Abstract: A system and method for resecting corneal tissue is disclosed. A resection pattern is selected for resecting corneal tissue. The resection pattern is incised in a cornea using a surgical laser, leaving one or more uncut gaps in the incised resection pattern. Any uncut gaps left in the resection pattern may thereafter be incised using an alternate surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method of performing a cataract procedure may include the steps of: imaging one or more corneal marks created by a corneal procedure, determining corneal location information regarding a location of a treatment region of the corneal procedure based on the imaged corneal marks, and placing laser pulses for a cataract surgery using the corneal location information. A corresponding ophthalmic laser system may include an imaging system to image a corneal region of an eye, an image analyzer to facilitate a determination of corneal location information based on one or more image provided by the imaging system, and a surgical laser system to place laser pulses into a lens of the eye using the corneal location information. The imaging system may include an ophthalmic coherence tomographic (OCT) system.

Abstract: A method for integrated eye surgery can include determining a cataract-target region in a lens of the eye; applying cataract-laser pulses to photodisrupt a portion of the determined cataract-target region; determining a glaucoma-target region or an astigmatism-target region in a peripheral region of the eye; and applying surgical laser pulses to create one or more incisions in the glaucoma- or astigmatism-target region by photodisruption; wherein the steps of the method are performed within an integrated surgical procedure. The laser pulses can be applied before making an incision on a cornea of the eye. The integrated surgical procedure may involve using the same pulsed laser source for three functions: for photodisrupting the target region, for making an incision on the capsule of the lens and for making an incision on the cornea of the eye.

Abstract: A system and method for ophthalmic laser surgery is disclosed. An optical scanner is employed to create a thickness profile for the cornea. A lens is placed in contact with the anterior surface of the cornea. The thickness profile is then used to identify a scan region within the cornea, wherein the scan region is disposed at approximately a uniform distance from the posterior surface of the cornea. A focal point of a laser beam is thereafter scanned along a path within the scan region to create an intracorneal incision.

Abstract: A system and method for billing for one or more surgical procedures includes a treatment planning module to accept input selecting multiple surgical procedures, a patient data management module to provide patient data, and a billing module to charge different payers for the selected surgical procedures in relation to the patient data, wherein the control system is operable to communicate with a surgical apparatus, configured to perform the selected multiple procedures. The system can include a user interface to provide a treatment planning menu to select surgical procedures, a payer sources menu, to input identification of the different payers, and a payer factor menu, to input factors impacting coverage by the different payers. A method of billing for one or more surgical procedures includes accepting input selecting multiple surgical procedures, accepting input regarding patient data, and charging different payers for the selected surgical procedures in relation to the patient data.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of treating a hard lens region of an eye with a laser where one method includes identifying a boundary of the hard lens region, selecting a laser-parameter to enable a photodisruptive procedure in the hard lens region and to control a spreading of bubbles in the hard lens region, modifying a mechanical property of a posterior portion of the hard lens region in a proximity of the identified boundary by the photodisruptive procedure, and modifying a mechanical property of a portion anterior to the modified posterior portion of the hard lens region by the photodisruptive procedure. The laser bubbles can be applied to form incisions which are non transverse to an axis of the eye and intersect the lens fibers.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and laser surgical systems are provided for laser surgery applications, including implementations that reduce the laser-induced bubbles in the optical path of the surgical laser beam.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems for providing photodisruptive treatment of the crystalline lens of the eye are described. For example, a method of treating a lens region of an eye with a laser includes identifying a boundary of the hard lens region, selecting a laser-parameter to enable a photodisruptive procedure in the hard lens region and to control a spreading of bubbles in the hard lens region, modifying a mechanical property of a posterior portion of the hard lens region in a proximity of the identified boundary by the photodisruptive procedure, and modifying a mechanical property of a portion anterior to the modified posterior portion of the hard lens region by the photodisruptive procedure.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems for laser surgery are described to provide protection of sensitive tissues from surgical laser pulses. For example, an ophthalmic surgical method may include determining a surgical target region in an eye, selecting a protection region between the surgical target region and a photosensitive tissue, estimating a damage-threshold of the photosensitive tissue and a protection-threshold of the protection region, applying preliminary laser-pulses to the protection region with parameters between the damage-threshold and the protection threshold to form a protection barrier, and applying surgical laser pulses to the surgical target region.

