System and method for performing LADAR assisted procedures on the lens of an eye
There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for developing laser systems that can create a precise predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide laser systems that can use a single laser as a therapeutic laser and as laser radar and that reduce the patient-to-patient variability and doctor-to-doctor variability associated with hand held apparatus for performing capsulorhexis and capsulotomies. There is further provided a precise predetermined jigsaw shot pattern and shaped capsulotomy that is based at least in part on the shape of an IOL and in particular an accommodating IOL.
1. A system for reducing eye-to-eye and surgeon-to-surgeon variability in performing procedures to create cuts in a capsule of a lens of an eye, the system comprising:
a laser for producing a laser beam;
an optical path for directing the laser beam from the laser to a lens of an eye; and
a control system for at least directing the laser beam in a predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern comprising a plurality of laser shots positioned in x, y and z directions as they are directed toward the lens of the eye, wherein the predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern is formed by directing the plurality of shots along a planar pattern contained in an x-y plane, and performing, for each x-y position of the planar pattern, a series of tightly spaced full wave sweeps in the z-direction.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein: the predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern comprises a first essentially straight section, a second essentially straight section, a first curved section and a second curved section; and the first essentially straight section is connected to the first and second curved sections.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein a shape of the predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern is based at least in part on a shape of an IOL, the IOL comprising a hinge, and the predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern essentially following the shape of the IOL.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the laser beam comprises a first power below LIOB and a second power at or above LIOB.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first power is used as laser radar to determine a position of an anterior lens capsule of the lens of the eye and the second power is used to cut the anterior lens capsule of the lens of the eye, whereby the second power performs capsulotomy.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the plurality of laser shots are alternated between a series of shots at the first power and a series of shots at the second power along the predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein a majority of the series of shots at the second power are placed substantially in an area of an anterior portion of the anterior lens capsule.
8. A system for reducing eye-to-eye and surgeon-to-surgeon variability in performing procedures to create cuts in a capsule of a lens of an eye, the system comprising:
a laser for producing a laser beam;
an optical path for directing the laser beam from the laser to a lens of an eye;
the laser beam having a first power below LIOB and a second power above LIOB;
a control system for at least directing the laser beam in a predetermined shaped shot pattern on a portion of an anterior capsule of the lens of the eye to create a precise predetermined non-geometric shaped capsulotomy; and
a shape of the predetermined shaped shot pattern being based at least in part on a shape of an IOL.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the predetermined shaped shot pattern comprises at least one essentially straight section.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the predetermined shaped shot pattern comprises at least two essentially straight sections.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the predetermined shaped shot pattern comprises a first essentially straight section, a second essentially straight section, a first curved section and a second curved section.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein: the predetermined shaped shot pattern comprises a first essentially straight section, a second essentially straight section, a first curved section and a second curved section; and, the first essentially straight section is connected to the first and second curved sections.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the predetermined shaped shot pattern is a jigsaw pattern.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein the IOL is an FDA approved accommodating IOL.
15. The system of claim 8 wherein the IOL is an FDA approved IOL for near, intermediate and distance vision.
16. The system of claim 8 wherein the IOL is an FDA approved IOL that reduces or eliminates a need for spectacles.
17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first power is used as laser radar to determine a position of the anterior lens capsule of the lens of the eye and the second power is used to cut the anterior lens capsule of the lens of the eye to create the precise predetermined non-geometric shaped capsulotomy.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein a plurality of laser shots from the laser are alternated between a series of shots at the first power and a series of shots at the second power along a pattern to create the precise predetermined non-geometric shaped capsulotomy.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein a majority of the series of shots at the second power are placed substantially in an area of an anterior portion of the anterior lens capsule.
20. A system for reducing eye-to-eye and surgeon-to-surgeon variability in performing procedures to create cuts in a capsule of a lens of an eye, the system comprising:
a therapeutic laser for producing a therapeutic laser beam;
an optical path for directing the therapeutic laser beam from the therapeutic laser to a lens of an eye;
a control system for at least directing the laser beam in a predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern comprising a plurality of laser shots positioned in x, y and z directions as they are directed toward the lens of the eye, wherein the predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern is formed by directing the plurality of shots along a planar pattern contained in an x-y plane, and performing, for each x-y position of the planar pattern, a series of tightly spaced full wave sweeps in the z-direction;
a first pattern positioned in a first area of an anterior capsule of the lens of the eye, the first pattern having a z direction sweep range less than about 15 μm;
a second pattern positioned in a second area of the anterior capsule of the lens of the eye, the second area is anterior to the first area, the second pattern having a z direction sweep range of less than about 15 μm.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein a shape of the predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern is based at least in part on a shape of an IOL, the IOL having at least one hinge, and, the predetermined jigsaw capsulotomy pattern essentially follows the shape of the IOL.
22. The system of claim 20 wherein the z direction sweep ranges of both the first pattern and the second pattern are less than about 10 μm.
23. The system of claim 20 where in the z direction sweep ranges of both the first pattern and the second pattern are less than about 5 μm.
24. A system for reducing eye-to-eye and surgeon-to-surgeon variability in performing procedures to create cuts in a capsule of a lens of an eye, the system comprising:
a laser for producing a laser beam;
an optical path for directing the laser beam from the laser to a targeting plane positioned within a lens of an eye;
a first return beam path that receives a first portion of light transmitted from the eye and directs the first portion of light to a near spatial filter assembly which generates a first signal;
a second return beam path that receives a second portion of light transmitted from the eye and directs the second portion of light to a far spatial filter assembly which generates a second signal; and
a computer that receives and processes the first signal and the second signal so that a large amount of backscatter light is eliminated.
25. The system of claim 24 , further comprising a third return beam path that receives a third portion of light transmitted from the eye which is generated into a third signal that is received by the computer and processed by the computer to generate a reference signal.