Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be used to acquire cross-sectional or volumetric images of any specimen, including biological specimens such as the retina. Additional processing of the OCT data may be performed to generate images of features of interest. In some embodiments, these features may be in motion relative to their surroundings, e.g., blood in the retinal vasculature. The proposed invention describes a combination of images acquired by OCT, manual segmentations of these images by experts, and an artificial neural network for the automated segmentation and classification of features in the OCT images. As a specific example, the performance of the systems and methods described herein are presented for the automatic segmentation of blood vessels in images acquired with OCT angiography.

Abstract: A post-operative procedure is disclosed for inducing a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) after a VitreoRetinal-Interface Syndrome (VRS) treatment. In the post-op procedure, vitreoretinal interface tissue is imaged to determine the extent of PVD that was established by the VRS treatment and Residual Areas of Adhesion (RAA) are identified on the vitreoretinal interface. Once the RAAs are identified, the next step is to allow gas micro-bubbles on the vitreoretinal interface which were generated during the VRS treatment to move, coalesce, and/or loosen tissue at the vitreoretinal interface, and thereby facilitate completion of a PVD. During the bubble coalescing period, ultrasound energy can be applied to bubble/tissue boundaries to accelerate bubble coalescence and/or increase the rate that RAA tissue is loosened at the vitreoretinal interface. After bubble coalescence, tissue at the RAA can be photoaltered using a focused femtosecond laser beam to induce a suitable PVD.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for treating VitreoRetinal-Interface Syndromes (VRS) by using a femtosecond laser system to relieve vitreoretinal adhesions in an eye. Operationally, fibers in the vitreous body are severed by the laser system to create Posterior Vitreous Detachments (PVD) that relieve the adhesions. In a first embodiment for the present invention, tissue material on selected planes within the vitreous body is photoaltered to sever the fibers. Sequentially, or alternatively, to the first embodiment, in another embodiment, fibers at or near the vitreoretinal interface of the eye are photoaltered for this same purpose.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided for using a computer-controlled, laser system to perform a partial vitrectomy of the vitreous humor in an eye. Operationally, an optical channel is first defined through the vitreous humor. Vitreous and suspended deposits (floaters) in the optical channel are then ablated and in some cases removed (e.g. aspirated) from the optical channel. In some instances, a clear liquid can be introduced into the optical channel to replace the ablated matter, and to thereby establish unhindered transparency in the optical channel.