Abstract:
The present invention relates to an ophthalmic treatment apparatus and to a treatment beam radiating method for the apparatus. The ophthalmic treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a beam generating unit for generating a treatment beam; a beam delivery unit for delivering the treatment beam generated by the beam generating unit to the retinal region of an eyeball; an image unit for forming an image of the retinal region of the eyeball in the horizontal direction with respect to the plane of the focal spot of the treatment beam guided by the beam delivery unit; and a control unit for controlling the beam delivery unit such that the location of the plane of the focal spot can be adjusted based on the curvature of the retinal region of the eyeball imaged by the image unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an ophthalmic treatment apparatus and a method for radiating a beam for treatment using the same and, more particularly, to an ophthalmic treatment apparatus for treating a lesion of an eyeball by radiating a beam for treatment, such as a laser, to the lesion of the eyeball and a method for radiating a beam for treatment using the same. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Recently, a medical treatment apparatus using a beam, such as a laser, is widely used in various medical fields, such as surgery, dermatology, and ophthalmology. In particular, an ophthalmic treatment apparatus of medical treatment apparatuses uses a laser as a beam for treatment and treats a lesion by radiating a laser to a lesion region, such as the retina of an eyeball. 
         [0005]    Meanwhile, a conventional treatment apparatus is disclosed in “U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,596” entitled SELECTIVE LASER TARGETING OF PIGMENTED OCULAR CELLS.” The aforementioned prior art document discloses a technology capable of reducing the time taken for treatment by radiating a plurality of lasers to a lesion of a patient in a pattern of a specific region. 
         [0006]    However, although the treatment apparatus disclosed in the conventional prior art document radiates a plurality of spots like a pattern using a laser in order to reduce the time taken for treatment, there is a problem in that an error may occur in a lesion region having curvature, such as the retina, because the plurality of spots is radiated to the same plane as of focal spots. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmic treatment apparatus having an improved method for radiating a beam for treatment so that a beam for treatment is radiated to a treatment region of an eyeball having curvature along the curvature and a method for radiating a beam for treatment using the same. 
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, means for solving the object is achieved by an ophthalmic treatment apparatus, including a beam generation unit which generates a beam for treatment, a beam delivery unit which guides the beam for treatment generated by the beam generation unit to the retina region of an eyeball, an image unit which generates an image of the retina region of the eyeball in a direction perpendicular to the plane of a focal spot of the beam for treatment that is guided by the beam delivery unit, and a control unit which controls the beam delivery unit so that a location of the plane of the focal spot to which the beam for treatment is radiated is controlled based on curvature of the retina region of the eyeball photographed by the image unit. 
         [0009]    In this case, the plane of the focal spot may include the plane of a first focal spot that forms a tangential plane in the arc of the retina region of the eyeball through which the optical axial line of the beam for treatment penetrates and the plane of a second focal spot which is parallel to the plane of the first focal spot along the optical axial line and connects both sides of an arc formed with the contact point of the retina region interposed between the two sides. 
         [0010]    A separation distance D between the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot preferably may correspond to the curvature of the retina region of the eyeball. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, the beam delivery unit preferably guides the beam for treatment to the retina region of the eyeball in the form of a pattern including a plurality of focal spots. 
         [0012]    In this case, the form of the pattern may include a reference pattern radiated to the plane of the first focal spot along the curvature of the retina region of the eyeball and a control pattern radiated to the plane of the second focal spot along the curvature of the retina region of the eyeball. 
         [0013]    The beam delivery unit may include a first scanner which guides the beam for treatment generated by the beam generation unit to the plane of the focal spot, a collimation unit which collimates the beam for treatment incident from the first scanner to the retina region of the eyeball, and a second scanner which is disposed between the first scanner and the collimation unit and controls the location of the focal spot of the beam for treatment incident from the first scanner along the optical axial line of the beam for treatment. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the second scanner may include a beam extension lens which extends the beam for treatment incident from the first scanner and a mobile lens which relatively moves compared to the beam extension lens so that the beam for treatment passing through the beam extension lens is radiated along the optical axial line between the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the ophthalmic treatment apparatus may further include an image analysis unit which analyzes the image of the retina region of the eyeball transmitted by the image unit and measures the separation distance between the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot. 
