Patent · US Expired

Surgical laser system microscope with separated ocular and objective lenses

US6251101A · kind A · utility

86Cited by
18References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 26, 1998
Grant dateJun 26, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 26, 2018

Classification

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

Abstract

The invention provides improved structures, systems, and methods for supporting the optical elements of a microscope relative to the optical train of a laser surgery system. As the field of view of the microscope is substantially fully determined by the position of the objective lens, the laser delivery optics and the microscope can be aligned with a target location of the patient's eye by accurately aligning just the objective lens with the delivery optics. By structurally separating the objective lens from the other optical components of the microscope, and by maintaining accurate alignment between the objective lens and the laser delivery optics with a simple, tight-tolerance support structure, the remaining optical components of the microscope can be allowed to "float" relative to the objective lens with a looser-tolerance without degrading the operator's ability to align, observe, and optically direct an ophthalmic laser procedure.

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