Abstract: A method for analyzing a laser system, which has a focused laser beam and a controllable deflection assembly for controlling the transverse and/or longitudinal position of the beam focus, said method comprising the steps of directing the laser beam or a partial beam branched therefrom downstream of the deflection assembly toward an optically nonlinear medium for the purpose of generating frequency multiplied radiation, the wavelength of which corresponds to an uneven higher harmonic of the wavelength of the laser beam, activating the deflection assembly, and measuring a power of the frequency multiplied radiation while the deflection assembly is activated. The conversion efficiency of the nonlinear process by which the frequency multiplied radiation is produced is dependent upon the focusability of the laser beam.

Abstract: A device for laser-optical eye surgery includes a source (10) of pulsed femtosecond laser radiation and also optical components (12, 14, 16) for guiding the laser radiation and focusing the same onto a treatment location on or in the eye (28), the optical components including a plurality of lenses (18, 20) arranged in succession in the beam path of the laser radiation. In accordance with the invention, at least one (18) of the lenses is arranged so as to be adjustable relative to other lenses in the direction of the beam path. In particular, the adjustable lens is a first diverging lens of beam-expansion optics (12). An actuating arrangement (24) is assigned to the adjustable lens for its adjustment, for the control of which arrangement a control unit (26) is provided which is set up to access measured data concerning the topography of a surface of the eye and to control the actuating arrangement in a manner depending on the measured surface topography.

Abstract: An apparatus for ophthalmic laser surgery comprises a contact surface for formative bearing contact of an eye to be treated, components for providing focussed, pulsed treatment laser radiation and for directing the same through the contact surface onto the eye, a measuring device for measuring the position of the contact surface along the direction of propagation of the treatment laser radiation, the measuring device providing position data representing the measured position of the contact surface at least one location of the contact surface, and an electronic process and control unit, which is connected to the measuring device and which is adapted to control the focus position of the treatment laser radiation in dependence on the position data.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for laser surgical ophthalmology, comprising a source of pulsed femtosecond laser radiation, components for guiding and focusing the laser radiation onto or into a tissue of an eye to be treated, a control unit controlling the source, which has been set up to switch the source between at least two operating modes with respectively differing radiation properties of the laser radiation, wherein in a first operating mode the radiation properties of the laser radiation are matched to the placement of an incision in the tissue, and in a second operating mode the radiation properties of the laser radiation are matched to a welding or cross-linking of the tissue.

Abstract: An optical eye-contact element is disclosed that is at least partly translucent, the optical eye-contact element giving rise to a wavefront error of at most about ?/2, preferentially at most about ?/4, highly preferentially at most about ?/10, in a traversing light beam. The optical eye-contact element may be a so-called applanation plate or applanation lens.

Abstract: A process is proposed for testing a laser device that has been set up to emit pulsed focused laser radiation, the focal position of which is adjustable both in and across the direction of propagation of the laser radiation. The laser device includes a contact element that is transparent to the laser radiation, with an abutment surface for abutment of an object to be machined. Within the scope of the process, a test object that is transparent to the laser radiation at least in a machining region is applied onto the abutment surface of the contact element. Then laser radiation is beamed into the test object bearing against the abutment surface and in the process the focal position is moved in accordance with a predetermined test pattern, in order to generate enduring machining structures in the test object.

Abstract: A process for producing an interface unit and also a group of such interface units are specified. The interface unit exhibits a first reference surface for beaming in radiation, a second reference surface for emitting the radiation, and an axis extending in the direction from the first to the second reference surface. The production process comprises the steps of setting an optical path length of the interface unit between the first and second reference surfaces along the axis and the fixing of the set optical path length of the interface unit. The optical path length of the interface unit is set in such a way that radiation of a defined numerical aperture beamed in at the first reference surface exhibits a focus location that is predetermined with respect to the second reference surface in the direction of the axis. A precise and uniform focus location with respect to the second reference surface is obtained.

Abstract: An interface unit for positioning an object to be irradiated in relation to a radiation source has at least one first positioning surface for positioning the interface unit in relation to the radiation source, and a second positioning surface for bearing on the object to be irradiated. The interface unit provides a path, which passes through the second positioning surface, for the radiation from the radiation source. According to the invention, the interface unit comprises an integrally produced interface body which forms both the at least one first positioning surface and the second positioning surface. The interface body is preferably produced from a plastic material by an injection compression moulding method, in order to achieve the desired high manufacturing accuracy.

Abstract: An optical eye-contact element is disclosed that is at least partly translucent, the optical eye-contact element giving rise to a wavefront error of at most about ?/2, preferentially at most about ?/4, highly preferentially at most about ?/10, in a traversing light beam. The optical eye-contact element may be a so-called applanation plate or applanation lens.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser processing of a material, in particular the eye cornea, emits on to the material a train (18?) of laser radiation pulses having a pulse duration in the femtosecond range. The pulse train comprises a multiplicity of successive pulse groups, each pulse group comprising at least two laser radiation pulses (20?, 22?). The pulses of a pulse group are directed at substantially the same processing site of the material, but the pulses of successive groups are directed at substantially different processing sites of the material. According to the invention the time interval between successive laser radiation pulses of a pulse group is in the nanosecond range. In particular, the intensity or energy of the pulses within a pulse group is graduated, in such a way that a preceding prepulse (20?) has substantially lower intensity or energy than a following main pulse (22?).

