Intelligent Surgical Lasers Inc.

Other

Stuart I Brown

Josef F Bille

A method for modifying tissue with a quasi-continuous laser beam to change the optical properties of the eye comprises controllably setting the volumetric power density of the beam and selecting a desired wavelength for the beam. Tissue modification is accomplished by focusing the beam at a preselected start point in the tissue and moving the beam's focal point in a predetermined manner relative to the start point throughout a specified volume of the tissue or along a specified path in the tissue. Depending on the selected volumetric power density, the tissue on which the focal point is incident can be modified either by photoablation or by a change in the tissue's visco-elastic properties.

Method for reshaping the eye

A laser beam guidance system comprises a combination of mirrors that establishes an optical channel within which the laser beam is confined for movement. The system also includes means for moving the combination of mirrors to spatially reorient the optical channel. A beam steering scanner located on the path of the laser beam moves the beam within the optical channel onto selected paths which generally follow the longitudinal axis of the channel. Additionally, a focusing element in the system brings the beam into focus at selectable points on the beam. In accordance with a preestablished program, the beam is moved within the channel and focused at points along the beam to photochemically affect cells in the cornea of the eye.

3-Dimensional laser beam guidance system

An ocular imaging system for use with a surgical laser device comprises a light source radiating a beam which is coaxially aligned with the surgical laser beam. An aperture is place in the path of the beams to limit the quantity of light that can pass along the path. A steering mechanism is provided to move the coaxially aligned beams across the surface of the eye, and a confocal optical arrangement is provided to establish one of the beams' focal points at the aperture and the other as desired by the operator. Means are provided to detect the intensity of light reflected through the aperture and signal when this intensity surpasses a threshold value that is indicative of a specular reflection from the interface between tissues having different indices of refraction.

Imaging system for surgical lasers

An eyetracker for moving the path of a laser beam in response to patient eye movement comprises a visual light source on which the patient can fixate to bring the visual axis of the eye into a reference alignment with the optical axis of the light source. A laser source, having its beam coaxially aligned with the optical axis of the light source, cuts a mark onto the cornea of the eye when the eye is in the reference alignment. An infrared optical system monitors movement of the mark to generate an error signal which is proportional to any movement of the mark out of the reference alignment. Means are also provided by the eyetracker to move the path of the laser beam back into the reference alignment to reduce the error signal to a null.

Eyetracker and method of use

A multiwavelength laser source for providing a plurality of pulsed laser beams comprises a plurality of laser diodes optically connected with an oscillator to establish a beam of pulses of monochromatic light. A dispersion line for spreading wavelengths in each pulse optically connects the oscillator to a regenerative amplifier. An electro-optical crystal in the regenerative amplifier establishes the repetition rate of pulses in the laser beam and a pulse compressor is optically connected to the regenerative amplifier to establish the duration of each pulse. The laser source may also include a frequency doubler which is optically connected to the output of the pulse compressor to split the laser beam into components having different wavelengths.

Multiwavelength laser source

Certain ulcers and disease conditions resulting in tissue destruction, such as those found near the cornea of the eye, and those found in the stomach, and damaged joint tissue of rheumatoid arthritis, have been found to be caused by the enzyme, collagenase. A collagenase inhibitor, such as cysteine, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (or sodium ethylene diamine tetraacetate), or combinations of these collagenase inhibitors, are used to treat such ulcers and to inhibit further formation thereof.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Stuart I Brown