Patent Publication Number: US-2023160690-A1

Title: Anamorphic depth gauge for ophthalmic systems

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to ophthalmic systems, and more particularly to an anamorphic depth gauge for ophthalmic systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Certain ophthalmic procedures involve aiming a laser beam towards a target in the interior of an eye. For example, laser vitreolysis treats eye floaters by directing a laser beam towards a floater to fragment the floater. Using lasers to treat the eye, however, requires clear imaging of the target as well as measuring the depth of the target within the eye. Known solutions, however, often fail to provide adequate imaging or depth measurement. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic system includes an anamorphic depth gauge (ADG) device and a computer. The ADG device measures the z-location in the interior of an eye, which has an eye axis that defines a z-axis. The ADG device includes a detector array, a set of line focus optical elements, and a set of nominal focus optical elements. The detector array is arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the z-axis. The array generates a detector signal in response to detecting a light beam, which has a z-focus in the interior of the eye. The set of line focus optical elements focuses the light beam to form a line focus on the detector array, and the set of nominal focus optical elements focuses the light beam to form a nominal focus on the detector array. The computer: generates an image using the detector signal; determines the position of the nominal focus on the line focus according to the image; and determines the z-location of the z-focus from the position of the nominal focus on the line focus. 
     Embodiments may include none, one, some, or all of the following features: 
     The oblique angle ranges from 3 to 60 degrees. 
     A change in the position of the nominal focus is proportional to a change in the z-location of the z-focus. 
     The image includes an oblong shape representing the line focus, and the nominal focus corresponds to the narrowest part of the oblong shape. In an embodiment, a first z-location of the z-focus corresponds to a first position of the nominal focus, and a second z-location of the z-focus corresponds to a second position of the nominal focus. The first z-location of the z-focus is different from the second z-location of the z-focus, and the first position of the nominal focus is different from the second position of the nominal focus. In an embodiment, the optimal z-focus corresponds to the narrowest part centered on the oblong shape. 
     The set of line focus optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens and a spherical lens, and the set of nominal focus optical elements comprise a fan out lens and the spherical lens. 
     The set of line focus optical elements comprise a toric lens and a focusing lens, and the set of line nominal focus optical elements comprise a collimating lens and the focusing lens. 
     The z-focus is located at a target. The computer may determine the z-location of the target according to the z-location of the z-focus. The ophthalmic system may further include a laser device that generates a laser beam, and the computer may instruct the laser device to direct the laser beam at the z-location of the z-focus in order to direct the laser beam at the target. The ophthalmic system may further include an SLO device that determines the xy-location of the target from an SLO image, where the z-axis defines an xy-plane orthogonal to the z-axis. 
     The computer determines whether the z-focus is the optimal z-focus from the z-location of the z-focus. If the z-focus is not the optimal z-focus, the computer adjusts the z-focus until the z-focus is the optimal z-focus. The computer may: determine whether the z-focus is the optimal z-focus by determining whether the image shows an oblong shape with a narrowest part centered on the oblong shape; and adjust the z-focus until the z-focus is the optimal z-focus by adjusting the z-focus until the image shows the oblong shape with the narrowest part centered on the oblong shape. 
     The z-axis defines an xy-plane orthogonal to the z-axis. The computer performs the following for multiple iterations to yield xy-plane images of the interior of the eye: adjust the z-location of the z-focus; and capture an xy-plane image of the interior of the eye at the z-location of the z-focus. The computer combines the xy-plane images to yield a three-dimensional image of the interior of the eye. 
     In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic surgical system includes a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO)-anamorphic depth gauge (ADG) system, a laser device, and a computer. The SLO-ADG system directs an imaging beam towards a target in an eye. The eye has an eye axis that defines a z-axis, which in turn defines an xy-plane orthogonal to the z-axis. The SLO-ADG system determines the xyz-location of the target and includes an SLO device and an ADG device. The SLO device: detects the imaging beam reflected by the eye; generates an SLO image of the target in the eye; and determines the xy-location of the target from the SLO image. The ADG device: detects the imaging beam reflected by the eye; and determines the z-location of the target. The laser device directs a laser beam at the xyz-location of the target, and the computer instructs the laser device to direct the laser beam at the xyz-location of the target. 
