Patent ID: 7955324

Claim:
A system for positioning the eye of a patient for laser surgery which comprises: a laser unit for generating a laser beam; an alignment device mounted on said laser unit; a patient interface having a first end formed with a receptacle for receiving said alignment device therein and a second end for holding a contact lens thereon; a two-piece scissor-type clamp defining an orifice, the clamp having a first handle with a first latch and a second handle with a second latch, said clamp being moveable between a first configuration wherein the first handle is spread from the second handle to receive the second end of said patient interface in the orifice, and a second configuration wherein the first handle is juxtaposed with the second handle to close the orifice onto the patient interface and to fixedly hold the second end of said patient interface on said clamp, wherein said clamp is selectively locked in its second configuration by the engagement of the first latch with the second latch; and a suction ring attached to said clamp to surround the orifice and hold the contact lens at the second end of the patient interface against the eye of the patient when said interface is held by said clamp, and said alignment device is received in the receptacle of the first end of the patient interface for laser surgery.