Abstract: Provided herein is a corneal topography system (218) that utilizes a prism placed in optical alignment between the pattern generator (201), such as a Placido disk, and the eye. The corneal topography system may be a prismatic triangulating corneal topography system that utilizes light rays of angle ? at the edge of the prism not passing through the prism (202), and using the deviation of the light rays passing through the prism at that edge to calculate angle ?. With angle ? calculated from the reflected image on the image sensor (209) intersecting with the light ray from the pattern generator (201) at angle ? at the reflection point on the corneal surface (207). This provides both the position and slope of the corneal surface (207) at that point. Also provided is a method for mapping a corneal surface of an eye of a subject utilizing an optical prism (202) to produce a reflection image from a corneal surface reflection point (206) on the corneal surface (207) of the eye.

Abstract: A fixation apparatus is provided that limits rotation of the ocular globe of an eye, to facilitate alignment of an instrument with the axis of astigmatism of the eye. The apparatus includes fixation target means (12) for locating in the field of view of the eye so that the eye may fixate on the target. The fixation target means includes or consists of at least one elongate component (16). Also disclosed is a corresponding method, and method and apparatus for supplying visual feedback to an operator during refractive surgery of an eye of a patient.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing ultraviolet laser ablation of a surface, eg. an eye surface, including a laser delivery system (7) having a laser source (1) for generating a laser beam (2) and optics for applying the laser beam to the surface to be ablated, means (20, 20?) for providing a compatible liquid (32) in contact with the surface (4a) to be ablated, in a position whereby said laser beam (2) is applied to said surface through the liquid, wherein the laser beam is of a wavelength that substantially is not absorbed by the liquid.

Abstract: An optical scanning device (1) to scan an optical beam over a surface (S). The optical scanning device (1) uses a piezoelectric actuator (10) acting on a platform (2) that carries a mirror (4) to pivot the platform (2) about a pivot (8). Voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator (10) to pivot the platform (2) about the pivot (8). Changes in the applied voltage result in the angle at which the beam is reflected by the mirror (4) being altered. In this way, the reflected beam (R) can be scanned to different locations on the surface (S). Providing two such optical scanning devices (1a, 1b) or using two piezoelectric actuators (10aa, 10bb) acting on a single platform (2) enables two dimensional scanning of the surface (S) by the optical scanning device/s (1,1a, 1b). The optical scanning device (1) of the present invention may be used in refractive eye surgery laser apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing ultraviolet laser ablation of a surface, eg. an eye surface, including a laser delivery system (7) having a laser source (1) for generating a laser beam (2) and optics for applying the laser beam to the surface to be ablated, means (20, 20?) for providing a compatible liquid (32) in contact with the surface (4a) to be ablated, in a position whereby said laser beam (2) is applied to said surface through the liquid, wherein the laser beam is of a wavelength that substantially is not absorbed by the liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a high contrast, real time, three dimensional representation of a scanned object with the use of an additional scanning mechanism to gain information about the third dimension. A light beam is reflected along an input path and is modified, split, scanned in a first direction, scanned in a second direction, and directed through a stereo base producer to provide stereoscopic information by impinging the beam onto the surface from two different directions. It is then reflected onto the surface whereby the light traverses an output path identical to the input path towards a splitter. Some of the reflected light is directed towards a photodetector coupled to a signal processor to produce an image for real time viewing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for scanning material with a laser beam including directing a laser beam (20) through a scanning means, wherein said scanning means includes a first lens (11) and a second lens (12) separated by a distance (16) approximately equal to the focal length of the lenses. The method includes controlling the beam (20) by moving at least one of the lenses in a plane perpendicular to the beam to scan the material. The invention also provides a scanning apparatus for scanning material with a laser beam including laser means for producing a beam of ultraviolet or infra-red light, scanning means for scanning the laser source in a predetermined pattern onto an area of the material, and controlling means for controlling the scanning means, wherein the scanning means includes two lenses, separated by approximately the focal length of one of the lenses, with at least one of the lenses movable perpendicular to the beam to scan the beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing an image of a surface, including a laser source for producing a beam of light, beam modifying means for modifying the properties of the beam, beam splitting means for splitting the beam, focusing means for focusing the beam, first and second scanning means for scanning said beam in first and second different directions, stereo base producing means for obtaining stereoscopic information concerning the surface by impinging said beam onto said surface from two different positions, and reflecting means, wherein a beam from said laser source may be directing along an input path including being modified with said modifying means and split by said beam splitting means, directed onto said first scanning means to scan said beam in said first direction, directed through said second scanning means to scan said beam in said second direction, directed through said stereo base producing means, and then directed off said reflecting means and onto said surface, whereb

