Ophthalmic interface apparatus and system and method of interfacing a surgical laser with an eye

Abstract

An ophthalmic patient interface system includes an interface device and an ocular device. The interface device includes a frame having a first end and a second end, a lens disposed at the first end, and a skirt affixed to the first end. The second end is adapted to couple with a surgical laser system, and the skirt is adapted to seal against an anterior surface of an eye. The ocular device includes magnifying optics and is adapted to be removably seated within the second end. The magnifying optics image a region on a corneal side of the lens when the ocular device is seated within the second end.

1 . A patient interface system for supporting therapy provided by a surgical laser to an eye, the system comprising: 
 an interface device comprising: 
 a frame having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the frame is adapted to couple with the surgical laser;  
 a lens disposed at the first end, the lens having a corneal side; and  
 a skirt affixed to the first end, wherein the skirt is adapted to seal against  
   an anterior surface of the eye; and    an ocular device including magnifying optics, wherein the ocular device is adapted to be removably coupled with the second end, the magnifying optics imaging a region on the corneal side of the lens when the ocular device is seated within the second end.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interface device further comprises a light guide integrated into the frame, the light guide adapted to direct light toward the first end.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the light source emits visible light in a blue spectrum.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible support coupling the lens to the frame.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the corneal interface lens is circumscribed with a groove.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible support is annular and is snap-fit into the groove.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible support is adapted to displace a pre-determined distance towards the eye when the ocular device is seated within the second end, the pre-determined distance based on a pre-applanation of the eye by the lens.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ocular device comprises a light source adapted to direct light toward the first end when the ocular device is seated within the frame.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ocular device further comprises a first centration mark adapted to identify an optical axis of the lens when the ocular device is seated within the frame.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the ocular device further comprises a second centration mark adapted to identify the optical axis of the lens when the ocular device is seated within the frame, the second centration mark being spaced apart from the first centration mark along the optical axis.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnifying optics provide a wide angle view of the region.  
     
     
         12 . A patient interface system for supporting therapy provided by a surgical laser to an eye, the patient interface system comprising: 
 an interface device comprising: 
 a frame having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is adapted to couple with the surgical laser,  
 a corneal interface lens disposed at the first end, and  
 a skirt affixed to the first end, wherein the skirt is adapted to seal against  
   an anterior surface of the eye; and    a centration device comprising: 
 a first portion adapted to be removably coupled within the second end, the first portion comprising an indicator identifying an optical axis of the interface device when the centration device is coupled to the interface device; and  
 a second portion contiguous with the first portion, the second portion adapted to secure the first portion to the second end and release the first portion from the second end.  
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the interface device further comprises a flexible support affixing the corneal interface lens to the frame, and wherein the flexible support is adapted to displace a pre-determined distance towards the eye when the centration device is seated within the second end, the pre-determined distance based on a pre-applanation of the eye by the corneal interface lens.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion is adapted to radially bias against an interior surface of the second end when the second portion secures the first portion to the second end.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the frame is angled away from the optical axis of the interface device, and wherein the second portion comprises first and second arms, the first and second arms both angled away from the optical axis of the interface device and substantially parallel with the second end of the frame.  
     
     
         16 . A system for interfacing a surgical laser with an eye, the surgical laser having an output surface, the system comprising: 
 a first piece having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first piece adapted to couple to the surgical laser, the second end of the first piece comprising an interface lens contiguous with the output surface when the surgical laser is coupled to the first end of the first piece; and    a second piece having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second piece adapted to receive the second end of the first piece, the second end of the second piece adapted to couple to the eye.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first piece is adapted to temporarily secure the first piece to the surgical laser when the first piece is coupled to the surgical laser, and wherein the second end of the first piece comprises a flexible support adapted to couple the interface lens with the second end of the first piece and further adapted to bias the interface lens against the output surface when the surgical laser is coupled to the first end of the first piece.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second piece comprises a skirt adapted to seal against an anterior surface of the eye.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second end of the first piece is co-terminous with the interface lens.  
     
     
         20 . A method of interfacing an ophthalmic surgical laser with an eye, the method comprising: 
 positioning an interface device above a cornea of the eye, the interface device comprising a frame having a corneal interface end and an attachment end, a corneal interface lens disposed at the corneal interface end of the frame, and a skirt affixed to the corneal interface end of the frame, the skirt comprising an annular channel, the corneal interface lens having a posterior surface, the cornea having an anterior surface, wherein the posterior surface of the corneal interface lens and the anterior surface of the cornea each have a different curvature;    setting the skirt against the eye such that the posterior surface of the corneal interface lens contacts the anterior surface of the cornea;    coupling an ocular device within the attachment end of the frame, the ocular device comprising an indicator identifying an optical axis of the interface device and magnifying optics;    aligning, via the ocular device, the optical axis of the interface device with a pupil within the eye;    securing the skirt to the eye;    decoupling the ocular device from the attachment end of the frame; and    engaging a surgical tip of the ophthalmic surgical laser with the attachment end of the frame.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises imaging a region on a posterior side of the corneal interface lens.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more centration marks, and wherein the step of aligning comprises centering the optical axis of the interface device with the pupil within the eye using the one or more centration indicators.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the frame comprises a light guide, and wherein the method further comprises directing light through the light guide to illuminate the anterior surface of the cornea.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of coupling comprises displacing the corneal interface lens against the cornea to pre-applanate the cornea.