Abstract: Techniques, systems are described for performing laser eye surgery. In one aspect, a method for improving an optical function of an eye includes preparing the eye for surgery by determining an optical characteristic of the eye. Laser marking pulses are applied to generate a laser mark in a region of the eye in relation to the determined optical characteristic. Also, a surgical procedure is performed in a surgical region selected in relation to the generated laser mark.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for laser treatment of the crystalline lens. Implementations of the described methods and apparatus include a laser treatment of a lens of an eye includes defining a target boundary of a target region in the lens, applying surgical laser pulses to the target boundary effectively resulting in a separation of the target region from the rest of the lens, and removing the separated target region from the lens. The target boundary can be defined by applying marker laser pulses to outline the target boundary. The marker laser pulses can be applied by a laser source using marker pulse settings and the surgical laser pulses can be applied by the same laser source using surgical pulse settings.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems for cataract surgery. Implementation of the described techniques, apparatus and systems includes a method for cataract eye surgery is presented, including: determining a surgical target region in a lens of the eye and applying laser pulses to photodisrupt a portion of the determined target region before making an incision on a capsule of the lens within an integrated surgical procedure. The laser pulses can be applied before making an incision on a cornea of the eye. In some cases, the target region includes the nucleus of the lens. The integrated surgical procedure involves using the same pulsed laser source for three functions: for photodisrupting the target region, for making an incision on the capsule of the lens and for making an incision on the cornea of the eye.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems for laser surgery including imaging-guided surgery techniques, apparatus and systems.

Abstract: A method of photoaltering a material using a pulsed laser beam includes selecting a first pulse energy and a first focal point separation based on a relationship of pulse energy and focal point separation combinations enabling layer separation of the material by photoalteration, and scanning the pulsed laser beam along a scan region at the first pulse energy and the first focal point separation. The relationship has a slope and has a distinct change in the slope. The distinct change in the slope is associated with a second pulse energy of the relationships and the first pulse energy is equal to or less than the second pulse energy.

Abstract: Apparatus, techniques and systems are provided for interfacing with an eye in laser surgery.

Abstract: A system and method for preparation of donor corneal tissue is disclosed. The system includes two surgical lasers. The first surgical laser is adapted to incise a recipient cornea to enable resection of recipient corneal tissue. The second surgical laser is adapted to incise a donor cornea to enable resection of donor corneal tissue. Both surgical lasers are adapted to make corneal incisions which are defined by incision parameters. Further, both surgical lasers are calibrated to make substantially precise corneal incisions when provided with identical incision parameters.

Abstract: An interface for coupling an eye to a surgical laser is disclosed. A lens cone includes a base ring opposite an apex ring. The base ring defines a first plane and is adapted to couple to the delivery tip of the laser such that the first plane has a predetermined position relative to the delivery tip. An applanation lens is affixed to the apex ring and has a surface disposed in a second plane such that the second plane is parallel to and has a predetermined position relative to the first plane. A gripper is engagable with the lens cone. An attachment ring is affixed to the gripper and is adapted to couple to the anterior surface of the eye. When the lens cone and gripper are engaged, the applanation lens contacts the anterior surface of the eye, placing the anterior surface in spatial registration with the delivery tip.

Abstract: A system and method for resecting and transplanting corneal tissue is disclosed. In a recipient cornea, a resection depth from the anterior surface of the recipient cornea is determined based upon a biomechanical model of the recipient cornea. A resection incision for resecting a posterior portion of the recipient cornea is made at the resection depth. Preferably, the incision is made using a surgical laser. Optionally, a contact lens may be placed against the anterior surface of the recipient cornea, wherein the shape of the anterior surface is conformed to the shape of the contact lens.

Abstract: A system and method of resecting corneal tissue for transplantation is disclosed. In each of the recipient cornea and the donor cornea, an annular incision is made at a predetermined incision depth. A first sidecut incision is made in each cornea, running from the outer periphery of the annular incision to one of the anterior corneal surface or the posterior corneal surface. The first sidecut incision forms an acute angle with the annular incision. A second sidecut incision is also made in each cornea, running from the inner periphery of the annular incision to the other of the anterior corneal surface or the posterior corneal surface. The second sidecut incision forms an acute angle with the annular incision. The combination of the incisions in each cornea resects corneal tissue from the recipient cornea and donor tissue from the donor cornea. The donor tissue is grafted into the recipient cornea.

Abstract: A system and method for marking corneal tissue in a transplant procedure is disclosed. Sidecut incisions are made in each of the donor cornea and the recipient cornea. Crosscut incisions are made across the sidecut incision in each cornea. Corneal tissue which is at least partially bounded by the sidecut incision is resected from the recipient cornea. Part of the crosscut incision made in the recipient cornea extends beyond the resected corneal tissue. Donor tissue which is at least partially bounded by the sidecut incision is resected from the donor cornea. Part of the crosscut incision made in the donor cornea is in the resected donor tissue. The donor tissue is then grafted into the recipient cornea.