Abstract: Embodiments of this invention generally relate to systems and methods for eye imaging, and more particularly to measuring the size and position of the lens capsule and of the implanted intraocular lens. In one embodiment, a method for measuring the size and position of the lens capsule and of the implanted intraocular lens comprises generating and emitting one or more light beams at an angle adjacent to the eye, generating one or more eye images, and detecting the position and/or boundary of a lens capsule from its shadow casted by reflected light on the iris.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for analyzing the ophthalmic anatomy of a patient posterior to the cornea. The method may include scanning a focus of a femtosecond laser beam along a path within the patient's eye. A portion of the path may be disposed posterior to the patient's cornea. The method may also include acquiring a first reflectance image and a second reflectance image associated with the focus disposed respectively at a first location of the path and a second location of the path. The method may further include determining the presence or absence of an ophthalmic anatomical feature of the eye based on a comparison between the first reflectance image and the second reflectance image.

Abstract: This apparatus treats the lens capsule so as to increase accommodation of the eye. The treatment of the lens capsule may comprise treating a portion of the lens capsule so as to stiffen the treated portion and improve accommodation of the eye. The intermediate portion of the lens capsule may be located between an optically used central portion of the lens capsule and a peripheral portion of the lens capsule connected to zonules of the eye. The stiffened intermediate portion of the lens capsule can improve coupling of the peripheral portion of the lens capsule to the central portion of the lens capsule, such that an amount of accommodation of the optically used central portion of the lens is increased. As the force of the lens capsule to a lens disposed within the lens capsule is increased, the lens may comprise the natural lens of the eye or an artificial lens such as an accommodative IOL.

Abstract: A support is coupled to the lens capsule to increase accommodation. The support may be adjustable, such that patient refraction and accommodation can be adjusted following surgery. The support may comprise rigidity sufficient to decrease radial movement of the intermediate portion of the lens capsule. The support can be placed on the intermediate portion to decrease radial movement of the intermediate portion of the lens capsule and increase radial stretching of an outer portion of the lens capsule extending between the zonules and the intermediate portion coupled to the support, such that the amount of accommodation of the eye is increased. The support may comprise a biocompatible material capable of stable coupling to the lens capsule following implantation, such that the far vision refraction and accommodation of the eye can be stable following surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing the anatomy of a patient's eye with circular or rotated polarized laser beams, or with laser beams of different wavelengths are disclosed. One system includes a polarization beam-splitter and a quarter-wave plate, wherein the quarter-wave plate is configured to circularly rotate a laser beam received from a laser that is transmitted and passes through the polarization beam-splitter, and to transform a circularly rotated back-reflected beam to a linearly polarized laser beam that is perpendicular to the beam that was transmitted through the polarization beam-splitter. Substantially all of the back-reflected beam is directed to a photo-detector for analysis. A Faraday rotator subsystem may be substituted for a polarization beam-splitter. An optical system including a laser that generates a laser beam of a first wavelength for therapeutic treatment, and another laser that generates a laser beam of a second wavelength for measurement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A support is coupled to the lens capsule to increase accommodation. The support may be adjustable, such that patient refraction and accommodation can be adjusted following surgery. The support may comprise rigidity sufficient to decrease radial movement of the intermediate portion of the lens capsule. The support can be placed on the intermediate portion to decrease radial movement of the intermediate portion of the lens capsule and increase radial stretching of an outer portion of the lens capsule extending between the zonules and the intermediate portion coupled to the support, such that the amount of accommodation of the eye is increased. The support may comprise a biocompatible material capable of stable coupling to the lens capsule following implantation, such that the far vision refraction and accommodation of the eye can be stable following surgery.

Abstract: This apparatus treats the lens capsule so as to increase accommodation of the eye. The treatment of the lens capsule may comprise treating a portion of the lens capsule so as to stiffen the treated portion and improve accommodation of the eye. The intermediate portion of the lens capsule may be located between an optically used central portion of the lens capsule and a peripheral portion of the lens capsule connected to zonules of the eye. The stiffened intermediate portion of the lens capsule can improve coupling of the peripheral portion of the lens capsule to the central portion of the lens capsule, such that an amount of accommodation of the optically used central portion of the lens is increased. As the force of the lens capsule to a lens disposed within the lens capsule is increased, the lens may comprise the natural lens of the eye or an artificial lens such as an accommodative IOL.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the nondestructive testing of metal fusion welds at thin-walled pipes having a maximum wall thickness of 6 mm. It is formed with at least one test probe for the emission and detection of soundwaves as well as with at least one adjustment body which is composed of a material which is the same or a material having at least approximately the same acoustic properties as the respective pipe to be tested. The outline dimensions and the diameters/thicknesses of the adjustment body are at least approximately the same as those of the respective pipe to be tested. A plurality of blind bores each having different lengths/depths starting from their openings to their bases are formed in the adjustment body.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention generally relate to systems and methods for eye imaging, and more particularly to measuring the size and position of the lens capsule and of the implanted intraocular lens. In one embodiment, a method for measuring the size and position of the lens capsule and of the implanted intraocular lens comprises generating and emitting one or more light beams at an angle adjacent to the eye, generating one or more eye images, and detecting the position and/or boundary of a lens capsule from its shadow casted by reflected light on the iris.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus treat the lens capsule so as to increase accommodation of the eye. The treatment of the lens capsule may comprise treating a portion of the lens capsule so as to stiffen the treated portion and improve accommodation of the eye. The intermediate portion of the lens capsule may located between an optically used central portion of the lens capsule and a peripheral portion of the lens capsule connected to zonules of the eye. The stiffened intermediate portion of the lens capsule can improve coupling of the peripheral portion of the lens capsule to the central portion of the lens capsule, such that an amount of accommodation of the optically used central portion of the lens is increased. As the force of the lens capsule to a lens disposed within the lens capsule is increased, the lens may comprise the natural lens of the eye or an artificial lens such as an accommodative IOL.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention generally relate to systems and methods for eye imaging, and more particularly to measuring the size and position of the lens capsule and of the implanted intraocular lens. In one embodiment, a method for measuring the size and position of the lens capsule and of the implanted intraocular lens comprises generating and emitting one or more light beams at an angle adjacent to the eye, generating one or more eye images, and detecting the position and/or boundary of a lens capsule from its shadow casted by reflected light on the iris.

