Device and method for irradiating the eye

Abstract

A device and a method for irradiating the cornea of an eye, wherein the device comprises at least the following elements: a ring body, which has a bearing surface embodied concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the device for the purpose of fastening the device on the eye, an irradiation channel for irradiating the cornea, which is located inside the ring body, a light source, which, in the operationally-ready state of the device, is attached inside the ring body for emitting light in the irradiation channel, wherein the bearing surface for fastening the device is arranged outside the irradiation channel, which has the result that the irradiated area itself is not additionally loaded by bearing surfaces of the device.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 : A device for irradiating the cornea ( 2 ) of an eye ( 1 ), which comprises at least the following elements:
 a ring body ( 20 ), which has a bearing surface ( 28 ,  30 ) embodied concentrically about the longitudinal axis ( 3 ) of the device for the purpose of fastening the device on the eye ( 1 ),   an irradiation channel ( 26 ) for irradiating the cornea ( 2 ), which is located inside the ring body ( 20 ),   wherein the bearing surface ( 28 ,  30 ) for fastening the device is arranged outside the irradiation channel ( 26 ), wherein the device furthermore comprises   a UV light source ( 23 ), which, in the operationally-ready state of the device, is attached inside the ring body ( 20 ) for emitting light in the irradiation channel ( 26 ).   
     
     
         16 : The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the ring body ( 20 ) has a receptacle ( 22 ) for a housing ( 34 ), in which the UV light source ( 23 ) is attached, wherein in the operationally-ready state of the device, each side wall of the housing ( 34 ), if it protrudes distally beyond the ring body ( 20 ), represents an extension of the ring body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         17 : The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the housing ( 34 ) has at least one control electronics system ( 32 ) or a power source ( 33 ). 
     
     
         18 : The device according to  claim 17 , wherein light source ( 23 ), control electronics ( 32 ), and power source ( 33 ) are enclosed by the shared housing ( 34 ). 
     
     
         19 : The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the device has a housing envelope ( 39 ), which has a stop-limited receptacle for the housing ( 34 ), wherein the housing envelope ( 39 ) itself can be introduced into the receptacle ( 22 ) for a housing, preferably in a stop-limited manner, and wherein in the operationally-ready state of the device, each side wall of the housing ( 34 ) and the housing envelope ( 39 ), if they protrude distally beyond the ring body ( 20 ), represent an extension of the ring body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         20 : The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the housing envelope ( 39 ), in the operationally-ready state, encloses the housing ( 34 ) completely and in a leak-tight manner on the base and laterally and protrudes beyond the upper side thereof. 
     
     
         21 : The device according to  claim 19 , wherein units for beam modification are provided inside the irradiation channel ( 26 ), and specifically outside the housing ( 34 ) and inside the housing envelope ( 39 ). 
     
     
         22 : The device according to  claim 15 , wherein a control electronics system ( 32 ) is provided for the light source ( 23 ), using which the irradiation power is settable so that it decreases during the irradiation of the cornea. 
     
     
         23 : The device according to  claim 15 , wherein a cooling device ( 50 ) is provided for dissipating the generated waste heat. 
     
     
         24 : A method for irradiating the cornea ( 2 ) of an eye ( 1 ) using a device according to  claim 15 , wherein the device is fastened on the eye and the irradiation power is changed during the irradiation of the cornea ( 2 ). 
     
     
         25 : The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the irradiation power is changed so that it decreases during the irradiation of the cornea ( 2 ).