     Embodiments may include none, one, some, or all of the following features: 
     The ADG device includes a detector array, a set of line focus optical elements, and a set of nominal focus optical elements. The detector array is arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the z-axis. The detector array generates a detector signal in response to detecting a light beam, which has a z-focus in the interior of the eye. The set of line focus optical elements focuses the light beam to form a line focus on the detector array, and the set of nominal focus optical elements focuses the light beam to form a nominal focus on the detector array. The computer: generates an image using the detector signal; determines a position of the nominal focus on the line focus according to the image; and determines the z-location of the z-focus from the position of the nominal focus on the line focus. In certain embodiments, the computer may determine the z-location of the target according to the z-location of the z-focus. A change in the position of the nominal focus may be proportional to a change in the z-location of the z-focus. The image may be an oblong shape representing the line focus, and the nominal focus may correspond to a narrowest part of the oblong shape. 
     The ophthalmic surgical system includes an xy-scanner that: receives the imaging beam from the SLO-ADG system and directs the imaging beam along an imaging beam path towards the xy-location of the target; and receives the laser beam from the laser device and directs the laser beam along a laser beam path aligned with the imaging beam path towards the xy-location of the target. 
     In certain embodiments, a measuring system includes an anamorphic depth gauge (ADG) device and a computer. The ADG device measures a z-location within a volume having a z-axis. The ADG device includes a detector array, a set of line focus optical elements, and a set of nominal focus optical elements. The detector array is arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the z-axis. The detector array generates a detector signal in response to detecting a light beam, which has a z-focus in the interior of the volume. The set of line focus optical elements focuses the light beam to form a line focus on the detector array, and the set of nominal focus optical elements focuses the light beam to form a nominal focus on the detector array. The computer: generates an image using the detector signal; determines a position of the nominal focus on the line focus according to the image; and determines the z-location of the z-focus from the position of the nominal focus on the line focus. 
     Embodiments may include none, one, some, or all of the following features: 
     The z-focus is located at a target. In an embodiment, the computer may determine the z-location of the target according to the z-location of the z-focus. The ophthalmic system may further include an SLO device that determines the xy-location of the target from an SLO image, where the z-axis defines an xy-plane orthogonal to the z-axis. In an embodiment, the ophthalmic system may further include a laser device that generates a laser beam, and the computer may instruct the laser device to direct the laser beam at the z-location of the z-focus and/or the xy-location of the target in order to direct the laser beam at the target. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an example of an ophthalmic laser surgical system for imaging and treating a target in an eye, according to certain embodiments; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an example of an SLO-ADG system that may be used in the system of  FIG.  1   , according to certain embodiments; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an example of an ADG device that may be used in the SLO-ADG system of  FIG.  2   , according to certain embodiments; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates another example of an ADG device that may be used in the SLO-ADG system of  FIG.  2   , according to certain embodiments; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates examples of how different positions of the z-focus yield different detector array patterns; and 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an example of a method for treating a target in an eye that may be performed by the system of  FIG.  1   , according to certain embodiments. 
     
    
    
     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 laser surgical devices often fail to provide adequate imaging or depth measurement of a target in an eye. Accordingly, ophthalmic systems described here include an anamorphic depth gauge (ADG) device that can be used to focus an imaging device at a target or determine the depth of a target. The ADG device receives a light beam that is focused at a point in an eye. An arrangement of anamorphic optics of the ADG device modulates the light beam to yield a line focus with a nominal focus on tilted linear detector array. The position of the nominal focus on the line focus indicates the depth of the focus of the light beam in the eye. When the focus is optimal, the nominal focus is at a particular position of the line focus. 
