Visx, Inc.

Irvision, Inc.

Amo Manufacturing Usa, LLC

Iridex Corporation

William B Telfair

John Karl Shimmick

Charles R Munnerlyn

Herrmann J Glockler

Hanna J Hoffman

David M Buzawa

Ronald Avisa

Paul R Yoder, Jr

Herrmann J Glocker

Stuart Mohr

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

A laser system that includes a diode pump source. A frequency doubled solid state visible laser is pumped by the diode pump source and produces a pulsed laser output with a train of pulses. Resources provide instructions for the creation of the pulsed output, with on and off times that provide for substantial confinement of thermal effects at a target site. This laser system results in tissue specific photoactivation (or TSP) without photocoagulation damage to any of the adjacent tissues and without causing full thickness retinal damage and the associated vision loss.

Laser system with short pulse characteristics and its methods of use

A solid state laser source for surgical applications which produces short-pulse, mid-infrared radiation. Specifically, the laser preferably emits radiation near the absorption peak of water, with energy levels up to 20 mJ, pulse durations shorter than 50 ns and preferably shorter than 30 ns, with beam quality of less than 8 times the diffraction limit. The short pulses reduce unwanted thermal effects and changes in adjacent tissue to potentially sub-micron levels. The laser source produces pulse repetition rates in excess of 10 Hz when pumped by a flashlamp, but in a diode pumped embodiment, the repetition rate may exceed 30 Hz. Of particular interest is an erbium-doped YAG laser which is especially well suited to the needs of mid-infrared corneal ablation procedures for correcting refractive errors, when constructed according to principles disclosed by the invention.

Short pulse mid-infrared laser source for surgery

A surgical technique for removing corneal tissue with scanned infrared radiation is disclosed which utilizes short mid-infrared laser pulses to provide a tissue removal mechanism based on photospallation. Photospallation is a photomechanical ablation mechanism which results from the absorption of incident radiation by the corneal tissue. Since photospallation is a mechanical ablation process, very little heat is generated in the unablated adjacent tissue. The disclosed surgical system includes a scanning beam delivery system which allows uniform irradiation of the treatment region and utilizes low energy outputs to achieve controlled tissue removal. A real-time servo-controlled dynamic eye tracker, based on a multiple-detector arrangement, is also disclosed which senses the motion of the eye and provides signals that are proportional to the errors in the lateral alignment of the eye relative to the axis of the laser beam. Temporal and frequency discrimination are preferably utilized to distinguish the tracking illumination from the ambient illumination and the surgical laser beam.

Method and apparatus for removing corneal tissue with infrared laser

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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San Jose, CA, United States of America

William B Telfair