Ophthalmological Laser Treatment Device

Abstract

An evaluating unit which is adapted to determine a degree of an instantaneous overlap between an optical zone of the eye and the structure, or at least a part of the structure effecting refractive correction, based on a recorded image. By determining the degree of overlap between the instantaneous optical zone and the structure to be introduced, it is possible to control the superposition of the optical zone with the tissue volume which is specifically altered by means of the laser cutting and, accordingly, to enable a maximum coverage.

1 . An ophthalmological laser treatment device comprising:
 a femtosecond laser configured to introduce energy into a portion of an eye of a patient according to a predetermined surgical structure;   a light source configured to illuminate at least the portion of the eye;   a detection device configured to record an image of at least the portion of the eye;   an evaluating unit which is configured to determine a degree of an instantaneous overlap between an optical zone of the eye and the predetermined surgical structure or at least a part of the predetermined surgical structure effecting refractive correction based on a recorded image; and   a contact element for mechanically fixating the eye.   
     
     
         2 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the evaluating unit is configured to determine an area of a pupil based on the recorded image and an area of the predetermined surgical structure, or at least of the part of the predetermined surgical structure effecting refractive correction, and an intersection between the two areas.   
     
     
         3 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the evaluating unit is configured to identify and locate a characteristic of the eye in the recorded image and to determine a relative offset between a point of the characteristic and a point of the predetermined surgical structure.   
     
     
         4 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 3 ;
 wherein the evaluating unit displays the recorded image visually in superposition with a graphic representation of the predetermined surgical structure according to the determined offset.   
     
     
         5 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a support device for the patient and a positioning device configured to displace the support device and/or the laser;   wherein the evaluating unit controls the positioning device depending on the determined degree of overlap between the pupil and the predetermined surgical structure.   
     
     
         6 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the evaluating unit compares a value of the determined degree of overlap to a predetermined threshold and outputs a haptic and/or visual and/or acoustic signal depending on a result of the comparison; and/or   wherein the evaluating unit compares a value of the determined degree of overlap to a predetermined threshold value and, depending on a result of the comparison, carries out an irradiation of the eye corresponding to the predetermined surgical structure   
     
     
         7 . A method for introducing energy into an eye according to a predetermined surgical structure by means of a femtosecond laser, the method comprising the following steps:
 mechanically fixating the eye;   determining, based on a recorded image, a degree of instantaneous overlap between an optical zone of the eye and the predetermined surgical structure, or at least a part of the predetermined surgical structure effecting refractive correction; and   taking the determined degree of instantaneous overlap into account in at least one of:
 a step of determining irradiation control data; and 
 a step of deciding on a commencement of irradiation of the eye; 
   wherein the degree of instantaneous overlap is determined before and/or after the mechanical fixating is carried out.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein at least one of the following steps is carried out for determining the degree of instantaneous overlap:
 recording an image of the eye by means of a detection device; 
 identifying the pupil in the recorded image; and 
 determining an area of the pupil based on the recorded image and determining an area of the predetermined surgical structure, or at least of the part of the predetermined surgical structure effecting refractive correction, and then determining an intersection of the two areas. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 ;
 wherein the eye is illuminated with infrared light, or wherein the eye is illuminated with visible light for recording the; and   wherein an intensity of the light is determined and, based on an instantaneous area of the recorded image and on the intensity, a maximum pupil area is predicted and is used for determining the overlap.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein the predetermined surgical structure is displaced and/or enlarged until a complete overlapping with the pupil is predicted.   
     
     
         11 . A control unit configured to implement the method according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         12 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the predetermined surgical structure has a center of symmetry in which there are no locations to be irradiated.   
     
     
         13 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a support device for the patient and a positioning device configured to displace the support device and/or the laser;   wherein the evaluating unit controls the positioning device depending on the offset between the characteristic and the predetermined surgical structure.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein the predetermined surgical structure has a center of symmetry in which there are no locations to be irradiated.   
     
