Method for determining the position of a flap cut on a cornea and of the hinge belonging to the flap, and device for carrying out a method of this type
A method and device are disclosed for determining the position of a flap incision on a cornea and the position of the hinge associated with the flap. The method comprises the steps of: capturing an image of an eye, including at least the pupil and the limbus; determining a region including the outer circumference of the flap incision; determining the position of the flap incision; determining a straight region including the hinge; and determining the position of the hinge.
1 . A method for determining a position of a flap incision, after the flap incision has been formed, on a cornea and a position of a hinge associated with a flap produced by the flap incision, the method comprising the steps of:
a) capturing an image of an eye, which at least includes a pupil, a limbus, and the flap;
b) determining, by a processor, a region including an outer circumference of the flap incision; and
c) determining the position of the flap incision; and/or
d) determining a straight region comprising the hinge; and
e) determining the position of the hinge.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step (b) of determining a region including the outer circumference of the flap incision comprises:
determining an approximately circular region as a region including the outer circumference of the flap incision.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step (d) of determining a straight region comprising the hinge comprises:
delimiting a possible position of the straight region to a region within the circular region.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step (e) of determining the position of the hinge comprises:
comparing a currently determined position to a previous position of the hinge.
5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein, in determining the position of the hinge, an elapsed time is considered and that has elapsed between the previous position and the currently determined position of the hinge.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in determining the position of the hinge and/or of the flap incision, eye movements that have occurred between the previous position and the currently determined position are considered.
7 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein, in determining the position of the hinge, a ratio of surface areas is considered into which the straight region divides the circular region in a form of a secant.
8 . A device for determining the position of the flap incision on the cornea and the position of the hinge associated with the flap, the device comprising:
a) a camera for capturing the image of the cornea;
b) an image processing unit for real-time analysis of the image, and
c) a control unit configured to carry out the method according to claim 1 .
9 . A method for determining a position of a flap incision on a cornea and a position of a hinge associated with a flap produced by the flap incision, the method comprising the steps of:
a) cutting the flap incision, which produces the flap and the hinge, on the cornea;
b) capturing an image of an eye, which at least includes a pupil, a limbus, and the flap;
c) determining, by a processor, a region including an outer circumference of the flap incision; and
d) determining the position of the flap incision; and/or
e) determining a straight region comprising the hinge; and
f) determining the position of the hinge.