     Embodiments of the ADG device have several applications within ophthalmic systems. For example, the ADG device may be used to adjust the depth of the focus of an imaging beam for an autofocusing system. As another example, the ADG device may be used to measure the location of a target relative to the focus of the imaging beam. In this example, a laser device can use the target location to aim a laser beam. As yet another example, the ADG device may be used to generate three-dimensional (3D) images. 
     Embodiments of the ADG device offer several advantages. For example, the ADG can measure the depth of a target, such as an eye floater, within a few hundred microns in a very short time. As another example, the ADG device is less expensive than an optical coherence tomography (OCT) depth gauge. As yet another example, the ADG device requires relatively little signal processing. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an example of an ophthalmic laser surgical system  10  for imaging and treating a target in an eye, according to certain embodiments. In the example, the target may be a vitreous floater. The eye has an eye axis (e.g., visual or optical axis), which defines a z-axis. The z-axis defines an x-axis and a y-axis orthogonal to the z-axis, which define xy-planes. The x-, y-, and z-axes may, but need not be, positioned as in conventional coordinate systems of the eye. X-, y-, and z-locations and x-, y-, and z-directions are relative to the x-, y-, and z-axes, respectively. 
     As an overview of the illustrated example, system  10  includes an imaging system  20 , a treatment system  22 , a computer  23 , an xy-scanner  24 , and optical elements  26  ( 26   a,    26   b ), coupled as shown. Computer  23  includes logic, a memory (which may store a program), and an interface (which may include a display). 
     As an overview of operation, imaging and measuring system  20  includes a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO)-anamorphic depth gauge (ADG) system that directs an imaging beam towards a target in an eye. The SLO-ADG system includes an SLO device and an ADG device. The SLO device detects the imaging beam reflected by the eye, generates SLO images of the target in the eye, and determines an xy-location of the target from the SLO images. The ADG device detects the imaging beam reflected by the eye and determines a z-location of the target. Treatment system  22  includes a laser device that directs a laser beam at the xyz-location of the target. Xy-scanner  24  receives the imaging beam from imaging system  20  and directs the imaging beam along an imaging beam path towards the xy-location of the target. Xy-scanner  24  also receives the laser beam from the laser device and directs the laser beam along a laser beam path aligned with the imaging beam path towards the xy-location of the target. Computer  23  sends instructions to the SLO-ADG system and the laser device. 
     Turning to the components, an example of imaging system  20  is described in more detail with reference to  FIG.  2   . The laser device of treatment system  22  may comprise any suitable laser source that generates laser beams of any suitable wavelength, e.g., 100 to 2000 nanometers (nm). Examples of the laser device include a femtosecond laser or pulsed Nd:YAG laser. A dichroic mirror may couple the laser beam with the imaging beam. 
     Xy-scanner  24  scans treatment and imaging beams transversely in xy-directions. Examples of scanners include a galvo scanner (e.g., a pair of galvanometrically-actuated scanner mirrors that can be tilted about mutually perpendicular axes), an electro-optical scanner (e.g., an electro-optical crystal scanner) that can electro-optically steer the beam, or an acousto-optical scanner (e.g., an acousto-optical crystal scanner) that can acousto-optically steer the beam. XY-scanner  36  may include an afocal relay lens system that allows for the compensation of patient refractive error. 
     Optical elements  26  direct beams to and/or from the eye. In general, an optical element can act on (e.g., transmit, reflect, refract, diffract, collimate, condition, shape, focus, modulate, and/or otherwise act on) a laser beam. Examples of optical elements include a lens, prism, mirror, diffractive optical element (DOE), holographic optical element (HOE), and spatial light modulator (SLM). Lens  26   b  may move to compensate for refractive error. 
