Adaptive patient interface
A patient interface for an ophthalmic system can include an attachment module, attachable to the ophthalmic system, and a contact module, configured to accommodate a viscoelastic substance between the patient interface and a procedure eye. The viscoelastic substance can include a fluid, a liquid, a gel, a cream, an artificial tear, a film, an elastic material, or a viscous material. The refractive index of the viscoelastic substance can be within a range of approximately 1.24-1.52 at an operating wavelength of the ophthalmic system. The patient interface can further include input ports, output ports, and a suction system. It can be an integrated design or a multi-piece patient interface. The viscoelastic substance can be provided by injection, on the cornea, at the contact module, or in a space bounded by soft elastic films or membranes, such as in a bag.
1. A patient interface system for an ophthalmic system, comprising:
a patient interface, comprising
an attachment module, attachable to the ophthalmic system,
a contact module, configured to accommodate a viscoelastic substance between the patient interface and a procedure eye, and
a suction subsystem, coupled to the contact module, connectable to a vacuum suction system to create a partial vacuum between the suction subsystem and the procedure eye to reduce a mobility of the procedure eye for an ophthalmic procedure; and
a degassing subsystem, coupled to the patient interface, comprising at least one of
a pressure-reduction system, a heating system, a membrane degasification system, an inert gas substitution system, a surface tension manipulating system, and a reductant-adding system.
2. The patient interface system of claim 1 , comprising:
the viscoelastic substance, comprising at least one of
a fluid, a liquid, a gel, a cream, an artificial tear, a film, an elastic material, or a viscous material.
3. The patient interface system of claim 1 , comprising:
the viscoelastic substance whose refractive index is closer to a refractive index of a cornea of the procedure eye than to a refractive index of air at an operating wavelength of the ophthalmic system.
4. The patient interface system of claim 1 , comprising:
the viscoelastic substance, whose refractive index is within a range of 1.24-1.52 at an operating wavelength of the ophthalmic system.
5. The patient interface system of claim 1 , comprising:
the viscoelastic substance, whose refractive index is within a range of 1.35-1.41 at an operating wavelength of the ophthalmic system.
6. The patient interface system of claim 1 , wherein:
the attachment module and the contact module are separate and connectable.
7. The patient interface system of claim 1 , wherein:
the attachment module and the contact module are integrated components of the patient interface.
8. The patient interface system of claim 1 , wherein:
a component of the patient interface is at least one of disposable, sterilizable, and reusable.
9. The patient interface system of claim 1 , the patient interface comprising:
one or more input ports to introduce the viscoelastic substance into an accommodation space at least partially defined by the contact module.
10. The patient interface system of claim 1 , the patient interface comprising:
one or more output openings configured to enable a discharge of at least one of air, gas, and the viscoelastic substance from the contact module.
11. The patient interface system of claim 10 , the one or more output openings comprising:
a vent port, configured to keep a pressure in an accommodation space at least partially defined by the contact module at approximately ambient pressure.
12. The patient interface system of claim 1 , wherein:
the patient interface is configured to keep a change of an apical curvature of a cornea of the procedure eye below 10% upon an attachment of the patient interface to the procedure eye.
13. The patient interface system of claim 12 , wherein:
the patient interface is configured to keep a change of the apical curvature of the cornea of the procedure eye below 3% upon the attachment of the patient interface to the procedure eye.
14. The patient interface system of claim 1 , wherein:
the ophthalmic system includes at least one of an imaging system, a diagnostic system, a laser system, or an ophthalmic surgical system.
15. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein:
the contact module is configured to accommodate the viscoelastic substance before being attached to the procedure eye.
16. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein:
the contact module is configured to accommodate the viscoelastic substance after the viscoelastic substance has been applied to the procedure eye.
17. The patient interface of claim 1 , comprising:
a soft film or membrane, configured
to contain the viscoelastic substance in an accommodation space at least partially defined by the contact module, and
to form a soft contact surface for the procedure eye.
18. The patient interface of claim 1 , comprising:
a soft bag, containing the viscoelastic substance.
19. The patient interface system of claim 1 , wherein:
the suction subsystem and the active degassing subsystem are separate subsystems.
20. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein:
the suction subsystem and the active degassing subsystem are part of a single integrated subsystems.
21. The patient interface system of claim 1 , wherein:
the active degassing subsystem is adjustable to degas the viscoelastic substance to an adjustable degree.
22. The patient interface of claim 1 , wherein:
the degassing system is an active degassing subsystem, configured to degas the viscoelastic substance to a greater degree than an exposure to an ambient pressure.