LASER SOURCE FOR AN OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL SYSTEM

A laser source for an ophthalmic surgical system includes a femtosecond seeder, an amplifier, a femtosecond pulse portion, a nanosecond pulse portion, and one or more switches. The femtosecond seeder generates femtosecond pulses. The amplifier amplifies laser pulses, which include the femtosecond pulses and nanosecond pulses. The amplifier amplifies the laser pulses by amplifying the femtosecond pulses and generating and amplifying the nanosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses, and the nanosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the nanosecond pulses. The switches receive the laser pulses from the amplifier, and direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion. In other embodiments, the laser source includes a femtosecond seeder and a nanosecond seeder that generates the nanosecond pulses.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to ophthalmic surgical systems, and more particularly to a laser source for an ophthalmic surgical system.

BACKGROUND

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a type of refractive surgery that reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. During surgery, a femtosecond laser photodisrupts corneal tissue to create a flap. The flap is folded back, revealing the stroma. Then, an excimer laser (such as a 193-nanometer laser) ablates the tissue with nanosecond pulses to reshape the corneal stroma to correct the refractive error.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, a laser source for an ophthalmic surgical system includes a femtosecond seeder, an amplifier, a femtosecond pulse portion, a nanosecond pulse portion, and one or more switches. The femtosecond seeder generates femtosecond pulses. The amplifier amplifies laser pulses, which include the femtosecond pulses and nanosecond pulses. The amplifier amplifies the laser pulses by amplifying the femtosecond pulses and generating and amplifying the nanosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses, and the nanosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the nanosecond pulses. The switches receive the laser pulses from the amplifier, and direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion.

Embodiments may include none, one, some, or all of the following features: The laser source further comprises control electronics that: determine if a request is for the femtosecond pulses or the nanosecond pulses; and instruct the switches to direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion in accordance with the request. The amplifier further generates the nanosecond pulses by Q-switching. The amplifier includes: an optical switch that operates as a Q-switch; and a pump laser synchronized with the optical switch. The amplifier is a regenerative amplifier, a fiber amplifier, or a multi-pass amplifier chain. The nanosecond pulse portion includes a frequency converter that converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield ultraviolet nanosecond pulses. The nanosecond pulse portion includes a nanosecond ablation head that outputs the nanosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses by outputting near infrared femtosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses by outputting ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses by outputting near infrared femtosecond pulses and ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion may include: a near infrared femtosecond optic head that outputs the near infrared femtosecond pulses; and an ultraviolet femtosecond optic head that outputs the ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion includes: a frequency converter that converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield ultraviolet femtosecond pulses; and an ultraviolet femtosecond optic head that outputs the ultraviolet femtosecond pulses.

In certain embodiments, a laser source for an ophthalmic surgical system includes femtosecond and nanosecond seeders, an amplifier, a femtosecond pulse portion, a nanosecond pulse portion, and one or more switches. The seeders generate laser pulses comprising femtosecond pulses and nanosecond pulses. The femtosecond seeder generates the femtosecond pulses, and the nanosecond seeder generates the nanosecond pulses. The amplifier amplifies the femtosecond pulses and the nanosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses, and the nanosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the nanosecond pulses. The switches receive the laser pulses from the amplifier, and direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion.

Embodiments may include none, one, some, or all of the following features: The laser source further comprises control electronics that: determine if a request is for the femtosecond pulses or the nanosecond pulses; and instruct the switches to direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion in accordance with the request. The amplifier is a regenerative amplifier, a fiber amplifier, or a multi-pass amplifier chain. The nanosecond pulse portion includes a frequency converter that converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield ultraviolet nanosecond pulses. The nanosecond pulse portion includes a nanosecond ablation head that outputs the nanosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses by outputting near infrared femtosecond pulses and ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion may include: a near infrared femtosecond optic head that outputs the near infrared femtosecond pulses; and an ultraviolet femtosecond optic head that outputs the ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion includes: a frequency converter that converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield ultraviolet femtosecond pulses; and an ultraviolet femtosecond optic head that outputs the ultraviolet femtosecond pulses.

