Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing ophthalmic laser surgery using a pulsed laser beam is provided. The method includes establishing an initial cutting pattern comprising a plurality of original photodisruption points, establishing an enhanced cutting pattern comprising a plurality of enhanced photodisruption points selected to decrease potential adverse effects due to patient movement and having increased density over a fixed area as compared with the plurality of original photodisruption points, and performing an ocular surgical procedure according to the enhanced cutting pattern Enhanced cutting patterns may include circular cuts around the periphery of a capsule, vertical side cuts for lens fragmentation, raster lamellar cuts, and grid lamellar cuts. Each photodisruption point in the initial cutting pattern and the enhanced cutting pattern comprises a laser target point.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an eye interface device, a scanning assembly, a beam source, a free-floating mechanism, and a detection assembly. The eye interface device interfaces with an eye. The scanning assembly supports the eye interface device and scans a focal point of an electromagnetic radiation beam within the eye. The beam source generates the electromagnetic radiation beam. The free-floating mechanism supports the scanning assembly and accommodates movement of the eye and provides a variable optical path for the electronic radiation beam and a portion of the electronic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location. The variable optical path is disposed between the beam source and the scanner and has an optical path length that varies to accommodate movement of the eye. The detection assembly generates a signal indicative of intensity of a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus for measuring a laser focus spot size, which includes a two-dimensional image detector and an imaging system which forms a magnified image of a focus spot located an object plane onto the image detector. The imaging system includes at least an objective lens. A sealed liquid container is secured over a part of the objective lens such as the optical surface of the objective lens is immersed in the liquid (e.g. water) within the container. The liquid container has a window through which the laser beam enters. An image processing method is also disclosed which processes the image obtained by the image detector to obtain the focus spot size while implementing an algorithm that corrects for the effect of ambient vibration.

Abstract: Improved corneal lenticule extraction tools which integrate defined angles, tip features, and the use of vacuum into the tool to aid in the removal of the lenticule. The tool has a body and a tip each with an internal air channel. The tip has a straight portion and a curved portion at a distal end, with one or more orifices disposed on the curved portion. The body either has a mechanism for generating a vacuum in the internal air channel, such as a resilient diaphragm, or is connected to an external vacuum source. Use of tip features and angles helps the surgeon find tissue edges during tissue removal. The use of vacuum aids to draw the tissue to the tool and to hold the tissue by the tool. The improved tools improve speed of extraction as well as completeness of extraction so that no tissue is left behind.

Abstract: A method of treating a cataractous lens of a patient's eye includes generating a light beam, deflecting the light beam using a scanner to form a treatment pattern, delivering the treatment pattern to the lens of the patient's eye to create a plurality of cuts in the form two or more different incisions patterns within the lens to segment the lens tissue into a plurality of patterned pieces, and mechanically breaking the lens into a plurality of pieces along the cuts. A first incision pattern includes two or more crossing cut incision planes. A second incision pattern includes a plurality of laser incision each extending along a first length between a posterior and an anterior surface of the lens capsule.

Abstract: A laser scanning method for forming a Fresnel type gradient index lens in an intraocular lens IOL. The radial profile of the desired optical pathlength (OPL) difference to be achieved in the IOL has multiple zones, each zone ramping from unchanged OPL to one wave, and stepping down to zero. To form a zone of a predefined OPL difference profile, the laser beam is scanned in multiple passes; in each pass, the laser beam is scanned in concentric circles of varying radii covering all or a part of the zone, with laser energy ramping up (along the radius) to a maximum allowed energy and staying at that energy. The ramp up region, which is dependent on the predefined OPL difference profile and the maximum allowed energy, is short, and most part of the pass is scanned at the maximum allowed energy.

Abstract: A method of treating a lens of a patient's eye includes generating a light beam, deflecting the light beam using a scanner to form a treatment pattern of the light beam, delivering the treatment pattern to the lens of a patient's eye to create a plurality of cuts in the lens in the form of the treatment pattern to break the lens up into a plurality of pieces, and removing the lens pieces from the patient's eye. The lens pieces can then be mechanically removed. The light beam can be used to create larger segmenting cuts into the lens, as well as smaller softening cuts that soften the lens for easier removal.

