Patents Assigned to Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
  • Patent number: 10786388
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device for treating eye tissue with laser pulses comprises a projection optical unit for focused projection of the laser pulses, a scanner system for dynamically deflecting the laser pulses and a zoom system, which is arranged between the projection optical unit and the scanner system and which is configured to adjust the focused projection of the laser pulses in the projection direction in different zoom settings. The ophthalmological device moreover comprises a displacement device, which is configured to displace the scanner system depending on the zoom setting of the zoom system. What the displacement of the scanner system coupled to the zoom setting of the zoom system renders possible is the adaptation of the position of the scanner system in a dynamic and synchronized fashion to the setting of the zoom system and hence to the current position of the virtual entry pupil of the zoom system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10695220
    Abstract: An ophthalmological laser treatment system comprising a laser source (2) for producing laser radiation, a light projector (3) for focusing the laser radiation onto a focus (F) and a scanner system (5) for moving the focus (F) along a work line (p) comprises a monitoring system (6), which comprises a light detector (60) and is configured to monitor, by way of a light path (r), a monitored region (m) moving together with the focus (F). The monitoring system (6) is configured to monitor a monitored region (m), which moves together with the focus (F) with a fixed geometric assignment to the focus (F) and is for example disposed upstream of the focus (F) in the work direction and not yet worked on by laser radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventors: Joachim Hertzberg, Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10667948
    Abstract: A device for protecting tissue when treating an eye using a laser beam generated by a laser system and deflected by a scanner system comprises an eye model, a control data module and a processor. The eye model comprises eye data which define dimensions and locations of eye structures. The control data module is configured to register control data which define beam parameters of the laser beam and a scanning pattern for the laser beam. The processor is configured to simulate by computation a light spot moving on or in an eye structure on the basis of the eye data and the control data, to add up, for a plurality of measurement points of the eye structure and continuously, a beam dose emitted at the relevant measurement point by the moving light spot and to generate an emergency signal if a dose limit Dmax is exceeded at one of the measurement points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10660795
    Abstract: An ophthalmological patient interface apparatus (4), having a coupling apparatus (41) for mechanically coupling to an application head (3) of an ophthalmological laser system (10), comprises a lens-element system (44) which is arranged between the eye (2) and the application head (3) in the state coupled to the application head (3) during the treatment of an eye (2), said lens-element system being coupled into the beam path from the projection lens (30) to the eye (2). The lens-element system (44) is configured to image a first focal area (B) of the projection lens (30) disposed upstream of the lens-element system (44) in the beam path onto a second focal area (B*) in the eye (2) disposed downstream of the lens-element system (44) in the beam path, in such a way that a laser beam (L) focussed onto the first focal area (B) by the projection lens (30) causes tissue processing in the second focal area (B*) in the eye (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10537475
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device for treating eye tissue using laser pulses comprises a projection optical unit for focused projection of the laser pulses and a scanning device, with a movable mirror, arranged downstream from the projection optical unit, for deflecting the laser pulses projected by the projection optical unit in at least one deflection direction. The ophthalmic device moreover comprises an optical correction element arranged downstream of the scanning device, which correction element is configured to image, in a focused manner, the laser pulses deflected by the scanning device on an intended treatment area in the eye tissue. The optical correction element renders it possible to therefore correct image field curvatures caused by the scanning device arranged downstream from the projection optical unit and, for example, image the deflected laser pulses in focus onto a plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10500093
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device for treating eye tissue comprises a light source for generating laser pulses, a light projector for focused projection of the laser pulses into the eye tissue and an interferometric measurement system for measuring eye structures. The ophthalmic device comprises an optical element which is movable in relation to the light source and provided for preventing a change in the path length difference between measurement and reference arms of the interferometric measurement system resulting from a change in the length of the light-transmission path caused by a movement of the light projector relative to the light source. The interferometric measurement system enables a flexible measurement of the eye structures before, during and after the treatment, wherein measurement errors in the interferometric measurement system resulting from length changes in the light-transmission path are avoided, which are caused by movements of the light projector relative to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10413447
