Ophthalmic laser apparatus

An ophthalmic laser apparatus comprises a laser light source; a light guide device, configured to guide a laser beam generated from the laser light source; a support bracket, configured to support a patient's head for the patient's eye to be perpendicular to a horizontal plane; a positioning device to acquire data related to a position of the patient's eye; a laser beam projector, the laser beam projector being movable to be aligned with the patient's eye and projecting the laser beam from the light guide device; a moving stand, configured to move the positioning device and the laser beam projector along an X direction, a Y direction, and/or a Z direction; and a controller, configured to control the laser light source to irradiate the laser beam and to control the laser beam projector to project the laser beam toward the patient's eye.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ophthalmic laser apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the structure of the eye, about two-thirds of the diopter is determined by the curvature of the front of the cornea. Therefore, the refractive error of the eye can be significantly improved or eliminated by changing the shape of the cornea. The cornea is a multi-layer film. The front and back of the cornea are almost concentric. The cornea has a central thickness of about 0.5 to 0.6 mm and an edge thickness of about 0.6 to 0.8 mm. The multi-layer structure of the cornea from the front to the back includes five layers, namely, the epithelium, Bowman's layer, the stroma, Descemet's membrane, and the endothelium. The central thickness of the epithelium is about 70 μm, and the thickness of Bowman's layer is about 12 μm. The thickness of the stroma accounts for about 90% of the total thickness of the cornea (about 500 μm), and it is mainly composed of regularly arranged collagen fibers and interconnected corneal cells. The endothelium is composed of a layer of hexagonal flat cells.

Based on the corneal structure described above, since the stroma of the cornea has a sufficient thickness, for the purpose of correction, the front part of the stroma can be removed to change its contour, thereby changing the diopter of the eye while remaining most of the tissue of the stroma.

Various lasers are widely used in ophthalmic surgery, for example, glaucoma, cataract, refractive eye surgery, etc. For example, ultraviolet (UV) lasers are used in refractive eye surgery (or Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) Ultraviolet lasers include 193 nm excimer lasers, fifth harmonic (213 nm) neodymium crystal lasers (Neodymium-Uttrium Aluminum Garnet; Nd-YAG laser) and so on. Specifically, these ultraviolet lasers are widely used in Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), etc. They all use laser beam to ablate the corneal tissue to change its curvature, thereby changing the diopter of the eye (vision correction).

In general, conventional ophthalmic laser apparatus used to perform LASIK has a similar design, aligning the visual axis of the patient's eye with the laser beam by moving the operating table where the patient is located. Specifically, the patient will lie on an operating table that can be precisely moved along the X axis, Y axis and Z axis. The patient (that is, the surface of the cornea) will be moved along with the operating table until the surface of the cornea reaches the focal point of the microscope in the ophthalmic laser apparatus, and then the laser beam transmission path is set. In the ophthalmic laser apparatus, because the main cabinet provided with the laser light source is large in size and cannot be moved conveniently, the laser beam is usually transmitted through an optical system. After passing through the optical system, the laser beam is turned downward under the microscope to align the optical axis of the microscope. During the use of such ophthalmic laser apparatus, in order to align the visual axis of the patient's eye with the laser beam, the operating table on which the patient is located needs to be moved and adjusted again and again. In such a situation, because the operating table is large in size, it is easy to cause inconvenience to the operator (for example, a doctor or an operating assistant).

On the other hand, in ophthalmic laser surgery, the patient needs to undergo a series of related examinations in a sitting posture before surgery, and then move to the operating table to have ophthalmic laser surgery in a lying posture. In such a case, the various parameters of the patient's eye will be slightly different in a sitting posture and in a lying posture, for example, the difference in the angle of astigmatism caused by the different rotation angles of the eye in a sitting posture and in a lying posture. Such a difference will make the operations of the surgery not precise enough, which will be a serious problem for ophthalmic laser surgery that requires high precision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmic laser apparatus. The patient can receive the laser beam from the ophthalmic laser apparatus in a sitting posture for performing ophthalmic laser surgery. The alignment between the ophthalmic laser apparatus and the patient's eye is done by moving the ophthalmic laser apparatus. There is no need to move the position of the patient relative to the ophthalmic laser apparatus.

