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:
Aug. 01, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 08, 1999
Reginald Birngruber, Lubeck, DE;
Christian Scholz, Norderstedt, DE;
Peter Koch, Lubeck, DE;
Ralf Engelhardt, Lubeck, DE;
Herbert Schwind GmbH & Co. KG, Kleinostheim, DE;
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for deriving the relative position of an eye by tracking a boundary of the eye such as the limbus (i.e., the interface between the white sclera and the colored iris). A technique for tracking the position of the eye of patient comprises directing light to an annular region of the eye between the sclera and the iris and receiving reflected light from that region. The intensity of the reflected light is then measured to determine a relative position of the eye. In some embodiments, the measured region is scanned around the boundary. In other embodiments, a light spot is scanned around a substantially annular trajectory radially outward from the pupil. The signals corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light are then processed and measured to determine the eye's position. A flap of tissue covering the boundary may be automatically detected so as to selectively measure the boundary away from the flap. The invention also provides for integrating the eye tracker into a laser eye surgery system.