Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system for monitoring incision performance includes a laser device, a camera, and a computer. laser device delivers a laser beam with a laser setting energy towards a target to create optical breakdowns in the target. The camera generates images of the optical breakdowns in the target. The computer instructs the laser device to create the optical breakdowns in the target to yield a test pattern. The test pattern comprises regions of optical breakdowns, where each region was created with a different laser setting energy. From the images, the computer identifies a lowest energy region with substantially continuous optical breakdowns, and designates the laser setting energy used to create the identified region as a threshold energy.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: determine first multiple focal point distances associated with respective multiple positions of a plane orthogonal to a laser beam; determine second multiple focal point distances associated with the respective multiple positions via for each position of the multiple positions: determine multiple intensity values associated with respective multiple interim focal point distances, each interim focal point distance greater than each focal point distance of the first multiple focal point distances associated with the position; determine an interim focal point distance respectively associated with a maximum intensity value; and determine a focal point distance as the interim focal point distance; and determine a depth of at least one incision in an eye based at least on differences between each of the second multiple focal point distances and each respective one of the first multiple focal point distances.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: determine first multiple focal point distances associated with respective multiple positions of a plane orthogonal to a laser beam; determine second multiple focal point distances associated with the respective multiple positions via for each position of the multiple positions: determine multiple intensity values associated with respective multiple interim focal point distances, each interim focal point distance greater than each focal point distance of the first multiple focal point distances associated with the position; determine an interim focal point distance respectively associated with a maximum intensity value; and determine a focal point distance as the interim focal point distance; and determine a depth of at least one incision in an eye based at least on differences between each of the second multiple focal point distances and each respective one of the first multiple focal point distances.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: provide multiple first portions of a laser beam to an objective lens of an optical system; provide the multiple first portions of the laser beam to respective multiple locations of a test surface; receive multiple second portions of the laser beam from the test surface; determine multiple intensities respectively associated with the multiple second portions of the laser beam; transform the multiple intensities into data that represents multiple measurement values of the multiple intensities; determine, from the data, if an intensity value of the multiple intensities is below a threshold intensity value; if the intensity is below the threshold intensity value, provide information that indicates an issue associated with the objective lens; and if the intensity is not below the threshold intensity value, provide information that indicates there is no issue associated with the objective lens.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for controlling a position of a focal point of a laser beam comprises a beam expander, a scanner, an objective lens, and a computer. The beam expander controls the focal point of the laser beam and includes a mirror and expander optical devices. The mirror has a surface curvature that can be adjusted to control a z-position of the focal point. The expander optical devices direct the laser beam towards the mirror and receive the laser beam reflected from the mirror. The scanner receives the laser beam from the beam expander and manipulates the laser beam to control an xy-position of the focal point. The objective lens receives the laser beam from the scanner and directs the beam towards the target. The computer receives a depth instruction, and sets actuation parameters to control the surface curvature of the mirror according to the depth instruction.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: provide multiple first portions of a laser beam to an objective lens of an optical system; provide the multiple first portions of the laser beam to respective multiple locations of a test surface; receive multiple second portions of the laser beam from the test surface; determine multiple intensities respectively associated with the multiple second portions of the laser beam; transform the multiple intensities into data that represents multiple measurement values of the multiple intensities; determine, from the data, if an intensity value of the multiple intensities is below a threshold intensity value; if the intensity is below the threshold intensity value, provide information that indicates an issue associated with the objective lens; and if the intensity is not below the threshold intensity value, provide information that indicates there is no issue associated with the objective lens.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: produce the laser beam; determine multiple focal point distances associated with respective multiple positions of a plane orthogonal to the laser beam via for each position of the multiple positions: adjust at least one mirror to target the laser beam to the position; determine multiple intensity values associated with respective multiple interim focal point distances; determine a maximum intensity value of the multiple intensity values; determine an interim focal point distance of the multiple interim focal point distances respectively associated with the maximum intensity value; and determine a focal point distance of the multiple focal point distances as the interim focal point distance of the multiple interim focal point distances respectively associated with the maximum intensity value; and determine a topography of a surface of a patient interface based at least on the multiple focal point distances associated with the respective multiple positions.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: determine first multiple focal point distances associated with respective multiple positions of a plane orthogonal to a laser beam; determine second multiple focal point distances associated with the respective multiple positions via for each position of the multiple positions: determine multiple intensity values associated with respective multiple interim focal point distances, each interim focal point distance greater than each focal point distance of the first multiple focal point distances associated with the position; determine an interim focal point distance respectively associated with a maximum intensity value; and determine a focal point distance as the interim focal point distance; and determine a depth of at least one incision in an eye based at least on differences between each of the second multiple focal point distances and each respective one of the first multiple focal point distances.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for calibrating the focal point of a laser beam comprises a laser, focusing optics, detector optics, a two-photon absorption (TPA) detector, and a computer. The laser generates the laser beam. The focusing optics direct the focal point of the laser beam along a z-axis towards a zero-surface corresponding to a zero-plane, and receives a portion of the laser beam reflected by the zero-surface. The detector optics receive the reflected portion from the focusing optics, and directs the reflected portion towards a TPA detector. The TPA detector senses the peak intensity of the reflected portion, which indicates a proximity of the focal point to the zero-surface, and generates a signal representing the peak intensity of the reflected portion. The computer determines whether the focal point of the laser beam is calibrated in response to the signal representing the peak intensity.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for controlling a position of a focal point of a laser beam comprises a beam expander, a scanner, an objective lens, and a computer. The beam expander controls the focal point of the laser beam and includes a mirror and expander optical devices. The mirror has a surface curvature that can be adjusted to control a z-position of the focal point. The expander optical devices direct the laser beam towards the mirror and receive the laser beam reflected from the mirror. The scanner receives the laser beam from the beam expander and manipulates the laser beam to control an xy-position of the focal point. The objective lens receives the laser beam from the scanner and directs the beam towards the target. The computer receives a depth instruction, and sets actuation parameters to control the surface curvature of the mirror according to the depth instruction.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system (10) comprises a laser source (20), one or more optical elements (24), a monitoring device (28), and a control computer (30). The laser source (20) emits one or more laser pulses. The optical elements (24) change a pulse length of the laser pulses, and the monitoring device (28) measures the pulse length of the laser pulses to detect the change in the pulse length. The control computer (30) receives the measured pulse length from the monitoring device (28), determines one or more laser parameters that compensate for the change in the pulse length, and controls the laser source (20) according to the laser parameters.

Abstract: A method for energy setting of pulsed, focused laser radiation is provided. In the method, a relationship between a threshold pulse energy required for causing irreversible damage in a material and a pulse duration is established. The relationship allows for obtaining a threshold pulse energy for each of a plurality of pulse durations, including one or more pulse durations in a range between 200 fs and smaller. The relationship defines a decreasing threshold pulse energy for a decreasing pulse duration in the range between 200 fs and smaller. For a given pulse duration in the range between 200 fs and smaller, an associated threshold pulse energy is determined based on the established relationship. The pulse energy of the laser radiation is set based on the determined associated threshold pulse energy.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system (10) comprises a laser source (20), one or more optical elements (24), a monitoring device (28), and a control computer (30). The laser source (20) emits one or more laser pulses. The optical elements (24) change a pulse length of the laser pulses, and the monitoring device (28) measures the pulse length of the laser pulses to detect the change in the pulse length. The control computer (30) receives the measured pulse length from the monitoring device (28), determines one or more laser parameters that compensate for the change in the pulse length, and controls the laser source (20) according to the laser parameters.

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 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.