Patent ID: 6129722
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
An ablation control apparatus for use in laser corneal corrective surgery comprising:a topographical data acquisition means for obtaining surface elevation map data of a cornea of a patient which defines a three dimensional surface of a zone of the cornea,a best fit sphere calculation means for fitting a spherical surface to the surface elevation map data,an interactive reference ablation profile means for generating an ablation profile that is the difference between the three dimensional surface of a zone of the cornea and the calculated spherical surface,a predicted corneal shape display means for generating a display that is a representation of a predicted corneal shape that would result from a laser in situ keratomileusis treatment in which a volume of corneal tissue exposed by the raising of a corneal flap is removed by a laser ablation corresponding to the ablation profile, anda laser control data means for outputting the ablation profile to a data form for controlling a laser to perform a laser ablation of corneal tissue defined by the ablation profile.