Apparatus and method for creating incisions in a human cornea

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016008173-A1
Application number	US-201314772116-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2013
Priority date	Mar 8, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for creating incisions in a human cornea comprises: a source of pulsed laser radiation; a scanner device for scanning the laser radiation; and a control computer for controlling the scanner device based on a control program, the control program containing instructions that, when executed by the computer, bring about the creation in the cornea of: a flap cut defining a corneal flap that is connected to surrounding corneal tissue through a hinge; and one or more auxiliary cuts in connection with the flap cut for removing gas generated during creation of the flap cut, the one or more auxiliary cuts defining a first channel extending from the flap cut to an anterior surface of the cornea and a reservoir located at least partially deeper within the cornea than the flap cut.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for creating incisions in a human cornea, the apparatus comprising:
a source of pulsed laser radiation; a scanner device for scanning the laser radiation; a control computer for controlling the scanner device based on a control program, the control program containing instructions that, when executed by the computer, bring about the creation in the cornea of:
a flap cut defining a corneal flap that is connected to surrounding corneal tissue through a hinge; and
one or more auxiliary cuts in connection with the flap cut for removing gas generated during creation of the flap cut, the one or more auxiliary cuts defining a first channel extending from the flap cut to an anterior surface of the cornea and a reservoir located at least partially deeper within the cornea than the flap cut.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is connected with the first channel.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein locations of connection of the reservoir and the first channel with the flap cut are at least partially overlapping.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir and the first channel are each connected with the flap cut in a hinge area of the flap.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir extends to a depth of at least 180 μm and no more than 220 μm or 250 μm from the anterior corneal surface.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, bring about the creation of the reservoir temporally prior to the first channel.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a channel-shaped portion that extends the first channel.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the channel-shaped portion and the first channel have equal channel width at least in an area in which the channel-shaped portion is connected with the first channel.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a portion that extends the first channel along a straight line with respect to the first channel.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a portion that extends the first channel at an angle with respect to the first channel.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the portion is tilted with respect to the first channel towards the anterior surface of the cornea.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the portion is tilted with respect to the first channel in a direction away from the anterior surface of the cornea.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first channel and the reservoir are mutually unconnected.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes an annularly extending portion connected with the flap cut along an inner peripheral edge of the annularly extending portion.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the annularly extending portion is shaped as a full annulus enclosing the flap cut entirely.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the annularly extending portion is shaped as a part-annulus.

17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a plurality of sections, wherein mutually adjacent sections of the plurality are connected to each other at a bend.

18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flap cut includes a bed cut defining a stromal bed for the flap and a lateral cut extending from the bed cut towards the anterior corneal surface, wherein the first channel and the reservoir are connected with the bed cut at a peripheral portion thereof.

19 . A method of creating incisions in a human cornea, the method comprising:
directing pulsed laser radiation at a human cornea; photodisrupting the cornea with the laser radiation to create in the cornea:
a flap cut defining a corneal flap that is connected to surrounding corneal tissue through a hinge; and
one or more auxiliary cuts in connection with the flap cut for removing gas generated during creation of the flap cut, wherein the one or more auxiliary cuts define a first channel extending from the flap cut to an anterior surface of the cornea and a reservoir located at least partially deeper within the cornea than the flap cut.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir is connected with the first channel.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein locations of connection of the reservoir and the first channel with the flap cut are at least partially overlapping.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir and the first channel are each in connection with the flap cut in a hinge area of the flap.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir extends to a depth of at least 180 μm and no more than 250 μm from the anterior corneal surface.

24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir is created temporally prior to the first channel.

25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir includes a channel-shaped portion that extends the first channel.

26 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the channel-shaped portion and the first channel have equal channel width at least in an area in which the channel-shaped portion is connected with the first channel.

27 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir includes a portion that extends the first channel along a straight line with respect to the first channel.

28 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir includes a portion that extends the first channel at an angle with respect to the first channel.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the portion is tilted with respect to the first channel towards the anterior surface of the cornea.

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the portion is tilted with respect to the first channel in a direction away from the anterior surface of the cornea.

31 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first channel and the reservoir are mutually unconnected.

32 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir includes an annularly extending portion connected with the flap cut along an inner peripheral edge of the annularly extending portion.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the annularly extending portion is shaped as a full annulus enclosing the flap cut entirely.

34 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the annularly extending portion is shaped as a part-annulus.

35 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reservoir includes a plurality of sections, wherein mutually adjacent sections of the plurality are connected to each other at a bend.

36 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the flap cut includes a bed cut defining a stromal bed for the flap and a side cut extending from the bed cut towards the anterior corneal surface, wherein the first channel and the reservoir are connected with the bed cut at a peripheral portion thereof.

Assignees

• Wavelight Gmbh

Inventors

• Krause Johannes
• Donitzky Christof

Classifications

• A61F9/00836 Primary

  Flap cutting · CPC title

• A61F2009/00855

  Calibration of the laser system · CPC title

• A61F2009/00897

  Scanning mechanisms or algorithms · CPC title

• A61F2009/00872

  Cornea · CPC title

• A61F9/008

  using laser · CPC title