Multiple spot photomedical treatment using a laser indirect ophthalmoscope

Abstract

A laser indirect ophthalmoscope (LIO) apparatus for photomedical treatment and/or diagnosis is presented. The LIO apparatus allows multiple spot ophthalmic surgery to be performed in a wider range of patient positions and less intrusively than currently available methods. The LIO apparatus utilizes a separate or integral beam multiplier that generates one or more optical beams via spatial and/or temporal separation, and an optical system that conditions and directs the one or more optical beams to a target to form a pattern. The LIO apparatus includes a headset, and is therefore wearable by the user (e.g., a physician).

1 . An apparatus for photomedical treatment or diagnosis of a target tissue, the apparatus comprising: 
 a light source for generating light;    a headset designed to be Worn by a user, wherein the headset includes an input for receiving the light and an output for projecting the light on a target tissue;    a beam multiplier positioned for receiving the light and for generating one or more optical beams by spatial and/or temporal separation of the light for projection thereof via the output on the target tissue in the form of a pattern.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier is supported by the headset.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the beam multiplier is positioned for receiving the light from the input.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern comprises one or more discrete spots on the target tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the discrete spots is a straight or curved line.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a zooming lens located between the input and the beam multiplier for adjusting a size of the first optical beam.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a zooming lens located after the beam multiplier for adjusting a size of the one or more second optical beams.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a collimating lens located between the input and the beam multiplier.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises a beam scanner for refracting or reflecting the light, the beam scanner generating the optical beams by temporal separation of the light.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises: 
 a first scanner for deflecting the light in a first direction; and    a second scanner for deflecting the light in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises a moving lens that is positioned to refract the light at a different angle depending on the location of the moving lens that receives the light.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the moving lens spins about an off-center axis.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises a rotating prism that is positioned to refract the light at different angles depending on an orientation of the prism.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier generates the optical beams by simultaneously dividing the light into the optical beams.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises a transmissive diffraction element for converting the light into the optical beams.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises a reflective diffraction element for converting the light into the optical beams.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises a dispersion compensating element.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises a plurality of beam splitters.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier is an adaptive optic.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises an anamorphic correction element.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the anamorphic correction element is an adaptive optic or a cylindrical lens.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises: 
 a plurality of optical fibers.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the beam multiplier further comprises: 
 a scanning element for sequentially delivering the light to one or more of the plurality of optical fibers.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises: 
 a first optical fiber;    a plurality of optical fibers; and    a fiber splitter for receiving the light from the first optical fiber and directing the light to the plurality of optical fibers.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises: 
 a first optical fiber;    a plurality of optical fibers; and    a fiber switch for receiving the light from the first optical fiber and sequentially directing the light to the plurality of optical fibers.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a controller for controlling the light source.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the beam multiplier is positioned for generating the optical beams by temporal separation such that the second beams are sequential pulses.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the sequential pulses having durations no longer than 50 ms.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the beam multiplier comprises an adjustable aperture for creating the optical beams having a shape that is different from that of the light.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second light source for generating an aiming beam that is combined with the light.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the fiber multiplier includes means for adjusting a spacing of the fibers.  
     
     
         32 . A method of treating target tissue, comprising: 
 generating light;    conveying the light to a head mountable LIO apparatus having an input for receiving the light and an output;    converting the light to one or more optical beams in the form of a pattern using a beam multiplier that spatially and/or temporally separates the light; and    projecting the pattern of the one or more optical beams to target tissue.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the converting of the light is performed before the conveying of the light.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the converting of the light is performed after the conveying of the light.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the converting comprises: 
 scanning the light to create the pattern.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the pattern comprises one or more discrete spots on the target.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the converting comprises: 
 splitting the light into the optical beams for simultaneous impingement of the optical beams on the target tissue.