The present invention provides an ophthalmic laser apparatus, comprising a laser light source, configured to generate a laser beam; a light guide device, configured to guide the laser beam generated from the laser light source; a support bracket, configured to support a patient's head for an exposed surface of the patient's eye to be perpendicular to a horizontal plane; a positioning device, configured to position a position of the patient's eye supported on the support bracket; a laser beam projector, the laser beam projector being movable to be aligned on the support bracket; a laser beam projector, the laser beam projector being movable to be aligned with the patient's eye supported on the support bracket based on a positioning result of the positioning device, the laser beam from the light guide device being projected toward the patient's eye through the laser beam projector; a moving stand, the positioning device and the laser beam projector being arranged on the moving stand, the moving stand being configured to move the positioning device and the laser beam projector along an X direction, a Y direction, and/or a Z direction; and a controller, configured to control the laser light source to irradiate the laser beam and to control the laser beam projector to project the laser beam toward the patient's eye.

With the ophthalmic laser apparatus of the present invention, since the support bracket is configured to keep the exposed surface of the patient's eye perpendicular to the horizontal plane, in addition to receiving related examinations before surgery in a sitting posture, the patient can receive the laser beam projected from the laser beam projector in a sitting posture to perform ophthalmic laser surgery. In this way, there will not be much difference in the condition of the patient's eyes when undergoing related examinations before surgery and when a laser beam is projected for ophthalmic laser surgery, so that the more precise operation of ophthalmic laser surgery can be performed. Therefore, the ophthalmic laser apparatus is particularly suitable for ophthalmic laser surgery that requires high precision.

On the other hand, with the ophthalmic laser apparatus of the present invention, the alignment between the patient's eye and the ophthalmic laser apparatus is done by moving the ophthalmic laser apparatus. There is no need to move the position of the patient relative to the ophthalmic laser apparatus, that is, there is no need for the operator to move the operating table where the patient is located. Therefore, the ophthalmic laser apparatus according to the present invention is more convenient in operation and use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS.1to3show an ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG.1is a perspective view of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present invention. The X direction and Y direction is a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane.FIG.2is a top view of the ophthalmic laser apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention (some elements are omitted in the figure).FIG.3is a block diagram of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The ophthalmic laser apparatus1of the present invention comprises a laser light source2, a light guide device3having a light guide module30and a light guide arm31, a support bracket4, a moving stand7, a positioning device5and a laser beam projector6arranged on the moving stand7, and a controller8.

The laser light source2is configured to generate a laser beam L, for example, an excimer laser beam. With the excimer laser beam, ophthalmic laser surgery can be performed on the eye E of a patient, for example, LASIK surgery.

The light guide module30and the light guide arm31of the light guide device3are configured to guide the laser beam generated from the laser light source2. The laser beam is guided to the laser beam projector6and then travels toward the eye E of the patient.

The support bracket4is configured to support the head of the patient so that the exposed surface of the eye E of the patient is perpendicular to the horizontal plane. In other words, the patient will undergo the ophthalmic laser surgery performed by the laser beam L from the laser beam projector6in a sitting posture, as shown inFIG.5. Preferably, the support bracket4is adjustable in height along the Z direction, so as to meet the needs of different patients.

The moving stand7is configured to move the positioning device5and the laser beam projector6that are disposed on the moving stand7along the X direction, the Y direction, and/or the Z direction.

Through the moving stand7, the positioning device5can be moved for acquiring the position of the eye E of the patient supported on the support racket4, for example, the position of the left or right eye of the patient. The positioning device5generates a positioning result based on the position of the patient's eye. In the embodiment of the present invention, the positioning device5is a camera, and is configured to move along the X direction, the Y direction and/or the Z direction when the operator manually operates the moving stand7, but not limited thereto. For example, according to the accuracy requirements of different surgeries, the positioning device5may be a microscope, etc., and the moving stand7may be an electric moving stand. The electric moving stand enables the positioning device to move electrically under the control of the controller8.

