablated test surface is positioned along a treatment plane. In some embodiments, light is passed through a wavefront sensor, such as a Hartmann-Shack sensor, to convert the light into electrical signals. A processor then converts the electrical signals into data, such as surface maps showing high-order aberrations and/or artifacts on the test surface, refractive power measurements, shape measurements, and the like. Generated data may then be used to calibrate a laser surgery system.

Wavefront calibration analyzer and methods

An ophthalmological laser surgery system having a laser, associated elements for delivering an optical beam from the laser to a patient eye location, a control unit for controlling the operation of the system and a system input/output device, is enabled by a patient data card. The data card originally contains both patient background and system control information, which is transferred to the control unit via the input/output device. During system operation, newly generated information, such as laser beam power, is stored in the data card to provide an independent record of the surgical procedure actually performed. After one use, the data card is invalidated to prevent further use.

Ophthalmological surgery technique with active patient data card

An ophthalmic surgery system and method for treating presbyopia by performing ablative photodecomposition of the corneal surface. A laser system ablates tissue to a predetermined ablation shape, and the cornea heals significantly to form a multifocal shape correcting presbyopia. The multifocal shape corrects for near-vision centrally and far-vision peripherally. The system and method enables wide area treatment with a laser having a narrower beam than the treatment area, and can be used in the treatment of many conditions in conjunction with presbyopia such as hyperopia, hyperopic astigmatism and irregular refractive aberrations.

Method and systems for laser treatment of presbyopia using offset imaging

Systems, methods and apparatus for generating images of portions of the patient's eye, such as the anterior surface of the cornea. The methods and apparatus of the present invention are particularly useful for directly imaging the profile of the ablated region of the cornea during or immediately following a laser ablation procedure, such as photorefractive keratometry (PRK), phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK), laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) or the like. These methods and apparatus allow the surgeon to precisely image the exterior edge of the eye to characterize the profile of ablated corneas and to determine the spatial variance of tissue ablation rates during the surgical procedures. Methods and apparatus are also provided for generating one or more images depicting the profile of the ablated region of the cornea. The profile is registered with a pre-ablation profile to provide feedback regarding the true ablation properties of the eye. This feedback permits the laser system to be programmed with a laser ablation algorithm based on the measured ablation properties of the eye.

Systems and methods for imaging corneal profiles

Improved systems, devices, and methods measure and/or change the shape of a tissue surface, particularly for use in laser eye surgery. Fluorescence of the tissue may occur at and immediately underlying the tissue surface. The excitation energy can be readily absorbed by the tissue within a small tissue depth, and may be provided from the same source used for photodecomposition of the tissue. Changes in the fluorescence spectrum of a tissue correlate with changes in the tissue's hydration.

Hydration and topography tissue measurements for laser sculpting

System and methods for imaging corneal profiles

A visual fixation system which enhances the alignment between the eye and a laser beam of a laser eye surgery system, the fixation system often having an adjustable optical train. The optical train of the fixation system allows an eye having a significant refractive error to be accurately focused at a fixation target. To accommodate the refractive error, the adjustable optical train will often project an image of the target so that the projected image is in focus in front of or behind the plane of the patient's eye. The proper projection distance is calculated to accommodate the refractive error of the eye, the calculation preferably based at least in-part on the eye glass prescription for that eye.

Patient fixation system and method for laser eye surgery

Improved laser eye surgery and/or eye tracking systems, methods, and devices make use of two image capture devices, generally with both image capture devices disposed off the optical axis of the eye and/or any laser delivery system. This provides an enhanced imaging contrast for an imaging capture device such as a camera with a charge-couple device (CCD), particularly when using infrared imaging to track a pupil of the eye. The two off-axis cameras may be used independently to track movements of the pupil along two orthogonal lateral axes of the eye (often called X-Y tracking), and may also indicate a position of the eye along the optical or Z axis.

Two camera off-axis eye tracker for laser eye surgery

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Charles R Munnerlyn