Patent · US Expired

Method and system for laser treatment of refractive error using an offset image of a rotatable mask

US5556395A · kind A · utility

84Cited by
15References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 25, 1994
Grant dateSep 17, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2009/00872
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ophthalmological surgery system and method for performing ablative photodecomposition of the corneal surface by offset image scanning. A mask having opaque and transparent portions corresponding to a desired type of correction, such as a hyperopic correction, intercepts a laser beam to provide a profiled beam. The mask is mounted for rotation about an axis and the image of the mask is offset from an intended center of rotation corresponding to an ablation center by an imaging lens which is radially offset from the center of rotation. The mask and lens rotate in unison to scan the image over the desired portion of the corneal surface. The invention enables wide area treatment with a laser having a narrower beam and makes optional the use of rotating mirrors and prisms.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.