CN-122028883-A - Detecting problems with laser systems

Abstract

In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic laser system includes a laser system, an imaging system, and a computer. The laser system accesses a planned test pattern of planned laser spots and directs a laser beam according to the planned test pattern towards a test target located at a target plane to produce an actual test pattern of actual laser spots on the test target. These actual laser spots correspond to these planned laser spots. The imaging system has a digital camera that generates a digital image of the actual test pattern. The computer analyzes the digital image to compare the actual test pattern to the planned test pattern, detect a deviation of the actual test pattern from the planned test pattern, identify a problem indicated by the deviation, and provide an output responsive to the identified problem.

Inventors

• J. M. Hurich
• F. P. Mainhard
• A. Kanzi

Assignees

• 爱尔康公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20250204

Priority Date

20240221

Claims (20)

1. 1. An ophthalmic laser system comprising: A laser system configured to: Accessing a planned test pattern of one or more planned laser spots, and Directing a laser beam according to the planned test pattern towards a test target located at a target plane to produce an actual test pattern of one or more actual laser spots on the test target, the one or more actual laser spots corresponding to the one or more planned laser spots, the laser system comprising: a laser source configured to generate the laser beam, and A scanner configured to direct the laser beam toward the test target; an imaging system comprising one or more digital cameras configured to generate digital images of an actual test pattern of the one or more actual laser spots, and A computer configured to analyze the digital image to: comparing the actual test pattern with the planned test pattern; Detecting one or more deviations of the actual test pattern from the planned test pattern; identifying one or more problems indicated by the one or more deviations, and An output is provided that is responsive to the one or more questions.
2. 2. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to analyze the digital image by: Determining a plurality of gray values for a plurality of pixels of the digital image; Identifying a subset of a plurality of gray values representing the one or more actual laser spots, and The actual test pattern is determined from a subset of the plurality of gray values representing the one or more actual laser spots.
3. 3. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to analyze the digital image by: The dimensions present in the actual test pattern are determined from a mathematical relationship between the length of the digital image and the number of pixels.
4. 4. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein: the planned laser spots are arranged along a first planned axis orthogonal to a second planned axis; the actual laser spots being arranged along a first actual axis and a second actual axis, and The one or more deviations of the actual test pattern from the planned test pattern include: The first actual axis is non-orthogonal to the second actual axis.
5. 5. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 4, wherein the one or more problems indicated by the one or more deviations comprise: the scanner is misaligned or The laser beam and the target plane are misaligned.
6. 6. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein: The planned laser spot comprises a first planned laser spot at a planned spot interval from a second planned laser spot; The actual laser spot includes a first actual laser spot at an actual spot spacing from a second actual laser spot, and The computer is configured to detect the one or more deviations of the actual test pattern from the planned test pattern by: and determining whether the actual light spot interval is the same as the planned light spot interval.
7. 7. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 6, wherein the one or more problems indicated by the one or more deviations comprise: The scanner cannot properly direct the laser beam to produce the planned spot separation.
8. 8. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein: The planned test pattern has a planned geometry; The actual test pattern having an actual geometry, and The computer is configured to detect the one or more deviations of the actual test pattern from the planned test pattern by: It is determined whether the actual geometry is the same as the planned geometry.
9. 9. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 8, wherein the one or more questions indicated by the one or more deviations comprise one or more of: misalignment of the laser beam with the target plane, or The scanner is misaligned.
10. 10. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein: the planned laser spots of the planned test pattern have planned definition; The actual laser spot of the actual test pattern has actual definition, and The computer is configured to detect the one or more deviations of the actual test pattern from the planned test pattern by: determining whether the actual definition meets the planned definition.
11. 11. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 10, wherein the one or more problems indicated by the one or more deviations comprise one or more of: The system is experiencing unwanted vibrations, or The laser system cannot properly focus the laser beam.
12. 12. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to provide the output in response to the one or more questions by: Providing a warning indicating that a problem exists with the laser system.
13. 13. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to provide the output in response to the one or more questions by: a command is sent to the laser system, the command solving at least one of the one or more problems.
14. 14. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to provide the output in response to the one or more questions by: calculating a correction to remove a bias of the one or more biases, and A command is generated instructing the scanner to perform the correction.
15. 15. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more problems indicated by the one or more deviations include: the scanner having a distance error when directing the laser beam, and The outputting responsive to the one or more questions comprises: A command to adjust the scanner to remove the distance error.
16. 16. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, the imaging system comprising a digital microscope.
17. 17. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, the computer further configured to: accessing a plurality of previous actual test patterns; Analyzing the plurality of previous actual test patterns, and A trend of a previous problem of the laser system is detected from the plurality of previous actual test patterns.
18. 18. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein: The one or more digital cameras are configured to generate a digital calibration image showing a calibration pattern of known length, and The computer is further configured to: Determining a plurality of calibration gray values for a plurality of pixels of the digital calibration image; identifying a subset of a plurality of calibration gray values representing the known length, and A mathematical relationship between the known length and the number of the plurality of pixels is determined from a subset of the plurality of calibration gray values representing the known length.
19. 19. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to instruct the laser system by sending a command to the laser system.
20. 20. The ophthalmic laser system of claim 19, wherein the computer is further configured to instruct the laser system to: Directing the laser beam toward the test target at the target plane according to the planned test pattern.

