Laser scanner

Abstract

A laser scanner is disclosed. The laser scanner comprises a laser source, a first optical element, and a focusing element. The first optical element is adapted to move along the optical axis of light from the laser source. The focusing element receives laser light from the first optical element and is adapted to move orthogonally to the optical axis. Optionally, the focusing element may include multiple focusing lenses. A first focusing lens may be adapted to move along a first axis which is orthogonal to the optical axis. A second focusing lens may be adapted to move along a second axis which is orthogonal to the optical axis and to the first axis. The laser scanner may also include a second optical element which receives light from the focusing element and is adapted to effectively increase the focal length of the focusing element without increasing its f number.

1 . A laser scanner comprising: 
 a laser source;    a first optical element adapted to move along an optical axis of light from the laser source;    a focusing element receiving laser light from the first optical element, wherein the focusing element is adapted to move orthogonally to the optical axis; and    a second optical element receiving laser light from the focusing element, wherein the second optical element is adapted to effectively increase a focal length of the focusing element without increasing the f number of the focusing element.    
     
     
         2 . The laser scanner of  claim 1  further comprising a collimating lens optically disposed between the first optical element and the focusing element.  
     
     
         3 . The laser scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the focusing element comprises a first focusing lens adapted to move along a first axis, the first axis being orthogonal to the optical axis.  
     
     
         4 . The laser scanner of  claim 3 , wherein the focusing element further comprises a second focusing lens adapted to move along a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis and to the optical axis.  
     
     
         5 . The laser scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the second optical element has a refractive index which is greater than one.  
     
     
         6 . The laser scanner of  claim 1  further comprising a mirror optically disposed between the focusing element and the second optical element, the mirror being adapted to pass light from the laser source and to reflect visible light.  
     
     
         7 . A laser scanner comprising: 
 a laser source;    a scanning lens adapted to move along an optical axis of light from the laser source;    first and second focusing lenses receiving laser light from the scanning lens, wherein the first focusing lens is adapted to move along a first axis, the first axis being orthogonal to the optical axis, and the second focusing lens is adapted to move along a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis and to the optical axis; and    an optical element receiving laser light from the focusing lenses, wherein the optical element has a refractive index which is greater than one.    
     
     
         8 . The laser scanner of  claim 7  further comprising a collimating lens optically disposed between the scanning lens and the first focusing lens.  
     
     
         9 . A laser scanner comprising: 
 a laser source;    a scanning lens adapted to move along an optical axis of light from the laser source;    a collimating lens receiving laser light from the scanning lens;    first and second focusing lenses receiving laser light from the collimating lens, wherein the first focusing lens is adapted to move along a first axis, the first axis being orthogonal to the optical axis, and the second focusing lens is adapted to move along a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis and to the optical axis;    an block of refractive material receiving laser light from the focusing lenses; and    a mirror optically disposed between the focusing element and the block of refractive material, the mirror being adapted to pass light from the laser source and to reflect visible light.    
     
     
         10 . A method of scanning light from a laser source, the method comprising: 
 directing light from the laser source through an optical system to a focal point, the optical system comprising, in optical alignment, a scanning lens, a focusing element, and an optical element, wherein the optical element is adapted to effectively increase a focal length of the focusing element without increasing the f number of the focusing element;    moving the scanning lens along a z-axis to adjust a depth of the focal point along the z-axis; and    moving the focusing element in a plane orthogonal to the z-axis to adjust a position of the focal point relative to the z-axis.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the focusing element comprises first and second focusing lenses.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein moving the focusing element includes moving the first focusing lens along a first axis, the first axis being orthogonal to the z-axis.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving the focusing element includes moving the second focusing lens along a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the z-axis and to the first axis.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the optical element has a refractive index which is greater than one.  
     
     
         15 . A method of scanning light from a laser source, the method comprising: 
 directing light from the laser source through an optical system to a focal point, the optical system comprising, in optical alignment, a scanning lens, a collimating lens, first and second focusing lenses, and an optical element, wherein the optical element has a refractive index which is greater than one;    moving the scanning lens along a z-axis to adjust a depth of the focal point along the z-axis;    moving the first focusing lens along a first axis to adjust a position of the focal point relative to the z-axis, the first axis being orthogonal to the z-axis; and    moving the second focusing lens along a second axis to further adjust a position of the focal point relative to the z-axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the z-axis and to the first axis.    
     
     
         16 . A laser scanner system for ophthalmic laser surgery, the system comprising: 
 a laser source;    optics adapted to direct light from the laser source toward an eye, the optics comprising: 
 a first optical element adapted to move along an optical axis of light from the laser source;  
 a focusing element receiving laser light from the first optical element, wherein the focusing element is adapted to move orthogonally to the optical axis;  
 a second optical element receiving laser light from the focusing element, wherein the second optical element is adapted to effectively increase a focal length of the focusing element without increasing the f number of the focusing element;  
 a mirror optically disposed between the focusing element and the second optical element, the mirror being adapted to pass light from the laser source and to reflect visible light; and  
   a view port optically coupled to the mirror to receive the reflected visible light.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the optics further comprises a collimating lens optically disposed between the first optical element and the focusing element.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the focusing element comprises a first focusing lens adapted to move along a first axis, the first axis being orthogonal to the optical axis.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the focusing element further comprises a second focusing lens adapted to move along a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis and to the optical axis.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the second optical element has a refractive index which is greater than one.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the mirror is adapted to reflect an image of the eye.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the view port comprises one or more magnifying lenses.  
     
     
         23 . A laser scanner system for ophthalmic laser surgery, the system comprising: 
 a laser source;    optics adapted to direct light from the laser source toward an eye, the optics comprising: 
 a scanning lens adapted to move along an optical axis of light from the laser source;  
 first and second focusing lenses receiving laser light from the scanning lens, wherein the first focusing lens is adapted to move along a first axis, the first axis being orthogonal to the optical axis, and the second focusing lens is adapted to move along a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis and to the optical axis;  
 an optical element receiving laser light from the focusing lenses, the optical element having a refractive index which is greater than one; and  
 a mirror optically disposed between the first and second focusing lenses and the optical element, the mirror being adapted to pass light from the laser source and to reflect an image of the eye; and  
   a view port optically coupled to the mirror to receive the image of the eye.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the optics further comprises a collimating lens optically disposed between the first optical element and the first and second focusing lenses.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the view port comprises one or more magnifying lenses.  
     
     
         26 . A method of scanning a focal point of a laser during ophthalmic surgery, the method comprising: 
 scanning the focal point in a first direction, the first direction being substantially linear; and    simultaneously introducing an oscillatory motion to the scanned focal point, the oscillatory motion being in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein scanning the focal point includes scanning the focal point in the first direction for a predetermined distance, and wherein the oscillatory motion has a period not greater than the predetermined distance.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein scanning the focal point includes scanning the focal point in the first direction for a predetermined distance, and wherein the oscillatory motion has an amplitude substantially less than the predetermined distance.  
     
     
         29 . A method of scanning a focal point of a laser during ophthalmic surgery, the method comprising: 
 scanning the focal point in a predetermined scan pattern, the scan pattern having at least one substantially linear segment; and    introducing an oscillatory motion into the scan pattern during one or more of the linear segments.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the oscillatory motion has a period not greater than the linear segment.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the oscillatory motion has an amplitude substantially less than the linear segment.