     Computer  23  controls components of system  10 , such imaging system  20 , treatment system  22 , computer  23 , xy-scanner  24 , and optical elements  26 . Computer  23  may be part of a component or separate from the component. For example, computer  23  may be a part of the SLO-ADG system to perform the operations of the system. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an example of an SLO-ADG system  30  that may be used in system  10  of  FIG.  1   , according to certain embodiments. In the example, SLO-ADG system  30  includes a light source  32 , a pinhole and detector  34 , a depth gauge  36 , beamsplitters  38  ( 38   a,    38   b ), xy-scanner  24 , and optical elements  26  ( 26   c,    26   c ), coupled as shown. The SLO device of SLO-ADG system  30  may include light source  32 , optical elements  26   c,    26   d,  beamsplitter  38   a,  and pinhole and detector  34 . The ADG device of SLO-ADG system  30  may include light source  32 , beamsplitter  38   b,  and depth gauge  36 . In certain embodiments, the SLO and ADG devices may share light source  32 . 
     As an example of operation, light source  32  directs light through lens  26   c  towards xy-scanner  24 . Xy-scanner  24  directs the light towards the eye and directs light reflected from the eye towards beamsplitters  38 . Beamsplitters  38   a,    38   b  direct the reflected light towards pinhole and detector  34  and depth gauge  36  respectively. Pinhole and detector  34  detect the light and generate SLO images from the light. Depth gauge  36  measures the z-location of features and/or a target. 
     Turning to the components, the SLO device generates SLO images of the interior of the eye. In general, the SLO device can provide higher field of view (FOV) imaging, which may facilitate detection of targets, such as floaters or other vitreous opacities, during treatment. For example, SLO images enhance the contrast between a floater (or floater shadow) and the retina, allowing for easier detection of floaters. The SLO device may use image processing to detect a target in an image. 
     In certain embodiments, ADG device  50  provides real-time depth information of a target. If a floater is too close to the retina, system  10  may warn the user of possible laser-induced retinal damage. ADG device  50  is described in more detail with reference to  FIGS.  3  through  5   . In the embodiments, computer  23  may output images via a display. 
       FIGS.  3  through  5    describe examples of an ADG device  50  ( 50   a,    50   b ) that may be used in system  10  of  FIG.  1   , according to certain embodiments.  FIG.  3    illustrates an example of ADG device  50   a,  which includes afocal optics  52 , a cylindrical lens  54 , a fanout lens  56 , a spherical lens  58 , and a linear detector array  60 . In the illustrated example, line focus optical elements include cylindrical lens  54  and spherical lens  58 , and nominal focus optical elements include fan out lens  56  and spherical lens  58 . 
     Detector array  60  is tilted about the x-axis at an oblique angle with respect to z-axis. The oblique angle may have any suitable value, e.g., an angle in the range of 3 to 60 degrees, such as 3 to 10, 10 to 20, 20 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50, and/or 50 to 60 degrees. Detector array  60  may be any suitable size, e.g., 0.1 to 2 centimeters (cm) (such as 0.1 to 0.5, 0.5 to 1, 1 to 1.5, and/or 1.5 to 2 cm) in width and 0.5 to 10 cm (such as 0.5 to 1, 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 5, 5 to 7, and/or 7 to 10 cm) in length. 
     Afocal optics  52  receive a light beam reflected from the interior of an eye, such that the focal point of the beam is within the eye. In the yz-plane, cylindrical lens  54  and spherical lens  58  form a Keplerian telescope, where cylindrical lens  54  focuses the beam and spherical lens  58  collimates the beam to yield a line focus at linear detector array  60 . In the xz-plane, fanout lens  56  and spherical lens  58  focus the beam onto linear detector array  60 . 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an example of ADG device  50   b,  which includes a collimating lens  60 , a toric lens  62 , a focusing lens  64 , and a linear detector array  68  with pixels  71  arranged in a linear manner. In the example, line focus optical elements include toric lens  62  and focusing lens  64 , and nominal focus optical elements include collimating lens  60  and focusing lens  64 . 