Abstract: A method of altering a refractive property of a crosslinked acrylic polymer material by irradiating the material with a high energy pulsed laser beam to change its refractive index. The method is used to alter the refractive property, and hence the optical power, of an implantable intraocular lens after implantation in the patient's eye. In some examples, the wavelength of the laser beam is in the far red and near IR range and the light is absorbed by the crosslinked acrylic polymer via two-photon absorption at high laser pulse energy. The method also includes designing laser beam scan patterns that compensate for effects of multiphone absorption such as a shift in the depth of the laser pulse absorption location, and compensate for effects caused by high laser pulse energy such as thermal lensing. The method can be used to form a Fresnel lens in the optical zone.

Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system uses a non-confocal configuration to determine a laser beam focus position relative to the patient interface (PI) surface. The system includes a light intensity detector with no confocal lens or pinhole between the detector and the objective lens. When the objective focuses the light to a target focus point inside the PI lens at a particular offset from its distal surface, the light signal at the detector peaks. The offset value is determined by fixed system parameters, and can also be empirically determined by directly measuring the PI lens surface by observing the effect of plasma formation at the glass surface. During ophthalmic procedures, the laser focus is first scanned insider the PI lens, and the target focus point location is determined from the peak of the detector signal. The known offset value is then added to obtain the location of the PI lens surface.

Abstract: In a laser delivery system for an ophthalmic laser surgery system, a laser beam scanner employs a single or two MEMS micromirror arrays. Each micromirror in the array is capable of being independently actuated to rotate to desired angles. In one embodiment, one or two micromirror arrays are controlled to scan a laser beam in two directions. In another embodiment, a micromirror array is controlled to both correct optical aberrations in the laser beam and scan the laser beam in two directions. In yet another embodiment, a micromirror array is controlled to cause the laser beam to be focused to multiple focal spots simultaneously and to scan the multiple focal spot simultaneously. The ophthalmic laser surgery system also includes an ultrashort pulse laser, a laser energy control module, focusing optics and other optics, and a controller for controlling the laser beam scanner and other components of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting an angle of incidence of a laser surgery system include a laser source to produce a laser beam and an optical delivery system to output the laser beam pulses to an object at an adjustable incident angle. A first rotator assembly receives the beam from the laser source along a first beam axis. The first rotator assembly rotates around the first beam axis and the first rotator assembly outputs the beam along a second beam axis different from the first beam axis. A second rotator assembly receives the beam from the first rotator assembly along the second beam axis. The second rotator assembly rotates around the second beam axis. The second rotator assembly follows the rotation of the first rotator assembly and the first rotator assembly is independent of the rotation of the second rotator assembly.

Abstract: A method of accommodating patient movement in a laser surgery system with a scanner. The scanner is configured to be coupled with an eye interface device and operable to scan an electromagnetic radiation beam in at least two dimensions in an eye interfaced with the eye interface device. The scanner and the eye interface device move in conjunction with movement of the eye. A first support assembly supports the scanner so as to accommodate relative movement between the scanner and the first support assembly parallel so as to accommodate movement of the eye. A beam source generates the electromagnetic radiation beam. The electromagnetic radiation beam propagates from the beam source to the scanner along an optical path having an optical path length that varies in response to movement of the eye.

Abstract: A system and method for inserting an intraocular lens in a patient's eye includes a light source for generating a light beam, a scanner for deflecting the light beam to form an enclosed treatment pattern that includes a registration feature, and a delivery system for delivering the enclosed treatment pattern to target tissue in the patient's eye to form an enclosed incision therein having the registration feature. An intraocular lens is placed within the enclosed incision, wherein the intraocular lens has a registration feature that engages with the registration feature of the enclosed incision. Alternately, the scanner can make a separate registration incision for a post that is connected to the intraocular lens via a strut member.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes optical coherence tomography (OCT) interferometer and a pupil retro illumination system which directs laser light onto the retina of an eye via the sample arm of the OCT interferometer. The laser light passes through an intraocular lens (IOL) implanted into the eye, and an iris camera captures an image of the eye from a portion of the light returned from the retina of the eye, the returned light also passing through the IOL. One or more fiducials of the IOL are detected from the captured image, and an angular orientation of the eye is ascertained from the one or more detected fiducials.

