Visx, Inc.

Herrmann J Glockler

John Karl Shimmick

Charles R Munnerlyn

William B Telfair

George Caudle

Henry Price

Wayne Brewer

Jeff Sobiech

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems of temporally smoothing the distortion of a light beam caused by imperfections of an optical element or optical system through which the light beam passes. The optical element is moved relative to the light beam to change a position of the imperfections in the path of the light beam to distribute the distortion of the light beam caused by the imperfection without substantially changing the path of the light beam. In some embodiments, the optical element is axially symmetric with respect to its optical axis, and the distortion of the light beam is distributed by rotating the optical element around its optical axis. In some embodiments, the optical element has geometric uniformity relative to a plane or along a line in a plane, and the distortion of the light beam is distributed by moving the optical element along the plane, or along the line of symmetry in the plane.

Smoothing laser beam integration using optical element motion

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

The invention provides improved structures, systems, and methods for supporting the optical elements of a microscope relative to the optical train of a laser surgery system. As the field of view of the microscope is substantially fully determined by the position of the objective lens, the laser delivery optics and the microscope can be aligned with a target location of the patient's eye by accurately aligning just the objective lens with the delivery optics. By structurally separating the objective lens from the other optical components of the microscope, and by maintaining accurate alignment between the objective lens and the laser delivery optics with a simple, tight-tolerance support structure, the remaining optical components of the microscope can be allowed to &ldquo;float&rdquo; relative to the objective lens with a looser-tolerance without degrading the operator's ability to align, observe, and optically direct an ophthalmic laser procedure.

Surgical laser system microscope with separated ocular and objective lenses

Laser eye surgery systems, methods, and devices makes use of a two-pivot scanning system for laterally deflecting the laser beam across the corneal surface to provide X-Y scanning. An imaging lens pivots about two eccentric axes extending along, but disposed beyond the laser beam. As the lens pivots, the beam will follow a substantially arc-shaped path. The eccentric axes are offset about the laser beam axis by about 90&deg;, and the system controller can compensate for the arc-shaped path deflections by adjusting the angular position of the imaging lens about complementary stage.

Two-pivot scanning for laser eye surgery

A method and apparatus for providing sequential temporal and spatial integration of a collimated non-symmetrical excimer laser beam to optimize the temporal and spatial characteristics of the beam. The temporal integrator comprises a pair of cylindrical lenses spaced along the beam axis by a distance substantially equal to the sum of the focal length of both lenses, and a motor mechanism for rotating the two spaced cylindrical lenses about the beam axis. The spatial beam integrator includes a plurality of prisms distributed about a hollow center, the outlet face of each prism being angled with respect to the body axis of the spatial beam integrator so that portions of the laser beam passing through a given prism are refracted towards the center upon emergence from the outlet face. The spatial beam integrator is preferably rotated about the beam axis at twice the rotation rate of the cylindrical lenses so that the rotated beam emerging from the temporal beam integrator is stationary with respect to the spatial beam integrator. Alternatively, the spatial beam integrator may be rotated at the same rate as the cylindrical lenses, or may be maintained stationary, i.e., not rotated at all.

Method and apparatus for temporal and spatial beam integration

An ophthalmological surgery system and method for performing ablative photodecomposition of the corneal surface by offset image scanning. A mask having opaque and transparent portions corresponding to a desired type of correction, such as a hyperopic correction, intercepts a laser beam to provide a profiled beam. The mask is mounted for rotation about an axis and the image of the mask is offset from an intended center of rotation corresponding to an ablation center by an imaging lens which is radially offset from the center of rotation. The mask and lens rotate in unison to scan the image over the desired portion of the corneal surface. The invention enables wide area treatment with a laser having a narrower beam and makes optional the use of rotating mirrors and prisms.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Herrmann J Glockler