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JP-7855527-B2 - Ophthalmic laser system with Z-direction multifocal optics

JP7855527B2JP 7855527 B2JP7855527 B2JP 7855527B2JP-7855527-B2

Inventors

  • ゾルト ボル

Assignees

  • アルコン インコーポレイティド

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20210608
Priority Date
20200616

Claims (10)

  1. An ophthalmic laser system, A laser source configured to generate a laser beam of ultrashort laser pulses for an artificial lens implanted during eye surgery , A multifocal optical system configured to multiplex the laser beam to generate a plurality of focused spots within a target including the artificial lens along the propagation axis of the laser beam, wherein the plurality of focused spots include shallower focused spots and deeper focused spots, A plurality of scanners configured to direct the laser beam in the x, y, and z directions, wherein the z direction is defined by the optical axis of the laser system, and the x and y directions are orthogonal to the z direction. A delivery optical system configured to focus the laser beam within the target and form a plurality of focus spots within the target along the propagation axis of the laser beam, It is a computer, The maximum allowable energy loss to the focus spot is determined, and the energy loss is caused by the obscuration effect of the shallower focus spot relative to the deeper focus spot. The scan pattern of a plurality of the focused spots is determined by calculating the spatial separation that produces an amount of obscuration that keeps the energy loss below the maximum allowable energy loss, thereby keeping the energy loss below the maximum allowable energy loss. It is configured in such a way, With respect to the scanner and the delivery optical system, According to the scan pattern, a plurality of the focusing spots are directed and focused onto the target. The computer commands the formation of a plurality of the focusing spots simultaneously within the target along the propagation axis, having the spatial separation between the shallower focusing spots and the deeper focusing spots. An ophthalmic laser system equipped with [feature/feature].
  2. The ophthalmic laser system according to claim 1, wherein the multifocal optical system includes a diffractive optical element that multiplexes the laser beam to generate the plurality of focused spots along the propagation axis of the laser beam.
  3. The ophthalmic laser system according to claim 1, wherein the multifocal optical system includes a holographic optical element having an interference pattern with high diffraction efficiency that generates the plurality of focused spots along the propagation axis of the laser beam.
  4. The ophthalmic laser system according to claim 1, wherein the multifocal optical system includes a computer-controlled spatial light modulator that modulates the characteristic portion of the laser beam to form the plurality of focused spots along the propagation axis of the laser beam.
  5. The ophthalmic laser system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial separation is greater than the depth of focus of the laser beam for each of the focused spots.
  6. The ophthalmic laser system according to claim 1, wherein the artificial lens includes an eye lens, and the lens includes an intraocular lens (IOL) for the eye.
  7. The aforementioned computer, The ophthalmic laser system according to claim 1, configured to determine the scan pattern for the artificial lens for correcting farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism of the eye.
  8. A laser source configured to generate a laser beam of ultrashort laser pulses for an artificial lens implanted during eye surgery , A multifocal optical system configured to multiplex a laser beam to generate a plurality of focused spots within a target including an artificial lens along the propagation axis of the laser beam, wherein the plurality of focused spots include shallower focused spots and deeper focused spots, and the multifocal optical system includes a computer-controlled spatial light modulator that modulates the characteristic portion of the laser beam to form the plurality of focused spots along the propagation axis of the laser beam, A plurality of scanners configured to direct the laser beam in the x, y, and z directions, wherein the z direction is defined by the optical axis of the laser system, and the x and y directions are orthogonal to the z direction. A delivery optical system configured to focus the laser beam within the target and form the plurality of focus spots within the target along the propagation axis of the laser beam, It is a computer, The maximum allowable energy loss to the focus spot is determined, and the energy loss is caused by the obscuration effect of the shallower focus spot relative to the deeper focus spot . The scan patterns of a plurality of the focusing spots are determined by calculating the spatial separation that produces an amount of obscuration that keeps the energy loss below the maximum allowable energy loss , wherein the scan patterns include the scan patterns for lenses for correcting farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism of the eye. To form a plurality of the concentration spots simultaneously along the propagation axis, with the spatial separation between the shallower concentration spot and the deeper concentration spot, the scanner and the delivery optical system are commanded to orient and concentrate the plurality of concentration spots within the target according to the scan pattern. The computer is configured as follows: An ophthalmic laser system equipped with [feature/feature].
  9. The ophthalmic laser system according to claim 8, wherein the multifocal optical system includes a diffractive optical element that multiplexes the laser beam to generate the plurality of focused spots along the propagation axis of the laser beam.
  10. The ophthalmic laser system according to claim 8, wherein the multifocal optical system includes a holographic optical element having an interference pattern with high diffraction efficiency that generates the plurality of focused spots along the propagation axis of the laser beam.