In certain embodiments, a laser source for an ophthalmic surgical system includes a femtosecond seeder, an amplifier, a femtosecond pulse portion, a nanosecond pulse portion, one or more switches, and control electronics. The femtosecond seeder generates femtosecond pulses. The amplifier amplifies laser pulses, which include the femtosecond pulses and nanosecond pulses. The amplifier amplifies the laser pulses by amplifying the femtosecond pulses and generating and amplifying the nanosecond pulses. The amplifier is a regenerative amplifier, a fiber amplifier, or a multi-pass amplifier chain that generates the nanosecond pulses by Q-switching. The amplifier includes: an optical switch that operates as a Q-switch; and a pump laser synchronized with the optical switch. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses as near infrared femtosecond pulses and ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion includes: a near infrared femtosecond optic head that outputs the near infrared femtosecond pulses; a frequency converter that converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield ultraviolet femtosecond pulses; and an ultraviolet femtosecond optic head that outputs the ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The nanosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the nanosecond pulses. The nanosecond pulse portion includes a frequency converter that converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield ultraviolet nanosecond pulses, and a nanosecond ablation head that outputs the nanosecond pulses. The switches receive the laser pulses from the amplifier, and direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion. The control electronics determine if a request is for the femtosecond pulses or the nanosecond pulses, and instruct the switches to direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion in accordance with the request.

In certain embodiments, a laser source for an ophthalmic surgical system includes femtosecond and nanosecond seeders, an amplifier, a femtosecond pulse portion, a nanosecond pulse portion, one or more switches, and control electronics. The seeders generate laser pulses comprising femtosecond pulses and nanosecond pulses. The femtosecond seeder generates the femtosecond pulses, and the nanosecond seeder generates the nanosecond pulses. The amplifier is a regenerative amplifier, a fiber amplifier, or a multi-pass amplifier chain that amplifies the femtosecond pulses and the nanosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the femtosecond pulses as near infrared femtosecond pulses and ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The femtosecond pulse portion includes: a near infrared femtosecond optic head that outputs the near infrared femtosecond pulses; a frequency converter that converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield ultraviolet femtosecond pulses; and an ultraviolet femtosecond optic head that outputs the ultraviolet femtosecond pulses. The nanosecond pulse portion alters and outputs the nanosecond pulses. The nanosecond pulse portion includes a frequency converter that converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield ultraviolet nanosecond pulses, and a nanosecond ablation head that outputs the nanosecond pulses. The switches receive the laser pulses from the amplifier, and direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion. The control electronics determine if a request is for the femtosecond pulses or the nanosecond pulses, and instruct the switches to direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond pulse portion or the nanosecond pulse portion in accordance with the request.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the description and drawings, example embodiments of the disclosed apparatuses, systems, and methods are shown in detail. The description and drawings are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limit the claims to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings and disclosed in the description. Although the drawings represent possible embodiments, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be simplified, exaggerated, removed, or partially sectioned to better illustrate the embodiments.

Known LASIK systems use femtosecond and excimer lasers to perform the surgery. However, using both types of lasers requires more room and costs more. Moreover, excimer lasers have disadvantages, e.g., they require high voltage, utilize a toxic gas (ArF gas), need complex beam shapers, create ozone, and are bulky. In addition, excimer lasers use radiation with a wavelength that is affected by humidity and oxygen in the air, which affects the ablation rate and requires a humidity-controlled environment and nitrogen purging of the beam paths.

In certain embodiments, a solid-state laser source provides femtosecond laser pulses for performing flap creation and other intrastromal procedures and nanosecond laser pulses for performing ablation procedures. The laser source uses the same components for generating femtosecond and nanosecond pulses, thus avoiding the problems of using two lasers. Moreover, the laser source is not an excimer laser, thus avoiding the disadvantages of excimer lasers.

FIG.1illustrates an example of a laser source10that provides femtosecond and nanosecond laser pulses for an ophthalmic surgical system, according to certain embodiments. In the illustrated example, laser source10is a solid-state laser source that includes seeders20(which include femtosecond seeder20aand/or nanosecond seeder20b), amplifier22, femtosecond portion24, nanosecond portion26, switches28(e.g., mirrors28a-e), and control electronics50, coupled (e.g., optically, electrically, and/or mechanically) as shown. Femtosecond portion24includes a compressor30, a near infrared (NIR) femtosecond portion24a,and an ultraviolet (UV) femtosecond portion24b,coupled as shown. NIR femtosecond portion24aincludes a NIR femtosecond optic head32. UV femtosecond portion24bincludes a femtosecond frequency converter36and a UV femtosecond optic head38, coupled as shown. Nanosecond portion26includes a nanosecond frequency converter42and a UV ablation head44, coupled as shown.

As an example of an overview of operation, seeder(s)20(e.g., femtosecond seeder20aand optionally nanosecond seeder20b) generate laser pulses, and amplifier22amplifies the laser pulses. Switches28receive the laser pulses from amplifier22and direct the laser pulses to femtosecond pulse portion24or nanosecond pulse portion26. In certain embodiments, control electronics50may determine if a request is for femtosecond or nanosecond pulses, and instruct switches28to direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond24or nanosecond26pulse portion in accordance with the request. Femtosecond pulse portion24outputs femtosecond pulses, or nanosecond pulse portion26outputs nanosecond pulses.