     In the example, linear detector array  68  is tilted about the x-axis at an oblique angle relative to the z-axis. The oblique angle may have any suitable value, e.g., an angle in the range as described above with reference to detector array  60 . In the yz-plane, toric lens  62  fans out the beam along the y-axis, and focusing lens  64  collimates the beam in the y-axis while focusing the beam along the x-axis to yield a line focus  74  on detector array  68 . In the xz-plane, collimating lens  60  and focusing lens  64  focus the beam onto the linear detector array  68  to yield a nominal y-focus  72  on detector array  68 . Nominal y-focus  72  is the nominal position along the y-axis of the detector that corresponds to the nominal focal position. An optimal z-focus  70  yields a nominal y-focus  72  that is centered relative to line focus  74 . Optimal z-focus  70  indicates where an object would be in focus, i.e., have the clearest image. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates examples of how different positions of z-focus  70  yield different patterns on detector array  68  that indicate different positions of nominal y-focus  72 . In the example, linear detector array  68  detects an oblong shape representing the line focus, and nominal y-focus  72  is the narrowest part of the shape. The patterns show that nominal y-focus  72  moves along the y-axis as a function of defocus, or change in z-focus  70 . For example, at the optimal z-focus  70 , nominal y-focus  72  is centered relative to line focus  74 . At −2 millimeters (mm) away from optimal z-focus  70 , nominal y-focus  72  moves in one direction, and at +2 mm away from optimal z-focus  70 , nominal y-focus  72  moves to in the other direction. 
     The relationship describing the nominal y-focus that results from a particular z-focus may depend on the specific arrangement of components. The relationship may be determined (e.g., during calibration) by shifting the z-focus, recording the resulting nominal y-focus, and determining the relationship between the z-focus and the resulting nominal y-focus using, e.g., regression analysis. 
     As the examples show, as input z-focus  70  moves in the z-direction ( FIG.  4   ), nominal y-focus  72  moves across linear detector array  68  such that different z-locations of the z-focus  70  correspond to different positions of nominal y-focus  72 . The amount of movement of nominal y-focus  72  is proportional to amount of movement of z-focus  70 , i.e., the change in the position of nominal y-focus  72  is proportional to the change in the z-location of z-focus  70 . Accordingly, given the location of the nominal y-focus  72 , as indicated by the patterns detected by detector array  68 , the z-location of z-focus  70  may be determined. 
     Embodiments of ADG device  50  have several applications within ophthalmic systems. For example, the ADG device may be used to measure the z-location of a target, and a laser device can use the z-location to aim a laser beam at the target. This is described in more detail with reference to  FIG.  6   . 
     As another example, the ADG device may be used to adjust the depth of the focus of an autofocusing system. In certain embodiments, a computer determines whether the z-focus is optimal. For example, the computer may determine whether an image shows an oblong shape with the narrowest part centered in the middle of the shape. If the z-focus is not optimal, a computer adjusts the z-focus until the z-focus is optimal. For example, the computer may adjust the z-focus until the image shows the oblong shape with the narrowest part centered in the shape. 
     As another example, the ADG device may be used to generate three-dimensional (3D) images. In certain embodiments, the z-focus may be adjusted to different z-locations to capture xy-plane images at the different z-locations. The xy-plane images may be combined to generate a 3D image, e.g., a 3D image of a floater. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates an example of a method for imaging and treating a target (e.g., an eye floater) in an eye that may be performed by system  10  of  FIG.  1   , according to certain embodiments. The method starts at step  110 , where the SLO-ADG device directs an imaging beam towards the target in the eye. The SLO device detects the imaging beam reflected by the eye at step  112 . The SLO device generates an SLO image of the target at step  114  and determines the xy-location of the target from the SLO image at step  116 . For example, the SLO device may use image processing to determine the xy-location of the target from the image. 
     The ADG device detects the imaging beam reflected by the eye at step  118  and determines the z-location of the target at step  120 . For example, the ADG device generates an image from the imaging beam that indicates the position of the nominal focus and then determines the z-location of the z-focus from the position of the nominal focus. If the target is at the z-focus, then the z-location of the target is the same as that for the z-focus. The laser device directs a laser beam at the xy- and z-location of the target at step  122 . 
     A component (such as the control computer) 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).