         [0016]    In this case, the control unit preferably may control the operation of the beam delivery unit so that the beam for treatment is radiated to the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot based on the separation distance between the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot which has been measured by the image analysis unit. 
         [0017]    In contrast, the ophthalmic treatment apparatus may further include an image analysis unit which analyzes the image of the retina region of the eyeball transmitted by the image unit and measures the separation distance between the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot. 
         [0018]    In this case, the control unit preferably may relatively move the mobile lens compared to the beam extension lens so that the pattern form of the beam for treatment is radiated to the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot based on the separation distance between the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot which has been measured by the image analysis unit. 
         [0019]    Meanwhile, in accordance with the present invention, means for solving the object is also achieved by a method for radiating, by an ophthalmic treatment apparatus, a beam for treatment, including steps of (a) generating an image of the retina region of an eyeball in a direction perpendicular to the plane of a focal spot to which a beam for treatment is radiated, (b) analyzing curvature of the image and measuring a location where the beam for treatment is radiated, and (c) radiating the beam for treatment along the curvature in accordance with the curvature of the image. 
         [0020]    In this case, the plane of the focal spot may include the plane of a first focal spot that forms a tangential plane in the arc of the retina region of the eyeball through which the optical axial line of the beam for treatment penetrates and the plane of a second focal spot which is parallel to the plane of the first focal spot along the optical axial line and connects both sides of an arc with the contact point of the retina region interposed between the two sides. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, the step (b) may include a step of measuring a separation distance between the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot. 
         [0022]    The step (c) may include a step of radiating in the form of a pattern, including a plurality of focal spots, to the plane of the first focal spot and the plane of the second focal spot along the curvature of the image. 
         [0023]    In this case, the pattern form may include a reference pattern radiated to the plane of the first focal spot and a control pattern radiated to the plane of the second focal spot with the reference pattern interposed between the control pattern and the plane of the second focal spot. 
         [0024]    The details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings. 
         [0025]    The ophthalmic treatment apparatus and the method for radiating a beam for treatment using the same according to the present invention have the following advantages. 
         [0026]    Curvature according to an image of an eyeball is measured and analyze, and the plane of a focal spot to which a beam for treatment is radiated is controlled along the curvature of the eyeball. Accordingly, a beam for treatment can be radiated to a location corresponding to the curvature of an eyeball, thereby being capable of improving treatment efficiency of the eyeball. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a control block diagram of an ophthalmic treatment apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a schematic configuration diagram of the ophthalmic treatment apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the plane F of a focal spot that are commonly formed in the retina of an eyeball, 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the plane F of a focal spot formed in the retina of an eyeball in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a control flowchart illustrating a method for radiating, by the ophthalmic treatment apparatus, a beam for treatment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Hereinafter, an ophthalmic treatment apparatus and a method for radiating a beam for treatment using the same in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a control block diagram of an ophthalmic treatment apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a schematic configuration diagram of the ophthalmic treatment apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the ophthalmic treatment apparatus  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes the ophthalmic treatment apparatus  10 , an image unit  120 , an image analysis unit  130 , a beam generation unit  150 , a beam delivery unit  160 , an input unit  180 , and a control unit  190 . The ophthalmic treatment apparatus  10  according to the present invention is used to treat, in particular, the retina R, that is, the curvature (C) region of an eyeball O. 
         [0035]    A contact lens  110  comes in contact with the eyeball O and enables the visibility of the retina R to be secured. That is, the contact lens  110  enables an operator to view the retina R. The contact lens  110  is disposed between the eyeball O and the collimation unit  168  of the beam delivery unit  160  to be described later. 
         [0036]    The image unit  120  is provided to perform a computed tomography scan on the eyeball O. In an embodiment, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), etc. may be used as the image unit  120 . The image unit  120  may perform a computed tomography scan on the eyeball O using some elements of the beam delivery unit  160 . In this case, the image unit  120  performs a computed tomography scan on the eyeball O along an optical axial line (OA: refer to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) to which a beam for treatment is radiated. That is, the image unit  120  performs a computed tomography scan on the retina (R) region of the eyeball O in a direction perpendicular to the plane F of the focal spot of a beam for treatment (refer to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
         [0037]    The image analysis unit  130  analyzes an image of the eyeball O captured by the image unit  120 . The image analysis unit  130  may obtain three-dimensional information, including curvature C of the retina (R) region, by analyzing a tomographic image of the retina (R) region of the eyeball O received from the image unit  120  so that the location of the plane F of a focal spot according to the curvature C of the retina R is measured. In general, shape and curvature characteristics of a retina region are a little different in each patient. In the present embodiment, characteristic information, such as a shape and curvature C of the retina of a patient, can be accurately analyzed and the location of the plane F of a focal spot can be determined using the image analysis unit. 
