Patent ID: 6090100
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
An apparatus for shaping the cornea by removing tissue from a region of the cornea that has an area to be subject to ablation to a desired treatment pattern, the area having a central point, the apparatus comprising:a laser that emits a laser beam having a suitable wavelength;an optical system coupled to said laser that receives the laser beam and images the laser beam onto the cornea;means coupled to the optical system for directing the optical system to provide the laser beam at a fixed spot size on the cornea, wherein the fixed spot size is a relatively large fraction of the area of the cornea to be subject to ablation; andmeans coupled to the laser and the means for directing the optical system for directing said laser to fire the laser beam and the optical system to image the laser beam in a series of shots at said fixed spot size, said series of shots including shots being centered at at least two distances from the central point, said series of shots including shots partially overlapping with prior shots, and said series of shots ablating the cornea to the desired treatment pattern, wherein said means for directing the optical system to provide the laser beam at a fixed spot size further comprises means for providing the laser beam at a spot size fixed between 2.0 mm and 3.5 mm in diameter.