     
         15 . An ophthalmological laser treatment device comprising:
 a treatment laser configured to introduce energy into a portion of an eye of a patient according to a predetermined surgical structure;   a light source configured to illuminate at least the portion of the eye;   a control unit configured to record an image of at least the portion of the eye, and to deduce an actual relative offset of the eye with respect to the predetermined surgical structure; and   an evaluating unit which is configured to determine a degree of an instantaneous overlap between an optical zone of the eye and the predetermined surgical structure or at least a part of the predetermined surgical structure effecting refractive correction based on a recorded image.   
     
     
         16 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 15 ;
 wherein the evaluating unit is configured to determine an area of a pupil based on the recorded image and an area of the predetermined surgical structure, or at least of the part of the predetermined surgical structure effecting refractive correction, and an intersection between the two areas.   
     
     
         17 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 15 ;
 wherein the evaluating unit is configured to identify and locate a characteristic of the eye in the recorded image and to determine a relative offset between a point of the characteristic and a point of the predetermined surgical structure.   
     
     
         18 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 17 ;
 wherein the evaluating unit displays the recorded image visually in superposition with a graphic representation of the predetermined surgical structure according to the determined offset.   
     
     
         19 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a support device for the patient and a positioning device configured to displace the support device and/or the laser;   wherein the evaluating unit controls the positioning device depending on the determined degree of overlap between the pupil and the predetermined surgical structure.   
     
     
         20 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 15 ;
 wherein the evaluating unit compares a value of the determined degree of overlap to a predetermined threshold and outputs a haptic and/or visual and/or acoustic signal depending on a result of the comparison; and/or   wherein the evaluating unit compares a value of the determined degree of overlap to a predetermined threshold value and, depending on a result of the comparison, carries out an irradiation of the eye corresponding to the predetermined surgical structure   
     
     
         21 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a contact element for mechanically fixating the eye.   
     
     
         22 . A method for introducing energy into an eye according to a predetermined surgical structure by means of an excimer laser or a femtosecond laser, the method comprising the following steps:
 deducing, based on a recorded image, an actual relative offset of the eye with respect to the predetermined surgical structure;   determining, based on the recorded image, a degree of instantaneous overlap between an optical zone of the eye and the predetermined surgical structure, or at least a part of the predetermined surgical structure effecting refractive correction; and   taking the determined degree of instantaneous overlap into account in at least one of:
 a step of determining irradiation control data; and 
 a step of deciding on a commencement of irradiation of the eye. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 ;
 wherein at least one of the following steps is carried out for determining the degree of instantaneous overlap:
 recording an image of the eye by means of a control unit; 
 identifying the pupil in the recorded image; and 
 determining an area of the pupil based on the recorded image and determining an area of the predetermined surgical structure, or at least of the part of the predetermined surgical structure effecting refractive correction, and then determining an intersection of the two areas. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 ;
 wherein the eye is illuminated with infrared light, or wherein the eye is illuminated with visible light for recording the; and   wherein an intensity of the light is determined and, based on an instantaneous area of the recorded image and on the intensity, a maximum pupil area is predicted and is used for determining the overlap.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 22 ;
 wherein the predetermined surgical structure is displaced and/or enlarged until a complete overlapping with the pupil is predicted.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 22 ;
 wherein the eye is mechanically fixated; and   wherein the degree of instantaneous overlap is determined before and/or after the mechanical fixating is carried out.   
     
     
         27 . A control unit configured to implement the method according to  claim 22 . 
     
     
         28 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 15 ;
 wherein the predetermined surgical structure has a center of symmetry in which there are no locations to be irradiated.   
     
     
         29 . The ophthalmological treatment device according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a support device for the patient and a positioning device configured to displace the support device and/or the laser;   wherein the evaluating unit controls the positioning device depending on the offset between the characteristic and the predetermined surgical structure.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 22 ;
 wherein the predetermined surgical structure has a center of symmetry in which there are no locations to be irradiated.