Abstract: A laser-assisted material-machining device comprises a laser (14) for providing a pulsed laser beam (16), a measuring arrangement (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) in order to obtain measured values of a fundamental-wave power of the laser beam and also of a power of at least one higher harmonic generated from the laser beam by frequency multiplication, and an evaluating unit (22) connected to the measuring arrangement, which has been set up to examine the quality of the laser beam (16) in a manner depending on the measured fundamental-wave power, on the measured power of the higher harmonic, and on a set radiant power of the laser (14). By formation of the quotient of the measured fundamental-wave power and of the measured power of the higher harmonic, the current conversion efficiency of the frequency multiplication can be ascertained. Said conversion efficiency is a measure of the quality of the wavefront and of the pulse duration of the laser beam (16).

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a process for coupling a mechanical interface unit to a suction-ring unit retained on an eye by suction force includes a step of relative approximating of the interface unit to the suction-ring unit in an axial direction as far as a first, predetermined relative position of the two components, which is preferentially detected by suitable sensorics. When the first relative position is attained, the evacuation is begun of a suction chamber formed between the interface unit, the suction-ring unit and the surface of the eye, whereby the partial vacuum generated establishes in the suction chamber a contact between the surface of the eye and an applanation plate retained on the interface unit, or enlarges a region of existing contact. The aspirating of the eye onto the applanation plate prevents compression loads and shear loads on the eye such as normally cannot be avoided when impressing the plate onto the eye.

Abstract: A system for refractive ophthalmological surgery, in particular LASIK, has—in addition to the ablation laser and, where appropriate, further optical guidance means (18, 30)—a device (34) for optical coherence tomography as an integrated component, in order to make available results of measurement acquired with this device either for the purpose of representation on a display device and/or for the purpose of control of the ablation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus 10 for ophthalmological laser surgery, with an optical imaging system for imaging a treatment laser beam 14 onto a focal point, with a temperature-measuring device for measuring a temperature assigned to the imaging system, and with an electronic control arrangement (22) connected to the temperature-measuring device, which is configured to control the focal-point setting in a manner depending on the measured temperature. The present invention further relates also to an associated method.

Abstract: A laser-assisted material-machining device comprises a laser (14) for providing a pulsed laser beam (16), a measuring arrangement (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) in order to obtain measured values of a fundamental-wave power of the laser beam and also of a power of at least one higher harmonic generated from the laser beam by frequency multiplication, and an evaluating unit (22) connected to the measuring arrangement, which has been set up to examine the quality of the laser beam (16) in a manner depending on the measured fundamental-wave power, on the measured power of the higher harmonic, and on a set radiant power of the laser (14). By formation of the quotient of the measured fundamental-wave power and of the measured power of the higher harmonic, the current conversion efficiency of the frequency multiplication can be ascertained. Said conversion efficiency is a measure of the quality of the wavefront and of the pulse duration of the laser beam (16).

Abstract: An apparatus for ophthalmic laser surgery comprises a source (28) for a pulsed femtosecond laser beam, a telescope (32) expanding the laser beam, a scanner (36) downstream of the telescope, for deflecting the laser beam in a plane perpendicular to the beam path, and also an f-theta objective (44) downstream of the scanner, for focusing the laser beam. In accordance with the invention, an entrance lens (52) of the telescope (32) takes the form of a controllable lens of variable refractive power. The entrance lens (52) is preferentially constituted by an electrically controllable liquid lens or liquid-crystal lens.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for ophthalmic laser surgery, comprising a source (110) of pulsed laser radiation with radiation parameters matched to the making of an incision in an ocular tissue, particularly in the cornea, a scanner (160) for deflecting the laser radiation, an electronic control unit (190) which has been set up to control the scanner in accordance with a predetermined incision geometry, and a modulator unit (170) for modulating the laser pulses emitted from the source (110). The control unit (190) has furthermore been set up to control the modulator unit (170) in accordance with a beam-deflection pattern established for the incision geometry in such a manner that in predetermined parts of the beam-deflection pattern at least some of the laser pulses have a reduced pulse energy or are suppressed.

Abstract: An optical imaging system comprises at least one deformable mirror (34) and an adjustment and control arrangement (36, 38) which is coupled to the mirror and is adapted to displace the image-side focal point (52) of the imaging system in the beam propagation direction by deformation of the mirror, particularly in accordance with a predetermined focal point displacement profile. The optical imaging system is preferably employed in a device for femtosecond laser surgery of the human eye, for example for corneal lenticle extraction.

Abstract: An apparatus for LASIK is equipped with the following: a first laser radiation source for generating first laser radiation pulses having a power density for bringing about disruption in corneal tissue; first means for guiding and shaping the first laser radiation pulses into the corneal tissue; a second laser radiation source for generating second laser radiation pulses having a power density for bringing about ablation of corneal tissue; second means for guiding and shaping the second laser radiation pulses in relation to the cornea; a controller with a first treatment program for controlling the first means and the first laser radiation pulses for the purpose of producing an incision (72) in the cornea (60); and with a second treatment program for controlling the second means and the second laser radiation pulses for the purpose of reshaping the cornea and changing its imaging properties, wherein the first treatment program generates regular corneal surface structures (68) which cause a rainbow-glare eff

Abstract: An ophthalmic laser apparatus includes components for providing a first pulsed laser beam (140) having beam properties matched to the ablation of corneal material and for providing a second pulsed laser beam (290) having beam properties matched to the making of an incision in the ocular tissue. The components include separate laser-sources (110, 130) for generating the two laser beams and also a plurality of optical elements which guide the two laser beams on separate beam paths to a respective beam exit location and focus them to a focal point situated outside the beam exit location. In accordance with the invention, the optical elements include an optical waveguide (250) serving for guidance of the second laser beam, at least the two laser-sources being accommodated in a common housing (340) and the optical waveguide extending within the housing at least over a part of its length.