Abstract: A magnetic positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes a magnetic field sensing system on a laser head and a magnet on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The magnetic field sensing system includes four magnetic field sensors located on a horizontal plane for detecting the magnetic field of the magnet, where one pair of sensors are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative magnitudes of the magnetic field detected by each pair of sensors, the magnetic field sensing system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: An RF (radio frequency) positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes an RF detector system on a laser head and an RFID tag on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The detector system includes four RF antennas located on a horizontal plane for detecting RF signals from the RFID tag, where one pair of antennas are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative strengths and phase difference of the RF signals detected by each pair of antennas, the RF detector system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The RF detector system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: An RF (radio frequency) positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes an RF detector system on a laser head and an RFID tag on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The detector system includes four RF antennas located on a horizontal plane for detecting RF signals from the RFID tag, where one pair of antennas are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative strengths and phase difference of the RF signals detected by each pair of antennas, the RF detector system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The RF detector system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: An RF (radio frequency) positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes an RF detector system on a laser head and an RFID tag on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The detector system includes four RF antennas located on a horizontal plane for detecting RF signals from the RFID tag, where one pair of antennas are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative strengths and phase difference of the RF signals detected by each pair of antennas, the RF detector system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The RF detector system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: A magnetic positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes a magnetic field sensing system on a laser head and a magnet on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The magnetic field sensing system includes four magnetic field sensors located on a horizontal plane for detecting the magnetic field of the magnet, where one pair of sensors are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative magnitudes of the magnetic field detected by each pair of sensors, the magnetic field sensing system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: A magnetic positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes a magnetic field sensing system on a laser head and a magnet on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The magnetic field sensing system includes four magnetic field sensors located on a horizontal plane for detecting the magnetic field of the magnet, where one pair of sensors are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative magnitudes of the magnetic field detected by each pair of sensors, the magnetic field sensing system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: A compact system for performing laser ophthalmic surgery is disclosed. The systems and methods may be used to measure corneal thickness or other anatomy to prepare a treatment plan for any of numerous treatments, such as LASIK, PRK, intra stromal lenticular lens incisions, cornea replacement, or any other treatment. By using a reduced power femtosecond laser backscatter may be measured to calculate distances such as distances between an interior boundary and an exterior boundary of a cornea or other tissue.

Abstract: An ophthalmic laser surgical system uses a confocal detector assembly to continuously detect a confocal signal during laser treatment, and based on the confocal signal, detects in real time a loss of tissue contact with the patient interface (PI) output surface. The detection is partly based on the change of reflectivity at the PI output surface when the optical interface changes from a lens-tissue interface to a lens-air interface. The behavior of the confocal signal upon loss of tissue contact is dependent on the treatment laser scan pattern being performed at the time of tissue contact loss. Thus, different confocal signal analysis algorithms are applied to detect tissue contact loss during different scans, such as the bed cut and side cut for a corneal flap. The real time confocal signal may also be used during eye docking to detect the establishment of tissue contact with the PI output surface.

Abstract: An ophthalmic laser surgical system uses a confocal detector assembly to continuously detect a confocal signal during laser treatment, and based on the confocal signal, detects in real time a loss of tissue contact with the patient interface (PI) output surface. The detection is partly based on the change of reflectivity at the PI output surface when the optical interface changes from a lens-tissue interface to a lens-air interface. The behavior of the confocal signal upon loss of tissue contact is dependent on the treatment laser scan pattern being performed at the time of tissue contact loss. Thus, different confocal signal analysis algorithms are applied to detect tissue contact loss during different scans, such as the bed cut and side cut for a corneal flap. The real time confocal signal may also be used during eye docking to detect the establishment of tissue contact with the PI output surface.

