Patent ID: 6210401
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: A61B,A61F,B23K,G02B,G02F,H01S

Abstract:
An eye tracking system provided within a laser surgery system for performing ophthalmic surgery, the system comprising:a laser source means for generating a laser beam for tissue ablation at an undeflected laser beam location;means for controlling laser beam location;indicator means for indicating location of an eye, that is adapted to be placed in contact with the eye;closed-loop control means that includes means for activating the eye tracking system at an initial position of the eye, and the control means uses the initial undeflected beam location as a reference location of the eye; andlocation detector means directed towards the indicator means through relay optics means to receive an image of the indicator means, and for generating a bias signal proportional to relative distance of a current image location relative to the reference location of the eye at the location detector means, such that the bias signal is adapted to indicate eye movement away from the undeflected beam location,wherein the closed-loop control means is coupled to the laser beam location control means and the location detector means such that a non-zero bias signal from the location detector means causes the laser beam location control means to move the laser beam's undeflected location until the location detector means determines that the image of the indicator means returns to the reference location corresponding to the bias signal being approximately zero.