Turning to the details of the example, laser source10includes seeders20, e.g., femtosecond seeder20aand/or nanosecond seeder20b.In certain embodiments, laser source10includes femtosecond and nanosecond seeders20that generate femtosecond and nanosecond pulses. In other embodiments, laser source10includes a femtosecond seeder20a,but not a nanosecond seeder20b,so only femtosecond pulses are generated in a seeder. Amplifier22(which may be a regenerative amplifier) can generate the nanosecond pulses by, e.g., Q-switching.

Amplifier22may comprise one or more cascaded amplifiers, and may comprise a regenerative amplifier, a fiber amplifier, or a multi-pass amplifier chain. If laser source10includes femtosecond and nanosecond seeders20, a fiber amplifier may be used. If laser source10does not include a nanosecond seeder20b,a regenerative amplifier can generate the nanosecond pulses by Q-switching. The regenerative amplifier may have the gain medium (e.g., a solid-state medium) in an optical resonator where pulses make multiple round-trip passes. An optical switch controls the number of passes, allowing for a large number of passes that yield high amplification. An example of amplifier22is described in more detail with reference toFIG.2.

In the example, the pulses from seeder(s)20have near infrared (NIR) wavelengths, e.g., 1000 to 1700 nanometers (nm). Wavelength/frequency converters transform the NIR wavelengths to UV wavelengths, e.g., 340 to 360 nm for femtosecond pulses and 200 to 220 nm, such as 204 to 216 nm (deep UV or DUV), for nanosecond pulses. Frequency converters may include cascaded stages of optical non-linear crystals and may be designed to match fundamental and required target wavelengths by, e.g., generating the Third Harmonic of the fundamental femtosecond pulses or generating Fifth Harmonic of the fundamental nanosecond pulses.

Nanosecond portion26includes nanosecond frequency converter42and UV nanosecond ablation head44. Frequency converter42transforms the nanosecond pulses from NIR wavelengths (e.g., 1020 to 1080 nm) to deep UV wavelengths (e.g., 204 to 216 nm). UV nanosecond ablation head44outputs nanosecond pulses, which may be used to ablate tissue such as corneal tissue.

Switches28such as mirrors28a-edirect laser pulses to components in response to instructions from control electronics50. A switch28may be any suitable optical elements that can switch laser pulses, e.g., a mirror, Pockels cell and Polarizer, acousto-optic modulator, micro-electro-mechanical system, or galvo mirror.

Control electronics50sends instructions to control the components of laser source10. In certain embodiments, control electronics50may determine if a request is for femtosecond or nanosecond pulses, and instruct switches28to direct the laser pulses to the femtosecond24or nanosecond26pulse portion in accordance with the request.

FIG.2illustrates an example of an amplifier22that may be used in laser source10ofFIG.1. In the example, amplifier22is a regenerative amplifier that includes a pump laser110, an optical resonator112, and an input/output (I/O)116, coupled (e.g., optically) as shown. Seed laser110includes a laser diode120and pump optics122, coupled as shown. Optical resonator112includes an optical switch114, mirrors126,130,132,134and an amplifier crystal128, coupled as shown. Optical switch114includes a mirror134, an electro-optic device such as a Pockels cell136, a quarter-wave plate140, and a thin-film polarizer (TFP)142, coupled as shown. In another embodiment, an acousto-optic modulator may be used as the optical switch. Input/output116includes an input144, an output146, a TFP150, a half-wave plate140, and a Faraday rotator154, coupled as shown.

As an overview of operation, input144provides seed pulses to optical resonator112via input/output (I/O)116. Optical resonator112amplifies laser pulses when the pulses make round trips through amplifier crystal128within the resonator. Optical switch114controls the entrance and exit of a pulse into and out of optical resonator112, which controls the amplification of the pulse. Input/output116directs pulses to exit amplifier22via output146.

Turning to details of the example, pump laser110provides energy to activate (pump) amplifier crystal128to increase the energy of the circulating pulses by several orders of magnitude. A greater number of round trips results in more amplification. Mirrors126,130,132,134of optical resonator112direct pulses through amplifier crystal128and to optical switch114. A mirror may be any suitable optical element that reflects or otherwise directs laser pulses. Amplifier crystal128amplifies laser pulses and may be any suitable laser crystal, e.g., Ytterbium or Neodymium doped materials.

Optical switch114may be an electro-optic or acousto-optic switch. Pockels cell136, quarter-wave plate140, and thin-film polarizer (TFP)142operate as an optical switch to transmit or reflect pulses, in order to switch pulses between optical resonator112and input/output116. This controls the amount of amplification. Input144of input/output116feeds pulses into amplifier22, and output146allows pulses out of amplifier22. Faraday rotator154and half-wave plate152operate as an optical diode to separate the input and output pulses.