Abstract: An RF (radio frequency) positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes an RF detector system on a laser head and an RFID tag on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The detector system includes four RF antennas located on a horizontal plane for detecting RF signals from the RFID tag, where one pair of antennas are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative strengths and phase difference of the RF signals detected by each pair of antennas, the RF detector system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The RF detector system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: A magnetic positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes a magnetic field sensing system on a laser head and a magnet on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The magnetic field sensing system includes four magnetic field sensors located on a horizontal plane for detecting the magnetic field of the magnet, where one pair of sensors are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative magnitudes of the magnetic field detected by each pair of sensors, the magnetic field sensing system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: An RF (radio frequency) positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes an RF detector system on a laser head and an RFID tag on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The detector system includes four RF antennas located on a horizontal plane for detecting RF signals from the RFID tag, where one pair of antennas are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative strengths and phase difference of the RF signals detected by each pair of antennas, the RF detector system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The RF detector system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: A magnetic positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes a magnetic field sensing system on a laser head and a magnet on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The magnetic field sensing system includes four magnetic field sensors located on a horizontal plane for detecting the magnetic field of the magnet, where one pair of sensors are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative magnitudes of the magnetic field detected by each pair of sensors, the magnetic field sensing system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: A compact system for performing laser ophthalmic surgery is disclosed. The systems and methods may be used to measure corneal thickness or other anatomy to prepare a treatment plan for any of numerous treatments, such as LASIK, PRK, intra stromal lenticular lens incisions, cornea replacement, or any other treatment. By using a reduced power femtosecond laser backscatter may be measured to calculate distances such as distances between an interior boundary and an exterior boundary of a cornea or other tissue.

Abstract: A compact system for performing laser ophthalmic surgery is disclosed. The systems and methods may be used to measure corneal thickness or other anatomy to prepare a treatment plan for any of numerous treatments, such as LASIK, PRK, intra stromal lenticular lens incisions, cornea replacement, or any other treatment. By using a reduced power femtosecond laser backscatter may be measured to calculate distances such as distances between an interior boundary and an exterior boundary of a cornea or other tissue.

Abstract: An RF (radio frequency) positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes an RF detector system on a laser head and an RFID tag on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The detector system includes four RF antennas located on a horizontal plane for detecting RF signals from the RFID tag, where one pair of antennas are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative strengths and phase difference of the RF signals detected by each pair of antennas, the RF detector system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The RF detector system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: A magnetic positioning system and related method for automated or assisted eye-docking in ophthalmic surgery. The system includes a magnetic field sensing system on a laser head and a magnet on a patient interface to be mounted on the patient's eye. The magnetic field sensing system includes four magnetic field sensors located on a horizontal plane for detecting the magnetic field of the magnet, where one pair of sensors are located along the X direction at equal distances from the optical axis of the laser head and another pair are located along the Y direction at equal distances from the optical axis. Based on relative magnitudes of the magnetic field detected by each pair of sensors, the magnetic field sensing system determines whether the patient interface is centered on the optical axis. The system controls the laser head to move toward the patient interface until the latter is centered on the optical axis.

Abstract: A compact system for performing laser ophthalmic surgery is disclosed. The systems and methods may be used to measure corneal thickness or other anatomy to prepare a treatment plan for any of numerous treatments, such as LASIK, PRK, intra stromal lenticular lens incisions, cornea replacement, or any other treatment. By using a reduced power femtosecond laser backscatter may be measured to calculate distances such as distances between an interior boundary and an exterior boundary of a cornea or other tissue.

Abstract: An automated test system for testing devices being manufactured comprises an infrared communications link for free space communications between a host and a device under test. The communications link is asymmetric and instructions from the host are acknowledged by the device. The instructions cause the device to operate, and the output of the device is monitored, logged, and compared to acceptance criteria. The host can then generate calibration messages to the device, to change the device operating characteristics as appropriate. The communications link uses an unmodulated data stream together with asynchronous handshaking and a robust checksum algorithm to ensure accurate communication.

Abstract: A safety and interlock circuit for use with devices which could cause injury if an error condition causes improper operation. A control program executing on a processor monitors a variety of device conditions, including pulse over-duration threshold, diode over-current threshold, pulse lock-out duration, temperature threshold, and pulse repetition frequency limit, and prevents the laser from firing if an error condition is detected. In addition, the error conditions are logged in a persistent memory to facilitate subsequent diagnosis and correction.