Free floating patient interface for laser surgery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11534340-B2
Application number	US-201916677620-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods here may be used to support a laser eye surgery device, including a base assembly mounted to an optical scanning assembly via, a horizontal x axis bearing, a horizontal y axis bearing, and a vertical z axis bearing, mounted on the base assembly, configured to limit movement of the optical scanning assembly in an x axis, y axis and z axis respectively, relative to the base assembly, a vertical z axis spring, configured to counteract the forces of gravity on the optical scanning assembly in the z axis, and, mirrors mounted on the base assembly and positioned to reflect an energy beam into the optical scanning assembly no matter where the optical scanning assembly is located on the x axis bearing, the y axis bearing and the z axis bearing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for performing a laser eye surgery on a patient's eye, comprising:
directing a laser beam generated by a laser beam source from a base assembly along a variable optical path into an optical scanning assembly;
coupling the optical scanning assembly to the eye via a patient interface device;
by a microelectromechanical force sensor, measuring a force on the eye by the patient interface device and converting the measured force into an electrical signal with a response time of tens of microseconds, the microelectromechanical force sensor being preloaded in a compression state;
by the optical scanning assembly, scanning a focal point of the laser beam in at least two dimensions to different locations within the eye;
receiving a portion of the laser beam which has been reflected from the focal point back along the variable optical path, with a sensor and generating an intensity signal indicative of the intensity of the portion of the laser beam;
wherein the variable optical path has at least two mirrors configured to translate relative to each other, wherein the optical scanning assembly is mounted to the base assembly via:
a horizontal x axis linear bearing, configured to support a translation movement of the optical scanning assembly in an x axis direction;
a horizontal y axis linear bearing, configured to support a translation movement of the optical scanning assembly in a y axis direction;
a vertical z axis linear bearing, configured to support a translation movement of the optical scanning assembly in a z axis direction; and
a vertical z axis spring, configured to counteract the forces of gravity on the optical scanning assembly in the vertical z axis, and

by a plurality of motors attached to the bearings, and based on the electrical signal from the microelectromechanical force sensor, actuating movements of the optical scanning assembly in the x, y and z axis directions relative to the base assembly; and
freely following a movement of the patient's eye relative to the base assembly in the x, y and z directions along the variable optical path with the optical scanning assembly and the patient interface device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the horizontal x axis linear bearing, the horizontal y axis linear bearing and the vertical z axis linear bearing is a roller and rail bearing and the vertical z axis spring includes a pair of coiled metal tapes each coiled around a spring loaded spool.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical scanning assembly includes a confocal lens assembly.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accommodating relative movement between the base assembly and a patient support bed or gurney, the patient support bed or gurney being able to support a patient.

Assignees

• Amo Dev Llc

Inventors

• Gooding Phillip H
• Schuele Georg

Classifications

• A61F9/00836

  Flap cutting · CPC title

• B23K26/38

  by boring or cutting · CPC title

• B23K2103/32

  Material from living organisms, e.g. skins · CPC title

• A61F9/009 Primary

  Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, {e.g. goniolenses (apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008)} · CPC title

• A61F9/00804

  Refractive treatments · CPC title