Abstract: Systems and methods automatically locate optical surfaces of an eye and automatically generate surface models of the optical surfaces. A method includes OCT scanning of an eye. Returning portions of a sample beam are processed to locate a point on the optical surface and first locations on the optical surface within a first radial distance of the point. A first surface model of the optical surface is generated based on the location of the point and the first locations. Returning portions of the sample beam are processed so as to detect second locations on the optical surface beyond the first radial distance and within a second radial distance from the point. A second surface model of the optical surface is generated based on the location of the point on the optical surface and the first and second locations on the optical surface.

Abstract: Apparatus to treat an eye with an ophthalmic laser system comprises a patient interface having an annular retention structure to couple to an anterior surface of the eye. The retention structure is coupled to a suction line to couple the retention structure to the eye with suction. Liquid is added above the eye to act as a transmissive medium. A coupling sensor is coupled to the suction line to determine coupling of the retention structure to the eye. A separate pressure monitoring circuit having a much smaller volume than the suction line is connected to the annular retention structure to measure suction pressure therein. A system processor coupled to the monitoring pressure sensor includes instructions to interrupt firing of a laser when the pressure measured with a monitoring pressure sensor rises above a threshold amount.

Abstract: A patient interface device for use in ophthalmic surgery, which includes a rigid body and a suction ring joined to a lower end of the body, where the suction ring includes an annular skirt made of a soft and flexible material and located at a lower end of the suction ring, and where an inner surface, and optionally an outer surface, of the skirt is coated with medication. The medication includes one or more of the following types of medication: anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, numbing, lubricating, and anti-redness. The coating method may include dip coating, sputter deposition, ultrasonic-spraying, and spin-coating. The skirt may be formed by a process that increases its material porosity and/or surface roughness, and may be surface-treated to enhance adhesion and retention of the medication.

Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed here provide for a method fragmenting a cataractous lens of a patient's eye using an ultra-short pulsed laser. The method can include determining, within a lens of a patient's eye, a high NA zone where a cone angle of a laser beam with a high numerical aperture is not shadowed by the iris, and a low NA zone radially closer to the iris where the cone angle of the laser beam with a low numerical aperture is not shadowed by the iris. Laser lens fragmentation is accomplished by delivering the laser beam with the high numerical aperture to the high NA zone, and the laser beam with the low numerical aperture to the low NA zone. This can result in a more effective fragmentation of a nucleus of the lens without exposing the retina to radiation above safety standards.

Abstract: An optical measurement system and apparatus for carrying out cataract diagnostics in an eye of a patient includes a Corneal Topography Subsystem, a wavefront aberrometer subsystem, and an eye structure imaging subsystem, wherein the subsystems have a shared optical axis, and each subsystem is operatively coupled to the others via a controller. The eye structure imaging subsystem is preferably a fourierdomain optical coherence tomographer, and more preferably, a swept source OCT.

Abstract: An instrument includes: one or more scanning mirrors to receive an OCT sample beam and to scan the sample beam in two orthogonal directions; and an optical system to receive the sample beam and provide the sample beam to an eye. The optical system includes: a first lens having a first focal length, disposed along an optical path from the scanning mirror(s) to the eye at a distance from the cornea which is approximately equal to the first focal length, and a second lens disposed along the optical path between the first lens and the scanning mirror(s). The second lens receives the sample beam from the scanning mirror(s) and provides the sample beam to the first lens as a converging beam such that, as the sample beam is scanned, the sample beam passes through a pivot point located along an optical axis between the eye and the first lens.