Abstract: Methods of photoaltering a region of a material using a pulsed laser beam. The method includes scanning the pulsed laser beam in a first portion of the region with a first pattern, scanning the pulsed laser beam in a second portion of the region with a second pattern, and separating a flap of the material at the region. The system includes a laser, a controller selecting at least first and second patterns, and a scanner operable in response to the controller. The first pattern has a first maximum acceleration associated with the second portion, and the second pattern has a second maximum acceleration associated with the second portion. The second maximum acceleration is less than the first maximum acceleration. The scanner scans the pulsed laser beam from the laser in the first portion with the first pattern and in the second portion with the second pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the nondestructive testing of metal fusion welds at thin-walled pipes having a maximum wall thickness of 6 mm. It is formed with at least one test probe for the emission and detection of soundwaves as well as with at least one adjustment body which is composed of a material which is the same or a material having at least approximately the same acoustic properties as the respective pipe to be tested. The outline dimensions and the diameters/thicknesses of the adjustment body are at least approximately the same as those of the respective pipe to be tested. A plurality of blind bores each having different lengths/depths starting from their openings to their bases are formed in the adjustment body.

Abstract: Systems and methods of photoaltering a region of a material using a pulsed laser beam. The method includes scanning the pulsed laser beam in a first portion of the region with a first pattern, scanning the pulsed laser beam in a second portion of the region with a second pattern, and separating a flap of the material at the region. The system includes a laser, a controller selecting at least first and second patterns, and a scanner operable in response to the controller. The first pattern has a first maximum acceleration associated with the second portion, and the second pattern has a second maximum acceleration associated with the second portion. The second maximum acceleration is less than the first maximum acceleration. The scanner scans the pulsed laser beam from the laser in the first portion with the first pattern and in the second portion with the second pattern.

Abstract: Methods of photoaltering a region of a material using a pulsed laser beam. The method includes scanning the pulsed laser beam in a first portion of the region with a first pattern, scanning the pulsed laser beam in a second portion of the region with a second pattern, and separating a flap of the material at the region. The system includes a laser, a controller selecting at least first and second patterns, and a scanner operable in response to the controller. The first pattern has a first maximum acceleration associated with the second portion, and the second pattern has a second maximum acceleration associated with the second portion. The second maximum acceleration is less than the first maximum acceleration. The scanner scans the pulsed laser beam from the laser in the first portion with the first pattern and in the second portion with the second pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating the center of a lens in the eye are provided. These systems and methods can be used to improve the effectiveness of a wide variety of different ophthalmic procedures. In one embodiment, a system and method is provided for determining the center of eye lens by illuminating the eye with a set of light sources, and measuring the resulting first image of the light sources reflected from an anterior surface of the lens and the resulting second image of the light sources reflected from a posterior surface of the lens. The location of the center of the lens of the eye is then determined using the measurements. In one embodiment, the center of the lens is determined by interpolating between the measures of the images. Such a determination provides an accurate location of the geometric center of the lens.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention relate to systems and methods for automatic depth (or Z) detection before, during, or after laser-assisted ophthalmic surgery. When performing ophthalmic laser surgery, the operator (or surgeon) needs to make accurate and precise incisions using the laser beam. With the automatic depth detection systems and methods, the same laser used for the surgical procedure may be used for depth measurement of the surgical incisions. The surgical laser system may include a laser delivery system for delivering a pulsed laser beam to photoalter an eye, a mirror to transmit at least a portion of reflected light of the pulsed laser beam, a lens positioned to focus the transmitted reflected lighted on to a detector, (such as a CCD), and a depth encoder configured to automatically detect depth according to one or more of color, intensity, or shape of the focused spot on the CCD.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention generally relate to systems and methods for eye imaging, and more particularly to measuring the size and position of the lens capsule and of the implanted intraocular lens. In one embodiment, a method for measuring the size and position of the lens capsule and of the implanted intraocular lens comprises generating and emitting one or more light beams at an angle adjacent to the eye, generating one or more eye images, and detecting the position and/or boundary of a lens capsule from its shadow casted by reflected light on the iris.

Abstract: An apparatus to treat a patient comprises a laser beam, a measurement module, a scanner and a curved patient interface lens. The curved patient interface is measured with a pattern so as to determine a plurality of distances of the curved surface at a plurality of measurement locations. The measurement pattern may comprise the plurality of measurement locations distributed about a central measurement axis corresponding to the laser treatment axis. The plurality of measurement locations of the curved surface may correspond to a portion of a planned treatment profile, such that the measured distances correspond to alignment of the planned treatment. The plurality of distances can be used to determine an apex of the curved surface of the patient interface and to align the laser treatment axis with the apex of the curved surface.

Abstract: System and method of intrastromal refractive correction. The system includes a laser source operable to produce a pulsed beam, a scanner operable to direct the pulsed beam at the eye, and a controller coupled to the laser source and the scanner. The controller determines an intrastromal incision pattern based on a refractive condition of an eye, and directs the scanner to intrastromally incise the pattern in an applanated cornea with the pulsed beam. Following de-applanation, the cornea is reshaped in response to the intrastromal incision pattern to correct the refractive condition.