Patent ID: 6508812
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A laser surgery system for reshaping the cornea of the eye, said system comprising:a) a computer system adapted to define correction data for the eye and including control software for a broadbeam mode of operation and a scanning spot mode of operation; b) a laser coupled to said computer system and adapted to produce laser beam pulses, each laser beam pulse adapted to ablate an etch-depth of corneal tissue; and c) a digital micromirror device (DMD) having a plurality of mirrors adapted to modulate the laser beam pulses produced by said laser such that the cornea of the eye is reshaped according to the correction data, said control software adapted to permit said computer system to, on demand and in the alternative, either modulate said laser beam in accord with said broadbeam mode of operation in which, for each of at least two etch-depth layers of corneal tissue requiring ablation according to said correction data, a single laser pulse is modulated by said DMD to impinge upon said each layer to ablate all corneal tissue to be removed in said each layer, or modulate said laser beam in accord with said scanning spot mode of operation in which, for each of at least two etch-depth layers of corneal tissue requiring ablation according to said correction data, multiple laser pulses are modulated by said DMD to impinge upon said each layer of corneal tissue, said multiple laser pulses together ablating all tissue to be removed in said each layer.