Patent EP0255581A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0255581A1
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EP
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In-vitro method and apparatus for modification of corneal refractive properties
Assignee: BMB Patent Holding Corp
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Filing: 1987-05-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for modifying corneal refractive properties includes a laser source, computer control, and a plurality of deflectors including at least one rotating and translating deflector. A beam emitted from the laser source is deflected by the rotating and translating deflector in a controlled manner such that the beam strikes the cornea tangentially, ablating or lathing the contacted surface. The apparatus is computer controlled to intra-operatively determine the visual axis, monitor fixation, monitor changing refractive error, adjust the rotating and translating deflector and activate and deactivate the laser. The invention allows the radius of curvature of the cornea to be modified in vivo or in vitro . The cornea is lathed tangentially in either a natural or frozen state in an area centered about its optical axis, encompassing its optical zone. In one embodiment, a rotating arm, rotating in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the cornea, transmits the laser beam to the variable deflector.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry Miles Belgorod
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00802; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00872; A61F9/00817
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for modifying the refractive properties of the cornea of an eye, comprising: laser means for emitting a laser beam; means for deflecting said laser beam to strike said cornea tangentially; and means for rotating said deflecting means through 360°, the center of rotation of said deflecting means being positioned along said visual axis, such that through rotation of said deflecting means said laser beam strikes said cornea tangentially over a circular area centered about the visual axis of said cornea.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for modifying the refractive properties of the cornea of an eye, comprising: laser means for emitting a laser beam; means for deflecting said laser beam to strike said cornea tangentially; and means for rotating said deflecting means through 360°, the center of rotation of said deflecting means being positioned along said visual axis, such that through rotation of said deflecting means said laser beam strikes said cornea tangentially over a circular area centered about the visual axis of said cornea.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for determining whether said visual axis is aligned with said center of rotation and control means for disabling said laser means when said visual axis and said center of rotation are not aligned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: autorefraction means for determining the refractive properties of an eye; and control means for disabling said laser means when said refractive properties meet predetermined conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: tangentiality detecting means for detecting tangential striking of the cornea by said laser beam; adjusting means for adjusting said deflecting means to alter the angle and point at which said laser beam intersects said axis; and control means for effecting adjustment by said adjusting means until tangentiality is indicated by said tangentiality indicating means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for modifying the refractive properties of the cornea of an eye, comprising: laser means for emitting a laser beam along an incidental axis; rotating deflection means, having its center of rotation disposed along said incidental axis, comprising first deflecting means disposed along said incidental axis for deflecting said laser beam radially outward, second deflecting means displaced substantially perpendicularly from said incidental axis and aligned with said first deflecting means for deflecting said laser beam from said first deflecting means to a third deflecting means aligned with said second deflecting means on the opposite side of said laser means respective said first reflecting means in a line substantially parallel to said incidental axis; means for maintaining alignment between the visual axis of an eye and said incidental axis; means for adjusting said third deflecting means such that said laser beam deflected thereby is adapted to strike the surface of a cornea tangentially, rotation of said rotating deflection means about said visual axis causing said laser to strike the cornea tangentially over a circular area centered about the visual axis of said cornea.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for modifying the refractive properties of the cornea of an eye, comprising: laser means for emitting a laser beam along an incidental axis; rotating deflection means, having its center of rotation disposed along said incidental axis, comprising first deflecting means disposed along said incidental axis for deflecting said laser beam radially outward, second deflecting means displaced substantially perpendicularly from said incidental axis and aligned with said first deflecting means for deflecting said laser beam from said first deflecting means to a third deflecting means aligned with said second deflecting means on the opposite side of said laser means respective said first reflecting means in a line substantially parallel to said incidental axis; means for maintaining alignment between the visual axis of an eye and said incidental axis; means for adjusting said third deflecting means such that said laser beam deflected thereby is adapted to strike the surface of a cornea tangentially, rotation of said rotating deflection means about said visual axis causing said laser to strike the cornea tangentially over a circular area centered about the visual axis of said cornea.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said third deflecting means comprises a deflecting means, the cross-sectional projection of a laser beam deflected by said deflecting means substantially corresponding to post-operative corneal curvature.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for in vivo modification of the refractive properties of a patient's eye, comprising the steps of: (a) maintaining visual fixation; (b) ascertaining the visual axis of the eye; (c) activating laser means to emit a laser beam; (d) directing said laser beam through deflecting means to strike the cornea of the eye tangentially; and (e) rotating said deflecting means through 360° about said visual axis while maintaining tangential striking of the cornea by the laser beam.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for in vivo modification of the refractive properties of a patient's eye, comprising the steps of: (a) maintaining visual fixation; (b) ascertaining the visual axis of the eye; (c) activating laser means to emit a laser beam; (d) directing said laser beam through deflecting means to strike the cornea of the eye tangentially; and (e) rotating said deflecting means through 360° about said visual axis while maintaining tangential striking of the cornea by the laser beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: (f) ascertaining the refractive error of the eye; and (g) if refractive error is found, repeating the steps of (a) - (f).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said deflecting means includes means for contouring a laser beam to have a curved cross-sectional profile.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said deflecting means includes a curved deflector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said deflecting means includes masking means defining a curved profile.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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