Description

Detecting problems with laser systems Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to laser systems, and more particularly to detecting problems associated therewith. Background Surgical laser systems utilize laser beams to perform medical procedures. The laser beam must be aimed accurately and precisely in order to perform a safe and effective procedure. However, the surrounding environment of the system, the movement of the system, and even the regular use of the system may affect the accuracy and precision of the system. In some cases, the laser scanner of the system may not operate properly and cause the system to direct the laser beam to the wrong location. Therefore, it is important to detect any problems with the scanner. Known techniques for detecting problems with laser scanners include illuminating a test object by means of a human technician and inspecting the resulting laser spot. However, this technique is slow and susceptible to human error. Disclosure of Invention In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic laser system includes a laser system, an imaging system, and a computer. The laser system accesses a planned test pattern of planned laser spots and directs a laser beam according to the planned test pattern towards a test target located at a target plane to produce an actual test pattern of actual laser spots on the test target. These actual laser spots correspond to these planned laser spots. The laser system includes a laser source that generates the laser beam and a scanner that directs the laser beam toward the test target. The imaging system has a digital camera that generates a digital image of the actual test pattern. The computer analyzes the digital image to compare the actual test pattern to the planned test pattern, detect a deviation of the actual test pattern from the planned test pattern, identify a problem indicated by the deviation, and provide an output responsive to the identified problem. Embodiments may not include the following features or may include one, some, or all of the following features: The computer analyzes the digital image by determining gray values of pixels of the digital image, identifying a subset of gray values representing the actual laser spots, and determining the actual test pattern from the subset of gray values. The computer analyzes the digital image by determining the dimensions present in the actual test pattern based on a mathematical relationship between the length of the digital image and the number of pixels. The planned laser spots are arranged along a first planned axis orthogonal to a second planned axis, and the actual laser spots are arranged along a first actual axis and a second actual axis. The deviation is that the first actual axis is not orthogonal to the second actual axis. The problem indicated by the deviation may be misalignment of the scanner or misalignment of the laser beam and the target plane. The planned laser spots comprise a first planned laser spot at a planned spot interval from a second planned laser spot, and the actual laser spots comprise a first actual laser spot at an actual spot interval from the second actual laser spot. The deviation is that the actual spot spacing is not the same as the planned spot spacing. The problem indicated by the deviation may be that the scanner cannot properly direct the laser beam to produce the planned spot separation. The planned test pattern has a planned geometry and the actual test pattern has an actual geometry. The deviation is that the actual geometry is different from the planned geometry. The problem indicated by the deviation may be misalignment of the laser beam and the target plane, or misalignment of the scanner. The planned laser spot of the planned test pattern has a planned definition and the actual laser spot of the actual test pattern has an actual definition. The deviation is that the actual definition does not meet the planned definition. A problem indicated by the deviation may be that the system is experiencing unwanted vibrations, or that the laser system is not properly focusing the laser beam. The computer provides an output responsive to the identified problem by providing a warning indicating that the laser system is in problem. The computer provides an output responsive to the identified problem by sending a command to the laser system to address the problem. The computer provides an output responsive to the identified problem by calculating a correction to remove the deviation and generating a command to instruct the scanner to implement the correction. The problem indicated by the deviation may be that the scanner directs the laser beam with a distance error and the output is a command to adjust the scanner to remove the distance error. The imaging system includes a digital microscope. The computer accesses previous actual test patterns, analyzes the previous actual test patterns, and detects trends of previous problems of the laser system b