Abstract: A method of determining the position or attitude of an eye, including the steps of directing a plurality of eye-safe light beam components onto the eye, said components defining an area of incidence on the eye substantially larger than the pupil; receiving an image of light thereafter reflected by the eye; analyzing the image by identifying which of the light beam components produces a bright eye reflection in said image; and determining the position or attitude of the eye by further analysing the image on the basis of said identification.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for generating a laser beam of a wavelength suitable for ablating material. The apparatus includes a source of a laser beam of a wavelength which is not suitable for ablation and a frequency converter which uses harmonic generation to generate a laser beam of a suitable frequency. In preferred arrangements the frequency converter is a non-linear optical material that is maintained at a predetermined elevated temperature. In a preferred arrangement the pulse rate of the laser is selected to maintain the acceptance angle of the harmonic generator within predetermined limits.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing an image of a surface, including a laser source for producing a beam of light, beam modifying means for modifying the properties of the beam, beam splitting means for splitting the beam, focusing means for focusing the beam, first and second scanning means for scanning the beam in first and second different directions, stereo base producing means for obtaining stereoscopic information concerning the surface by impinging the beam onto the surface from two different positions, and reflecting means, wherein a beam from the laser source may be directing along an input path including being modified with the modifying means and split by the beam splitting means, directed onto the first scanning means to scan the beam in the first direction, directed through the second scanning means to scan the beam in the second direction, directed through the stereo base producing means, and then directed off the reflecting means and onto the surface, whereby reflected lig

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for measuring the surface profile of a sample. The method and apparatus provide light from a light source through a beam splitter to form two split beams, direct the split beams onto a sample surface and a reference surface respectively, reflect the split beams back through the beam splitter, and direct the split beams towards an imaging system. A surface profiling apparatus for measuring the surface profile of the sample is also provided. The apparatus includes a light source for generating a source beam, beam splitting means positioned in the path of the source beam for splitting the source beam into split beams, a reference surface, a sample surface allowing the split beams to traverse separate paths and return to the beam splitting means, reference surface positioning means for positioning the reference surface, and viewing means for imaging combined beams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for creating and visualising three-dimensional images of an object, including imaging means for obtaining two images of the same object from different angles, digitizing means for digitizing the images, image processing means for color matching and registering the images, controller means for converting the two images into an interlaced image, display means for displaying the registered interlaced image, and visualizing means for visualizing the image in three dimensions. It also provides a method for creating and visualising three-dimensional images of an object including obtaining two images of the same object from different angles, digitizing the images, color matching and registering the images, converting the two images into an interlaced image, displaying the registered interlaced image for visualizing the image in three dimensions, measuring areas of interest, and calculating desired measurements of the object.

Abstract: A method for laser ablation of a tissue including directing at least one first pulsed laser beam of ultraviolet light and at least one second pulsed laser beam of infrared light to an area on the tissue to thereby ablate said tissue. The ultraviolet light has a wavelength of between 180 to 225 nm while the infrared light has a wavelength of between 1.4 to 11.0 .mu.m, and more specifically around 3.0 .mu.m. The tissue to be ablated may be the corneal tissue of the eye.