System for detecting, measuring and compensating for lateral movements of a target
US5865832A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 1995 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2009/00897
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for a transverse tracker is described that can greatly improve the accuracy, speed, range, reliability, versatility, safety, and efficacy of interventions such as laser microsurgery. The present invention provides means for stabilizing the motion of targets in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction, thus allowing an imaging system, diagnostics illumination, and/or laser beam to maintain a lock on the target area, regardless of its movement. Unique attributes provided in the tracking system include means for (1) sensing contrast in recognizable large scale boundaries such as the change between the cornea/sclera interface (limbus), thereby to determine the absolute location and orientation of these boundaries, all without having to resort to digital sampling techniques and (2) dual mode operation of an electronic control system compatible with all analog technologies, thereby substantially increasing the speed of operations over other, comparable digital method. The tracking system of the invention is at least comprised of illumination sources, imaging optics, a sensor, a movable optical element, a two-dimensional logic board, and a dedicated micr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.