Femtosecond laser docking apparatus

1. A femtosecond laser docking apparatus comprising:

a suction cone including an upper frusto-conical portion and a lower spherical portion; and

a suction ring including a spherical portion and a mechanical stop that extends at least partially around a circumference of a top of the suction ring, the mechanical stop having an upper diameter; the suction ring engaging the lower spherical portion of the suction cone; the mechanical stop preventing the suction cone from being lowered further toward an eye, in a z-direction, beyond the mechanical stop;

wherein the spherical portion of the suction ring engages the lower spherical portion of the suction cone such that the lower spherical portion of the suction cone swivels with respect to the suction ring until the suction cone engages the mechanical stop.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the suction cone, at a junction of the upper frusto-conical portion and the lower spherical portion, has a junction diameter that is greater than the upper diameter of the of the mechanical stop.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the suction cone may be tilted in the x or y-directions while lowered toward the suction ring and be docked without tilt in relation to the suction ring, when the junction diameter of the suction cone engages the upper diameter of the mechanical stop.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suction ring further includes at least one contact and sealing surface distinct from the mechanical stop.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the upper frusto-conical portion of the suction cone has a continually decreasing diameter in the z-direction, the diameter also centered around a common axis of the suction cone and the suction ring when the suction cone is positioned on the suction ring and centered in the x-direction and y-direction,

wherein the lower spherical portion of the suction cone has a radius (r 1 ) measured from a center point on the common axis to any point on an external surface of the lower spherical portion that engages the contact and sealing surface of the suction ring,

wherein the spherical portion of the suction ring has a radius (r 2 ) measured from a center point on the common axis to any contact and sealing surface of the suction ring, and

wherein (r 1 )=(r 2 ).

6. A system for femtosecond laser ophthalmic surgery comprising:

a femtosecond laser;

a control device operable to adjust a position of the femtosecond laser;

a processor operable to control the control device;

a suction cone including an upper frusto-conical portion and a lower spherical portion, the suction cone operable to engage with the femtosecond laser and be lowered toward an eye, in a z-direction, when the position of the femtosecond laser is adjusted; and

a suction ring including a spherical portion and a mechanical stop that extends at least partially around a circumference of a top of the suction ring, the mechanical stop having an upper diameter; the suction ring engaging the lower spherical portion of the suction cone; the mechanical stop preventing the suction cone from being lowered further toward an eye, in a z-direction, beyond the mechanical stop;

wherein the spherical portion of the suction ring engages the lower spherical portion of the suction cone such that the lower spherical portion of the suction cone swivels with respect to the suction ring until the suction cone engages the mechanical stop.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the suction cone, at a junction of the upper frusto-conical portion and the lower spherical portion, has a junction diameter that is greater than the upper diameter of the of the mechanical stop.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the suction cone may be tilted in the x or y-directions while lowered toward the suction ring and be docked without tilt in relation to the suction ring, when the upper stop diameter of the suction cone engages the upper diameter of the mechanical stop.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the suction ring further includes at least one contact and sealing surface distinct from the mechanical stop.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the upper frusto-conical portion of the suction cone has a continually decreasing diameter in the z-direction, the diameter also centered around a common axis of the suction cone and the suction ring when the suction cone is positioned on the suction ring and centered in the x-direction and y-direction,

wherein the lower spherical portion of the suction cone has a radius (r 1 ) measured from a center point on the common axis to any point on an external surface of the lower spherical portion that engages the contact and sealing surface of the suction ring,

wherein the spherical portion of the suction ring has a radius (r 2 ) measured from a center point on the common axis to any contact and sealing surface of the suction ring, and

wherein (r 1 )=(r 2 ).

11. A method of docking a femtosecond laser comprising:

positioning a suction ring, having a spherical portion and a mechanical stop that extends at least partially around a circumference of a top of the suction ring, the mechanical stop having an upper diameter; and at least one contact and sealing surface distinct from the mechanical stop, on an eye;

lowering a suction cone, having an upper frusto-conical portion and a lower spherical portion, in a z-direction toward the eye such that the mechanical stop of the suction ring engages the lower spherical portion of the suction cone; the mechanical stop preventing the suction cone from being lowered further toward the eye, in the z-direction; and

applying suction by at least one vacuum to the suction ring, wherein the suction cone is sealed to the suction ring by contact with the contact and sealing surfaces of the suction ring wherein the spherical portion of the suction ring engages the lower spherical portion of the suction cone such that the lower spherical portion of the suction cone swivels with respect to the suction ring until the suction cone engages the mechanical stop.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a portion of the suction cone, at a junction of the upper frusto-conical portion and the lower spherical portion, has a junction diameter that is greater than the upper diameter of the of the mechanical stop.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the suction cone may be tilted in the x or y-directions while lowered toward the suction ring and be docked without tilt in relation to the suction ring, when the upper stop diameter of the suction cone engages the upper diameter of the mechanical stop.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the suction cone is sealed to the suction ring by contact with the contact and sealing surfaces of the suction ring, and not by the mechanical stop.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the upper frusto-conical portion of the suction cone has a continually decreasing diameter in the z-direction, the diameter also centered around a common axis of the suction cone and the suction ring when the suction cone is positioned on the suction ring and centered in the x-direction and y-direction,

wherein the lower spherical portion of the suction cone has a radius (r 1 ) measured from a center point on the common axis to any point on an external surface of the lower spherical portion that engages the contact and sealing surface of the suction ring,

wherein the spherical portion of the suction ring has a radius (r 2 ) measured from a center point on the common axis to any contact and sealing surface of the suction ring, and

wherein (r 1 )=(r 2 ).