Description

This disclosure generally relates to ophthalmic laser systems, and more specifically to ophthalmic laser systems equipped with multifocal optical systems. Ophthalmic laser systems deliver laser pulses to focus a spot within a target along a scanning pattern. These laser systems have a variety of applications. For example, the system can be used to perform surgical procedures on ocular tissue. When the laser pulse's beam intensity or energy density exceeds a threshold for plasma or photodisruption, it generates plasma or cavitation bubbles at the focused spot. The bubble pattern can form a surgical incision or photodisruption area. As another example, ophthalmic laser systems can be used to adjust light- (or laser-) adjustable lenses (LALs). In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Preoperative eye measurements are used to calculate the power and type of IOL that will optimize postoperative vision. However, the accuracy of preoperative measurements is limited, and because eyes heal differently, achieving the desired visual outcome can be difficult. Light-adjustable lenses can be adjusted after surgery to improve vision. These lenses are made from a photosensitive material that can change its refractive index in response to light. After the eye has healed, the patient's vision is examined, and a laser system is used to scan light within the patient's eye to adjust the lens. Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary ophthalmic surgical laser system used to treat a target.Figure 2 shows an example of a part that may be used by the system in Figure 1.Figures 3A-3B show examples of multifocal diffraction optical systems that can be used with the system in Figure 1.Figures 4A-4B show the relationship between the distance between focusing spots F1 and F2, the cone angle of a portion of the beam forming focusing spot F2, and the energy loss due to the obscuration effect of focusing spot F1 on focusing spot F2.Figure 5 shows an exemplary method for forming a focused spot within a target, which can be performed by the system in Figure 1. Herein, with reference to the description and drawings, exemplary embodiments of the disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods are illustrated in detail. The description and drawings are not intended to be exhaustive, nor are they intended to otherwise limit the claims to any particular embodiment shown in the drawings and disclosed in the description. While the drawings represent possible embodiments, they are not necessarily to scale, and certain features may be simplified, exaggerated, omitted, or partially cut off to better illustrate the embodiments. Generally, this disclosure relates to ophthalmic laser systems equipped with multifocal optical systems. In certain embodiments, the ophthalmic laser system includes a multifocal optical system that multiplexes a laser beam to generate multiple (e.g., 2x, 3x, or more) focused spots along the beam propagation axis. In this way, the effective laser repeat rate can be doubled (e.g., 2x, 3x, or more) without facing the technical challenges of increasing the repeat rate of the laser source or increasing the scanner speed. In addition, the spatial spacing between focused spots along the propagation axis can be selected to reduce or minimize the shadow effect that bubbles at shallower focused spots may have on bubble formation at deeper depths. Therefore, embodiments provide solutions for increasing the effective repeat rate of ophthalmic laser systems and, as a result, reducing treatment time. These embodiments may be particularly useful for customizing femtosecond laser-adjustable lenses (FLALs), which are intraocular lenses containing a material having a refractive index that can be modified by femtosecond laser pulses. Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary ophthalmic surgical laser system 100 for performing a procedure on a target 103. The system 100 includes a laser source 110, a multifocal optical system 107, a scanner 120, a delivery optical system 130, a patient interface 140, an imaging device 150, and a laser controller 160. In one example of operation, the laser source 110 generates a beam 101 of ultrashort laser pulses. The multifocal optical system 107 multiplexes the beam 101 to generate multiple focused spots 102 along the propagation axis of the beam 101. The scanner 120 directs the focused spots of the beam 101 toward a point on the target 103. The delivery optical system 130 focuses the scan beam 101 via the patient interface 140 to generate focused spots 102 within the target 103 along the propagation axis of the beam 101. The imaging device 150 generates an image of the target 103 during the procedure. The laser controller 160 controls the laser source 110, the multifocal optical system 107, the scanner 120, the delivery optical system 130, and/or the imaging device 150 to generate a spot scan pattern within the target 103. In the xyz coordinate syste