Similarly, through the moving stand7, the laser beam projector6can be moved based on the positioning result of the positioning device5to align the laser beam with the eye E of the patient supported on the support bracket4(for example, the left eye or right eye of the patient. This positioning can be referred to as the primary positioning of the laser beam projector6.

It should be noted that, in the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the present invention, the laser beam projector6further includes an eye tracking system9and a fine adjustment device10. The eye tracking system9is configured to track the position of the patient's eye E. As the position of the patient's eye E may change during the procedure, the tracking system9produces a repositioning result based on the positional change of the patient's eye. The fine adjustment device10is operatively coupled to the eye tracking system9and is configured to fine adjust the position of the laser beam projector6according to the repositioning result of the eye tracking system9, so that the laser beam projector6can be aligned with the patient's eye E accurately. This positioning is referred to as the fine positioning of the laser beam projector6. Next, the laser beam L from the light guide device3is projected to the patient's eye E through the laser beam projector6to perform ophthalmic laser surgery, for example, LASIK surgery.

The movement of the positioning device5and the laser beam projector6relative to the patient's eye E will be described in further detail below, and will not be repeated here.

Preferably, the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the present invention further includes a condenser20. The condenser20is arranged on one side of the laser beam projector6, facing the patient's eye E, so that the laser beam L projected by the laser beam projector6toward the patient's eye E can be focused on the target position of the patient's eye E.

The controller8is configured to control the various components of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1. Specifically, the controller8is configured to control the laser light source2to irradiate the laser beam L and to control the laser beam projector6to project the laser beam L toward the patient's eye E.

In addition, the ophthalmic laser apparatus1further includes a cabinet100and an operating platform200. The laser light source2, the light guide module30of the light guide device3, and the controller8are arranged on the cabinet100. The support bracket4, the moving stand7, the positioning device5and the laser beam projector6on the moving stand7are arranged on the operating platform200. In other words, the cabinet100and the operating platform200are connected through the light guide arm31that is connected between the light guide module30on the cabinet100and the laser beam projector6on the operating platform200.

In order to conveniently adjust the position of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1to meet the needs of the operator better, both the cabinet100and the operating platform200are designed to be movable on the ground. For example, the cabinet100and the operating platform200have their respective wheels, so as to move on the ground. On the other hand, the maximum length (or width) of the cabinet100is only 70 cm, so that it can be moved to enter an elevator smoothly. This is more advantageous for the transportation of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the present invention.

FIG.4AandFIG.4Bshow the movement of the positioning device5and the laser beam projector6of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1relative to the patient's eye E according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG.4A, after the patient's head (eye E) is supported on the support bracket4, the operating first moves the positioning device5by operating the moving stand7for positioning relative the position of the eye E (for example, the left eye or the right eye) of the patient supported on the support bracket4. Next, after the positioning device5is positioned relative to the position of the patient's eye E, the operator moves the laser beam projector6based on the positioning result of the positioning device5to a position (primary positioning) aligned with the patient's eye E by operating the moving stand7, as shown inFIG.4B. After the laser beam projector6is moved to the position aligned with the patient's eye E by operating the moving stand7, the eye tracking system9of the laser beam projector6will reposition relative to the position of the patient's eye E. According to the repositioning result of the eye tracking system9, the position of the laser beam projector6is fine adjusted by the fine adjustment device10, so that it is aligned with the patient's eye E (fine positioning) more accurately.

After the above-mentioned primary positioning and fine positioning, the laser beam projector6is accurately aligned with the patient's eye E. In this state, the laser beam L can be projected to the eye E of the patient through the laser beam projector6.

It should be noted that while the laser beam projector6is moved to be aligned with the patient's eye E based on the positioning result of the positioning device5, the positioning device5continuously acquires the position of the patient's eye E and the position of the laser beam projector6.

