Method Of Patterned Plasma-Mediated Laser Trephination Of The Lens Capsule And Three Dimensional Phaco-Segmentation

Abstract

System and method for making incisions in eye tissue at different depths. The system and method focuses light, possibly in a pattern, at various focal points which are at various depths within the eye tissue. A segmented lens can be used to create multiple focal points simultaneously. Optimal incisions can be achieved by sequentially or simultaneously focusing lights at different depths, creating an expanded column of plasma, and creating a beam with an elongated waist.

1 . A method of making an incision in eye tissue, comprising:
 generating a beam of light;   focusing the beam at a first focal point located at a first depth in the eye tissue;   scanning the beam in a pattern on the eye while focused at the first depth;   focusing the beam at a second focal point located at a second depth in the eye tissue different than the first depth; and   scanning the beam in the pattern on the eye while focused at the second depth.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the focusing of the beam at the first and second focal points are performed consecutively; and   the scanning of the beam while focused at the first and second depths are performed consecutively.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the focusing and scanning at the first depth is performed before the focusing and scanning at the second depth, and wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the focusing of the beam at the first and second focal points are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the focusing of the beam at the first and second focal points includes passing the beam through an optical element having a plurality of segments, and wherein the first and second focal points are laterally displaced from each other. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the focusing of the beam at the first and second focal points includes passing the beam through a multi-focal length optical element. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the multi-focal length optical element includes a plurality of segments having different focal lengths. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of segments co-axial. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of segments off-axial. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the multi-focal length optical element includes:
 a plurality of optical fibers having output ends spaced at varying distances from the eye tissue; and   a lens for imaging the output ends onto the eye tissue.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating an image of the eye tissue; and   identifying target portions of the eye tissue using the generated image, wherein the focusing and scanning of the beam are performed at the identified target portions of the eye tissue.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 using the generated image to determine at least one of a number of pulses of the light beam, a repetition rate of the light beam, a configuration of the pattern, and a focusing element for the focusing of the light beam.   
     
     
         13 . A method of making an incision in eye tissue, comprising:
 generating a beam of light; and   passing the beam through a multi-focal length optical element so that a first portion of the beam is focused at a first focal point located at a first depth in the eye tissue and a second portion of the beam is focused at a second focal point located at a second depth in the eye tissue different than first depth.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the multi-focal length optical element includes a plurality of segments having different focal lengths. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein plurality of the segments co-axial. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein plurality of the segments off-axial. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the multi-focal length optical element includes:
 a plurality of optical fibers having output ends spaced at varying distance from the eye tissue; and   a lens for imaging the output ends onto the eye tissue.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the multi-focal length optical element includes a plurality of segments; and   the first and second focal points are laterally displaced from each other.   
     
     
         19 . A method of making an incision in eye tissue, comprising:
 generating a beam of light having at least a first pulse of light and a second pulse of light; and   focusing the first and second pulses of light consecutively into the eye tissue, wherein the first pulse creates a plasma at a first depth within the eye tissue, and wherein the second pulse arrives before the plasma disappears and is absorbed by the plasma to extend the plasma in the eye tissue along the beam.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second pulses are separated by at least 0.1 ps but not more than 10 ns. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second pulses each have an energy of at least about 1 μJ. 
     
     
         22 . A method of making an incision in eye tissue, comprising:
 generating a beam of light; and   focusing the light into the eye tissue to create an elongated column of focused light within the eye tissue, wherein the focusing includes subjecting the light to at least one of a non-spherical lens, a highly focused lens with spherical aberrations, a curved mirror, a cylindrical lens, an adaptive optical element, a prism, and a diffractive optical element.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the elongated column extends in a direction generally perpendicular to a propagation direction of the light beam. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the elongated column extends in a direction generally parallel to a propagation direction of the light beam. 
     
     
         25 . A method of removing a lens and debris from an eye, comprising:
 generating a beam of light;   focusing the light into the eye to fragment the lens into pieces;   removing the pieces of lens; and then   focusing the light into the eye to ablate debris in the eye.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the generated light is pulsed. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the removing of the pieces of the lens include at least one of irrigating the eye and inserting an aspirating probe into the eye.