         [0038]    The beam generation unit  150  generates a beam for treatment based on an input signal applied by the input unit  180 . In an embodiment of the present invention, a laser medium or a laser diode for generating a laser may be used as the beam generation unit  150  so that a laser is used as a beam for treatment. In this case, the beam for treatment generated by the beam generation unit  150  may be various depending on the type of light source (not illustrated). 
         [0039]    The beam for treatment generated by the beam generation unit  150  has a wavelength band capable of treating a lesion of the eyeball O. That is, the beam for treatment generated by the beam generation unit  150  may have a wavelength band of 532 nm to 1064 nm. However, the beam for treatment generated by the beam generation unit  150  may have a wavelength band of less than 532 nm or more than 1064 nm depending on a treatment purpose or a lesion, that is, the subject of treatment, in addition to the aforementioned wavelength band of 532 nm to 1064 nm. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the plane F of a focal spot that are commonly formed in the retina of an eyeball, and  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the plane F of a focal spot formed in the retina of an eyeball in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the beam delivery unit  160  includes a first scanner  162 , a second scanner  164 , a beam splitter  166  and the collimation unit  168 . The beam delivery unit  160  guides a beam for treatment, generated by the beam generation unit  150 , to the retina (R) region of the eyeball O. The beam delivery unit  160  leads a beam for treatment so that the beam for treatment is radiated to the retina R through the cornea C o  and eye lens C r  of the eyeball O. For example, the beam delivery unit  160  using a conventional method and a method according to the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0042]    The beam delivery unit  160  of  FIG. 3  using the conventional method radiates a beam for treatment to the plane F of a focal spot irrespective of curvature C of a retina (R) region. That is, when the beam for treatment is radiated in the form of a pattern P including a reference pattern P 1  and a control pattern P 2 , the beam delivery unit  160  radiates the reference pattern P 1  and the control pattern P 2  to the same plane F of the focal spot (In this case, the reference pattern may be a pattern placed at the central part of the entire radiation pattern to which the beam for treatment is radiated, and the control pattern may be a pattern placed at the edge of the reference pattern. Alternatively, the reference pattern may be a pattern placed at a retina location having a first depth, and the control pattern may be a pattern placed at a retina location having a second depth different from the first depth). If the beam delivery unit  160  radiates the control pattern P 2  to the same plane F of the focal spot as the reference pattern P 1  irrespective of the curvature C of the retina (R) region as described above, the focal spot of part of the beam for treatment is not placed in a lesion region although part of the focal spot of the beam for treatment is placed in the lesion region. 
         [0043]    Meanwhile, the beam delivery unit  160  of  FIG. 4  using the method of the present invention controls the location to which the beam for treatment including the reference pattern P 1  and the control pattern P 2  is radiated based on the curvature C of the retina (R) region. That is, the beam delivery unit  160  divides the plane F of the focal spot into a plane F 1  of a first focal spot and, based on data from the image unit  120  and the image analysis unit  130  and radiates the beam for treatment. The beam delivery unit  160  radiates the reference pattern P 1  to the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and radiates the control pattern P 2  to the plane F 2  of the second focal spot based on the curvature C of the retina R. As described above, the curvature C of the retina (R) region of the eyeball O is analyzed, the plane F of the focal spot is divided into the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot to which the reference pattern P 1  and the control pattern P 2  are respectively radiated, thereby being capable of improving treatment efficiency. 
         [0044]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the beam delivery unit  160  includes the first scanner  162 , the second scanner  164 , the beam splitter  166 , and the collimation unit  168 . The first scanner  162  guides the beam for treatment provided by the beam generation unit  150  to the plane F of the focal spot. That is, assuming that an XY plane, that is, a direction perpendicular to the optical axial line of the beam for treatment, is the plane F of the focal spot, the first scanner  162  controls the location where the beam for treatment is radiated on the plane F of the focal spot. 