In certain embodiments, such as where there is no nanosecond seeder, amplifier22(which may be a regenerative amplifier) can generate the nanosecond pulses by, e.g., Q-switching. Amplifier22operates as a Q-switched laser resonator, where optical switch114acts as Q-switch. Q-switching modulates the intracavity losses and the Q factor of the laser resonator. Q-switching can be supported by pump laser110synchronized with optical switch114. Pump laser110may operate as a pulsed pump source or a continuous wave pump laser.

FIG.3illustrates an example of a method for providing laser pulses for a laser ophthalmic surgical system that may be performed by the laser source ofFIG.1, according to certain embodiments. The method starts at step210, where one or more seeders generate laser pulses. In certain embodiments, the laser source includes femtosecond and nanosecond seeders that generate femtosecond and nanosecond pulses. In other embodiments, the laser source includes a femtosecond seeder, but not a nanosecond seeder, so only femtosecond pulses are generated, and an amplifier generates the nanosecond pulses.

An amplifier amplifies the laser pulses at step212. If the laser source includes only a femtosecond seeder, but not a nanosecond seeder, the amplifier also generates the nanosecond pulses via Q-switching. The laser source may be requested to provide femtosecond or nanosecond pulses at step214. In certain embodiments, control electronics determine if the request is for femtosecond or nanosecond pulses, and instruct switches to direct the laser pulses to a femtosecond or nanosecond pulse portion in accordance with the request.

If nanosecond pulses are requested at step214, the method proceeds to step220, where the laser pulses are directed to the nanosecond pulse portion. A frequency converter converts near infrared (NIR) wavelengths to ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths to yield UV nanosecond pulses at step222. A nanosecond ablation head outputs the nanosecond pulses at step224. The pulses may be used to ablate tissue. The method then ends.

If femtosecond pulses are requested at step214, the method proceeds to step230, where the laser pulses are directed to the femtosecond pulse portion. A compressor compresses the NIR femtosecond pulses at step234to a femtosecond pulse duration. The laser source may be requested to provide UV or NIR femtosecond pulses at step232. In certain embodiments, control electronics determine if the request is for UV or NIR femtosecond pulses, and instruct switches to direct the laser pulses to the UV or NIR femtosecond pulse portion in accordance with the request.

If UV femtosecond pulses are requested at step234, the method proceeds to step240, where the laser pulses are directed to the UV femtosecond pulse portion. A frequency converter converts near infrared wavelengths to ultraviolet wavelengths to yield UV femtosecond pulses at step242. A UV femtosecond optic head outputs the UV femtosecond pulses at step244. The pulses may be used to photodisrupt tissue. The method then ends.

If NIR femtosecond pulses are requested at step234, the method proceeds to step250, where the laser pulses are directed to the NIR femtosecond pulse portion. A NIR femtosecond optic head outputs the NIR femtosecond pulses at step254. The pulses may be used to photodisrupt tissue. The method then ends.

A component (such as control electronics50) of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may include an interface, logic, and/or memory, any of which may include computer hardware and/or software. An interface can receive input to the component and/or send output from the component, and is typically used to exchange information between, e.g., software, hardware, peripheral devices, users, and combinations of these. A user interface is a type of interface that a user can utilize to communicate with (e.g., send input to and/or receive output from) a computer. Examples of user interfaces include a display, Graphical User Interface (GUI), touchscreen, keyboard, mouse, gesture sensor, microphone, and speakers.

Logic can perform operations of the component. Logic may include one or more electronic devices that process data, e.g., execute instructions to generate output from input. Examples of such an electronic device include a computer, processor, microprocessor (e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU)), and computer chip. Logic may include computer software that encodes instructions capable of being executed by an electronic device to perform operations. Examples of computer software include a computer program, application, and operating system.

A memory can store information and may comprise tangible, computer-readable, and/or computer-executable storage medium. Examples of memory include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or Digital Video or Versatile Disk (DVD)), database, network storage (e.g., a server), and/or other computer-readable media. Particular embodiments may be directed to memory encoded with computer software.

Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments, modifications (such as changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, and/or other modifications) of the embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, modifications may be made to the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein. The components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated, or the operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, or other components, as apparent to those skilled in the art. As another example, modifications may be made to the methods disclosed herein. The methods may include more, fewer, or other steps, and the steps may be performed in any suitable order, as apparent to those skilled in the art.

To aid the Patent Office and readers in interpreting the claims, Applicants note that they do not intend any of the claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim. Use of any other term (e.g., “mechanism,” “module,” “device,” “unit,” “component,” “element,” “member,” “apparatus,” “machine,” “system,” “processor,” or “controller”) within a claim is understood by the applicants to refer to structures known to those skilled in the relevant art and is not intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).