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.3, the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the present invention further includes a user interface300and a switch400connected to the controller8. After the laser beam projector6is moved to a position precisely aligned with the eye E by operating the moving stand7and the fine adjustment device10of the laser beam projector6, the operator can input the operating parameters of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1(for example, the operating parameters required for performing ophthalmic laser surgery) to the controller8through the user interface300, and can operate the switch400to issue a command. This command is transmitted to the laser light source2through the controller8, so that the laser light source2irradiates a corresponding laser beam L according to the operating parameters input through the user interface300. Then, the laser beam L is transmitted to the laser beam projector6through the light guide module30and the light guide arm31, and then is projected toward the eye E of the patient.

In the embodiment according to the present invention, as shown inFIG.1, the user interface300includes a screen and a keyboard for the operator to input operating parameters and monitor the operation of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1, for example, the primary positioning and fine positioning results of the laser beam projector6. In addition, as shown inFIG.1, the switch400is preferably a foot-operated switch. After operating the mobile stand7to move the laser beam projector6to be aligned with the eye E of the patient, the operator can operate the foot-operated switch to issue a command. The laser beam L irradiated from the laser light source2through the light guide module30, the light guide arm31and the laser beam projector6is projected toward the eye E of the patient. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned type of user interface300and switch400, other types of user interfaces and switches may be used, as long as the above functions can be achieved.

FIG.5is a partial schematic view of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the embodiment of the present invention when in use. It can be clearly seen inFIG.5that the patient's head is supported on the support bracket4so that the exposed surface of the eye E is perpendicular to the horizontal plane (XY plane).The laser beam projector6is precisely aligned with the patient's eye E through the positioning device5and the fine adjustment device10. In this state, the laser beam L from the laser beam projector6is projected toward the patient's eye, thereby performing ophthalmic laser surgery. In other words, as shown inFIG.5, the patient undergoes ophthalmic laser surgery in a sitting posture.

In summary, with the ophthalmic laser apparatus1of the present invention, since the support bracket4is configured to keep the exposed surface of the patient's eye E perpendicular to the horizontal plane (XY plane), that is, the patient is in a sitting posture. Therefore, in addition to related examinations before surgery in a sitting posture, the patient can receive the laser beam L projected from the laser beam projector6in a sitting posture for performing ophthalmic laser surgery. In this state, there will not be much difference in the condition of the patient's eyes (for example, the angle of rotation of the eye, etc.) when undergoing related examinations before surgery and when a laser beam is projected for ophthalmic laser surgery, so that the more precise operation of ophthalmic laser surgery can be performed. Therefore, the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the present invention can perform ophthalmic laser surgery under more precise conditions, and is particularly suitable for ophthalmic laser surgery that requires high precision.

In addition, with the ophthalmic laser apparatus1of the present invention, the alignment between the patient's eye E and the ophthalmic laser apparatus1is done by moving the laser beam projector6of the ophthalmic laser apparatus1, instead of moving the patient relative to the ophthalmic laser apparatus1. Therefore, there is no need for the operator (that is, the doctor or the surgical assistant) to move and adjust the operating table where the patient is located again and again during the surgery. It is only necessary to move the laser beam projector6to a position aligned with the patient's eye E by operating the moving stand7. Therefore, the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the present invention is more convenient in operation and use.

On the other hand, there are psychological effects on patients who undergo ophthalmic laser surgery in a sitting or lying posture. Specifically, compared to the psychological pressure when a patient undergoes ophthalmic laser surgery on an operating table in a lying posture, the psychological pressure on the patient is relatively less because the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the present invention enables the patient to undergo ophthalmic laser surgery in the same sitting posture when examining the eyes. In other words, with the ophthalmic laser apparatus1according to the present invention, the patient can undergo ophthalmic laser surgery with a more relaxed attitude.

The accompanying drawings provided herein and referred to by the above description are for easy understanding of the disclosure. The drawings are only exemplificative and may be not made to scale, which means some features may be exaggerated while others may be understated. Thus, the drawings shall be deemed to be illustrative but not limiting.