         [0045]    The second scanner  164  controls the location of the focal spot of the beam for treatment incident from the first scanner  162  along the optical axial line OA. That is, the second scanner  164  controls the location of the focal spot of the beam for treatment in a Z axis, that is, a direction perpendicular to the XY plane. The second scanner  164  controls the location of the focal spot of the beam for treatment so that the beam for treatment is radiated to the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot in the Z axis. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second scanner  164  includes a beam extension lens  164   a  and a mobile lens  164   b.    
         [0046]    The beam extension lens  164   a  extends the beam for treatment that is incident from the first scanner  162 . Furthermore, the mobile lens  164   b  relatively moves compared to the beam extension lens  164   a  so that the beam for treatment passing through the beam extension lens  164   a  is radiated along the optical axial line OA between the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot. The mobile lens  164   b  relatively moves compared to the beam extension lens  164   a , so the beam for treatment is radiated to the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot along the optical axial line OA, that is, the Z axis. More specifically, the mobile lens  164   b  radiates the reference pattern P 1  and the control pattern P 2  of the pattern form P to the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot that are formed along the curvature C of the retina R. 
         [0047]    The beam splitter  166  guides a beam for treatment, provided by the first scanner  162  and the second scanner  164 , to the contact lens  110 . Precisely, the beam splitter  166  guides the beam for treatment to the collimation unit  168 . The collimation unit  168  guides the beam for treatment, provided by the beam splitter  166 , to the contact lens  110 . An object lens is used as the collimation unit  168 . 
         [0048]    The input unit  180  applies an input signal so that a beam for treatment is generated by the beam generation unit  150 . Furthermore, the input unit  180  applies an input signal so that an image of the retina (R) region of the eyeball O is captured and formed by the image unit  120 . 
         [0049]    Finally, the control unit  190  controls the operation of the beam generation unit  150  so that a beam for treatment is generated based on an input signal applied by the input unit  180 . Furthermore, the control unit  190  controls the operation of the image unit  120  so that a computed tomography scan is performed on the eyeball O based on an input signal applied by the input unit  180 . 
         [0050]    The control unit  190  of the present invention controls the operation of the beam delivery unit  160  so that the location of the plane F of the focal spot to which the beam for treatment is radiated is controlled based on the curvature C with respect to the retina (R) region of the eyeball O that has been photographed by the image unit  120 . That is, the control unit  190  controls the operation of the beam delivery unit  160  such that the reference pattern P 1  and control pattern P 2  of the pattern form P are respectively radiated to the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot. In this case, the control unit  190  controls the operation of the beam delivery unit  160  so that the reference pattern P 1  and the control pattern P 2  are radiated based on a separation distance D between the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot that correspond to the curvature C of the retina R. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  is a control flowchart illustrating a method for radiating, by the ophthalmic treatment apparatus, a beam for treatment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0052]    The method for radiating, by the ophthalmic treatment apparatus  10  configured as described above, a beam for treatment according to the present invention is described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0053]    First, a computed tomography scan is performed on the eyeball O along the optical axial line OA of a beam for treatment using the image unit  120  (S 100 ). An image of the eyeball O captured by the image unit  120  is transmitted to the image analysis unit  130 . The image analysis unit  130  analyzes the image of the eyeball O and measures the curvature C of the retina (R) region (S 200 ). In this case, the image analysis unit  130  analyzes the curvature C of the retina (R) region and measures the separation distance D between the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot to which the beam for treatment including the reference pattern P 1  and control pattern P 2  of the pattern form P is radiated. 
         [0054]    The operation of the beam delivery unit  160  is controlled so that the beam for treatment is radiated based on the separation distance D between the plane F 1  of the first focal spot and the plane F 2  of the second focal spot that has been analyzed by the image analysis unit  130 , that is, the curvature C of the analyzed image (S 300 ). 
         [0055]    As described above, curvature according to an image of an eyeball can be measured and analyzed, and the plane of a focal spot to which a beam for treatment is radiated can be controlled based on the curvature of the eyeball. Accordingly, the beam for treatment can be radiated to a location corresponding to the curvature of the eyeball, and thus treatment efficiency of the eyeball can be improved. 
         [0056]    As described above, although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other detailed forms without changing the technical spirit or indispensable characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be understood that the aforementioned embodiments are illustrative and not limitative from all aspects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the detailed description, and the present invention should be construed as covering all modifications or variations derived from the meaning and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.