The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 15, 1994
Filed:
Sep. 15, 1992
William D Fountain, Fremont, CA (US);
Phoenix Laser Systems, Inc., Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for detecting, measuring and correcting for movements of a target in a medical analytic or surgical system utilizes generally the principles of confocal microscopy. A pinhole and photodetector combination is positioned behind optics of a system for delivering an ophthalmic surgery laser beam, for example. As in a confocal microscope, the optics are arranged such that a beam waist is formed precisely at the pinhole when the target is in its nominal position. When the target moves from its nominal position in the depth direction, the signal from the pinhole/photodetector combination decreases. The change in the signal can be used to drive the objective lens of the optics so as to move with the moving target. Alternatively, the signal can be used to drive the pinhole/photodetector assembly so as to again attain peak signal, in this way allowing the target's shift to be measured.