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US5376086A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Laser surgical method of sculpting a patient's cornea and associated intermediate controlling mask

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-10-26
•
Granted: 1994-12-27
•
Expires: 2013-10-26
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Abstract

Abstract A laser (e.g., excimer laser) and masking apparatus performs controlled sculpting of eye surfaces, such as corneal surfaces. The masking system includes a single/multi-layer (e.g., metallic) coated substrate (e.g., fused silica) with multiple openings in the substrate of desired size, shape and spacing to control the power transmission of a laser used in conjunction with the mask. The power transmission is controlled through the use of diffraction and absorption. The power transmission can be attuned to a particular surface by using topographical information of the surface in question. The surgeon can observe the topographical information and then pattern the openings (size, number, shape, spacing) so that reshaping can be done with greater intensity (using larger or more openings) to remove more corneal tissue in areas that the surgeon feels need more reshaping. Areas that need less reshaping can be masked complete by not placing holes or openings in that area of the mask, or by placing fewer or smaller openings.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bahram Khoobehi
  • 👤 Stephen D. Klyce
  • 👤 Marguerite B. McDonald
  • 👤 Sanan B. Shaibani

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 22:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00802; A61F9/00804; A61F9/00817; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00872; A61F2009/00878; A61F2009/00882

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of reprofiling the surface of a patient's cornea comprising the steps of: a) locating a laser means relative to the surface of the patient's cornea, the laser means being operable to deliver laser radiation to the surface of the patient's cornea; b) placing a mask between the laser and the surface of the patient's cornea, the mask including a matrix of varying size holes for diffracting the laser beam; c) irradiating the mask whereby a portion of the radiation is selectively diffracted by the mask, wherein the mask comprises a mesh having a matrix of varying size holes spaced over a selected area of the mask; and d) wherein in step "c" the laser beam simultaneously hits the matrix of holes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of reprofiling the surface of a patient's cornea comprising the steps of: a) locating a laser means relative to the surface of the patient's cornea, the laser means being operable to deliver laser radiation to the surface of the patient's cornea; b) placing a mask between the laser and the surface of the patient's cornea, the mask including a matrix of varying size holes for diffracting the laser beam; c) irradiating the mask whereby a portion of the radiation is selectively diffracted by the mask, wherein the mask comprises a mesh having a matrix of varying size holes spaced over a selected area of the mask; and d) wherein in step "c" the laser beam simultaneously hits the matrix of holes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of irradiating the mask includes reflecting a portion of the laser beam with a reflective material on a substrate material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of irradiating the mask includes reflecting a portion of the laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of irradiating the mask includes reflecting a portion of the laser beam with a reflective material mounted on a fused silica substrate material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of irradiating includes reflecting a portion of the laser beam with a mask that has numerous patterns formed in a reflective coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising splitting the beam into two or more components, and diffracting each component with a mask.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein there are two laser beams and further comprising the step of diffracting each beam with a mask.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step "b" there is provided a carousel with multiple masks, and further comprising the step of rotating a selected mask to diffract the laser beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of supporting the mask upon the patient's eye.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3096767A Cited
US4732148A Cited
US5207668A Cited
US5219343A Cited
US5312320A Cited
US4994058A Cited
US4911711A Cited
US4856513A Cited
US4917486A Cited
EP0372127A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-12-26 1998-06-27 1998-12-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-12-26 2002-06-27 2002-12-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-12-26 2006-06-27 2006-12-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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