    Abstract: Disclosed is a patient interface for affixment on onto a patient eye, said patient interface including: a negative-pressure cavity designed for fluidic coupling to the patient eye; a first negative pressure interface with a first negative pressure aperture for fluidically coupling the negative-pressure cavity to a negative-pressure device to charge the negative pressure cavity with a negative pressure; a second negative pressure interface with a second negative pressure aperture for fluidically coupling the negative-pressure cavity to the negative-pressure device to charge the negative cavity with a negative pressure; wherein the first negative pressure aperture and the second negative pressure aperture are arranged in a wall of the negative pressure cavity separate from and in close vicinity to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Thomas Studer
  • Patent number: 10245180
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device (10) for treating eye tissue (6) with laser pulses (L) comprises a projection optical unit (3) for focused projection of the laser pulses (L), a scanner system (1) for dynamically deflecting the laser pulses (L) and a zoom system (20), which is arranged between the projection optical unit (3) and the scanner system (1) and which is configured to adjust the focused projection of the laser pulses (L) in the projection direction (r) in different zoom settings (z). The ophthalmological device (10) moreover comprises a displacement device (4), which is configured to displace the scanner system (1) depending on the zoom setting (z) of the zoom system (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10238287
    Abstract: The invention relates to a negative-pressure device (1) for affixing a patient interface (2) with a negative-pressure cavity (20) onto a patient eye. The negative-pressure device (1) comprises a negative-pressure generator (10) and a pressure sensor (11) with a device-side pressure sensor interface (14) for coupling the pressure sensor (11) to the negative-pressure cavity in a manner fluidically separate from the negative-pressure interface (13). The negative-pressure device furthermore relates to a control unit (12) operatively coupled to the negative-pressure generator (10) and the pressure sensor (11), wherein the control unit (12) is designed to detect a faulty fluidic coupling of the negative-pressure cavity (20) by evaluating a pressure established by the pressure sensor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventors: Thomas Studer, Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 9737438
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device (1) for treating eye tissue by means of pulsed laser beams (L) comprises a laser system (12) which is designed, in a first mode of operation, to generate pulsed laser beams (L) with a wavelength in the NIR infrared range and, in a second mode of operation, to generate pulsed laser beams (L) with a wavelength in the UVA ultraviolet range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ZIEMER OPHTHALMIC SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 9358157
    Abstract: An ophthalmological apparatus (1) for treating eye tissue (3) with laser pulses (P) comprises a laser source (100, an optical projection system (20) for projecting the laser pulses (P) onto the eye tissue (30), and a coupling part (12) for attaching mechanically to the optical projection system (20) an ophthalmological patient interface device (27) which is in contact with the eye (3) during treatment. The ophthalmological apparatus (1) further comprises a detector (13) for determining a device identifier (22) associated with the ophthalmological patient interface device (27), and a control module (14) for controlling the ophthalmological apparatus (1) using the device identifier (22). The detector makes it possible to use and detect different types of ophthalmological patient interface devices (27) and to adapt automatically the treatment of the eye tissue (30), depending on the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) that is presently attached to the ophthalmological apparatus (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ZIEMER OPHTHALMIC SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 9170170
    Abstract: In order to determine the focus position of a laser beam (60, 60a) in an ophthalmological laser projection system (1), at least one measurement marking (3) applied to a reference area (20) is passed over by means of the laser beam (60, 60a) along a scanning path. A measurement signal created by passing over the measurement marking (3) is captured. Time values from at least one signal edge created in the measurement signal when passing over edges of the measurement marking (3) are determined and the focus position is established on the basis of the time values. By scanning defined measurement markings (3) and establishing time values of signal edges created when edges of the measurement marking (3) are passed over, it is possible to determine the focus position of the laser beam (60, 60a) without focusing movements being required for this during the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ZIEMER OPHTHALMIC SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Publication number: 20150088103
    Abstract: A patient interface for coupling an ophthalmological application head to an eye of a patient includes a patient-sided interface structure to be coupled to the eye of a patient, and a source-sided interface structure for rigidly coupling the patient interface to the application head or an intermediate element. The source-sided interface structure comprises a first source-sided patient interface coupler and a second source-sided patient interface coupler The first source-sided patient interface coupler is designed to restrict the mobility of the patient interface relative to the application head or the intermediate element by providing a coupling with a first patient interface coupler counterpiece of the application head or the intermediate element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventors: Christian Rathjen, Thomas Studer
  • Patent number: 8784406
