IP Library Granted Patent US 9,560,959
Granted Patent B1
US 9,560,959 · App. 14/858,701 · Granted Feb 7, 2017

Control of scanning images during vitreoretinal surgery

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,560,959
App. No.
14/858,701
Granted
Feb 7, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

Control of scanning images during ophthalmic surgery may be performed with a scanning controller that interfaces to an optical scanner used with a surgical microscope. A scan control device may receive user input, including hands-free user input, for controlling an overlay image of scanning data that is overlaid on optical image data viewed using the surgical microscope. A selected location for optical scanning may also be displayed and controlled using the scanning controller.

Claims (43)

1. A method for performing ophthalmic surgery, the method comprising:

viewing an interior portion of an eye of a patient using a surgical microscope generating an optical image of the interior portion of the eye;

using a user input device, sending a first indication of a selected portion of the interior portion of the eye to a scanning controller coupled to an optical scanner, wherein the scanning controller is enabled to:

receive the first indication from the user input device;

send a command to an optical scanner coupled to the surgical microscope to generate scan data for the selected portion;

receive the scan data from the optical scanner;

based on the scan data, generate an overlay image indicative of the scan data;

generate a display element indicative of the selected portion;

combine the display element and the overlay image with the optical image to generate a display image, wherein the display element is aligned with the selected portion in the optical image; and

cause the surgical microscope to display the display image.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the user input device, sending a second indication of a marker located within the selected portion to the scanning controller, wherein the scanning controller is further enabled to:

receive the second indication from the user input device; and

based on the second indication, add the marker to the display element and to the overlay image.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display image is output to at least one of: an oculus included with the surgical microscope; and an external display for the surgical microscope.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected portion is a line and the overlay image corresponds to a two-dimensional depth profile along the line.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected portion is an area and the overlay image corresponds to a three-dimensional depth profile over the area.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical scanner is an optical coherence tomography scanner.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input device is a foot-operated device, and the first indication is generated by a movement of the foot-operated device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input device is an audio device, and the first indication is generated with a voice command received using the audio device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input device is a touch-sensitive device, and the first indication is generated by touching the touch-sensitive device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input device is an optical scanning device, and the first indication is generated with a gesture detected by the optical scanning device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the gesture includes motion by at least one of: a hand, a foot, a head, a surgical instrument and an eye.

12. A scanning controller to control scanning images during ophthalmic surgery, the scanning controller enabled to:

receive, from a user input device of a surgical microscope, a first indication of a selected portion of an interior portion of an eye of a patient;

send a command to an optical scanner coupled to the surgical microscope to generate scan data for the selected portion;

receive the scan data from the optical scanner;

based on the scan data, generate an overlay image indicative of the scan data;

generate a display element indicative of the selected portion;

combine the display element and the overlay image with an optical image generated by the surgical microscope to generate a display image, wherein the display element is aligned with the selected portion in the optical image; and

cause the surgical microscope to display the display image.

13. The scanning controller of claim 12 , further enabled to:

receive, from the user input device, a second indication of a marker located within the selected portion; and

based on the second indication, add the marker to the display element and to the overlay image.

14. The scanning controller of claim 12 , wherein the display image is output to at least one of: an oculus included with the surgical microscope; and an external display for the surgical microscope.

15. The scanning controller of claim 12 , wherein the selected portion is a line and the overlay image corresponds to a two-dimensional depth profile along the line.

16. The scanning controller of claim 12 , wherein the selected portion is an area and the overlay image corresponds to a three-dimensional depth profile over the area.

17. The scanning controller of claim 12 , wherein the optical scanner is an optical coherence tomography scanner.

18. The scanning controller of claim 12 , wherein the user input device is a foot-operated device, and the first indication is generated by a movement of the foot-operated device.

19. The scanning controller of claim 12 , wherein the user input device is an audio device, and the first indication is generated with a voice command received using the audio device.

20. The scanning controller of claim 12 , wherein the user input device is a touch-sensitive device, and the first indication is generated by touching the touch-sensitive device.

21. The scanning controller of claim 12 , wherein the user input device is an optical scanning device, and the first indication is generated with a gesture detected by the optical scanning device.

22. The scanning controller of claim 21 , wherein the gesture includes motion by at least one of: a hand, a foot, a head, a surgical instrument and an eye.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE APRIL 8, 2019 Recorded Dec 10, 2019
From: NOVARTIS AG
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 051454/0788 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2015
From: HOPKINS, MARK; SANCHEZ, ROBERT; TAKAKAWA, RYAN; YU, LINGFENG; REN, HUGANG
To: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
Reel/Frame 036603/0801 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2015
From: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
To: NOVARTIS AG
Reel/Frame 036603/0836 →