    Abstract: An ophthalmological patient interface device (27), for application onto an eye (3) comprises a coupling part (21) for attaching mechanically the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) to an optical projection system (20) of an ophthalmological apparatus (1). The ophthalmological patient interface device (27) further comprises a firm, ring-shaped, and transparent contact part (272) configured to contact a ring-shaped peripheral surface area (B) of the cornea, when the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) is applied on the cornea, while leaving uncovered by the contact part (272) a round central surface area (C) of the cornea, surrounded by the peripheral surface area (B), and to let pass a laser beam (L1) from the optical projection system (20) through the contact part (272) into eye tissue (30) covered by the ring-shaped peripheral surface area (B) of the cornea, when the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) is coupled to the optical projection system (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Publication number: 20140104600
    Abstract: In order to determine the focus position of a laser beam (60, 60a) in an ophthalmological laser projection system (1), at least one measurement marking (3) applied to a reference area (20) is passed over by means of the laser beam (60, 60a) along a scanning path. A measurement signal created by passing over the measurement marking (3) is captured. Time values from at least one signal edge created in the measurement signal when passing over edges of the measurement marking (3) are determined and the focus position is established on the basis of the time values. By scanning defined measurement markings (3) and establishing time values of signal edges created when edges of the measurement marking (3) are passed over, it is possible to determine the focus position of the laser beam (60, 60a) without focusing movements being required for this during the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ZIEMER OPHTHALMIC SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
  • Patent number: 8591031
    Abstract: A device (1) for determining the visual field comprises a screen (11) for displaying test patterns, an eye monitoring module (13) for capturing eye movements of a patient (20), and a processing module (10) for determining the visual field of the patient on the basis of the eye movements when the test patterns are displayed. The device (1) moreover comprises a mirror (12), which is aligned parallel to the bipupillary line of the patient (20) for determining the visual field, for deflecting the test patterns from the screen (11) to the eyes. The use of the mirror (12) aligned parallel to the bipupillary line of the patient results in a particularly compact design of the device (1) for determining the visual field, which device makes the same geometric and optical measurement conditions possible for both eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Publication number: 20130310816
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device (1) for treating eye tissue (7) comprises a light source (2) for generating laser pulses (P), a light projector (60) for focused projection of the laser pulses (P) into the eye tissue (7) and an interferometric measurement system (3) for measuring eye structures. The ophthalmic device (1) moreover comprises an optical element (32) which is movable in relation to the aforementioned light source (2) and provided for preventing a change in the path length difference between measurement arm (30a) and reference arm (30b) of the interferometric measurement system (3) as a result of a change (?x) in the length of the light-transmission path (L) caused by a movement of the light projector (60) relative to the aforementioned light source (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: CHRISTIAN RATHJEN
  • Publication number: 20130245617
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device (1) for treating eye tissue by means of pulsed laser beams (L) comprises a laser system (12) which is designed, in a first mode of operation, to generate pulsed laser beams (L) with a wavelength in the NIR infrared range and, in a second mode of operation, to generate pulsed laser beams (L) with a wavelength in the UVA ultraviolet range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: CHRISTIAN RATHJEN
  • Publication number: 20130226158
    Abstract: An ophthalmological patient interface device (27), for application onto an eye (3) comprises a coupling part (21) for attaching mechanically the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) to an optical projection system (20) of an ophthalmological apparatus (1). The ophthalmological patient interface device (27) further comprises a firm, ring-shaped, and transparent contact part (272) configured to contact a ring-shaped peripheral surface area (B) of the cornea, when the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) is applied on the cornea, while leaving uncovered by the contact part (272) a round central surface area (C) of the cornea, surrounded by the peripheral surface area (B), and to let pass a laser beam (L1) from the optical projection system (20) through the contact part (272) into eye tissue (30) covered by the ring-shaped peripheral surface area (B) of the cornea, when the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) is coupled to the optical projection system (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: CHRISTIAN RATHJEN
  • Publication number: 20130226159
    Abstract: An ophthalmological patient interface device (27), for application onto an eye (3) during treatment of the eye (3), comprises a coupling part (21) for attaching mechanically the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) to an optical projection system (20) of an ophthalmological apparatus (1), and a fastening device (271) for fastening the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) to the eye (3). The ophthalmological patient interface device (27) further comprises a mirror system (275) arranged downstream from the optical projection system (20), when the ophthalmological patient interface device (27) is attached mechanically to the optical projection system (20), and having at least one mirroring surface arranged at an angle with respect to a projection axis of the optical projection system (20), such that a laser beam (L3) projected by the optical projection system (20) is deflected by the mirror system (275).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: CHRISTIAN RATHJEN