Ophthalmic laser system

Abstract

An ophthalmic laser system generating a first beam at a wavelength suitable for performing selective laser trabeculoplasty and selectively generating a second beam at a wavelength suitable for performing secondary cataract surgery procedures. The laser system is able to select between directing the first beam or the second beam to the eye of a patient. The first beam is suitably generated at 1064 nm from a Nd:YAG laser and the second beam is frequency doubled to 532 nm in a KTP doubling crystal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic laser system for selective treatment of glaucoma and secondary cataract, the ophthalmic laser system comprising:
 a laser module which operates to produce a beam of short pulses of radiation with high energy density at a first wavelength;   a first beam path for secondary cataract treatment incorporating beam shaping optics, and means for directing the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength to an eye of a patient with secondary cataract;   a second beam path for glaucoma treatment incorporating a frequency conversion module that converts the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength to a beam of short pulses at a second wavelength, an attenuator, and means for directing the beam of short pulses at said second wavelength to an eye of a patient with glaucoma; and   an attenuator/beamsteering module which comprises a half wave plate and polarizer, provided outside the laser module for regulating the intensity of the beam of short pulses in the first beam path and for selectively deflecting the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength into the second beam path, the half wave plate being rotationally operable between:
 first positions in which the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength is received by and follows the first beam path at different intensities depending on the orientation of the waveplate; and 
   a second position in which substantially all the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength is deflected to be received and follow said second beam path.   
     
     
         2 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  wherein the attenuator/beamsteering module further comprises motorized means for rotating the half wave plate between the first positions and the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  further comprising means for remotely selecting between the first positions and the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  wherein the laser module is a flashlamp pumped, solid state laser. 
     
     
         5 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  wherein the laser module is a Nd:YAG laser producing said beam at said first wavelength at a wavelength of 1064 nm, and said beam at said second wavelength is frequency-doubled to 532 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  wherein said beam shaping optics in said first beam path comprises a beam expander. 
     
     
         7 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  wherein said first beam path further incorporates an energy monitor system. 
     
     
         8 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  further comprising an aiming laser providing a targeting reference for said beam at said first wavelength. 
     
     
         9 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  wherein the frequency conversion module comprises a KTP doubling crystal or similar frequency conversion device. 
     
     
         10 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  wherein said second beam path further incorporates an energy monitor system. 
     
     
         11 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  wherein said second beam path further incorporates beam shaping optics. 
     
     
         12 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1  further comprising an aiming laser providing a targeting reference for said beam at said second wavelength. 
     
     
         13 . An ophthalmic treatment device comprising:
 a slit lamp assembly; and   an ophthalmic laser system mounted within a body of the slit lamp assembly, the ophthalmic laser system comprising:   a laser module which operates to produce a beam of short pulses of radiation with high energy density at a first wavelength;   a first beam path for secondary cataract treatment incorporating beam shaping optics, and means for directing the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength to an eye of a patient with secondary cataract;   a second beam path for glaucoma treatment incorporating a frequency conversion module that converts the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength to a beam of short pulses at a second wavelength, an attenuator, and means for directing the beam of short pulses at said second wavelength to an eye of a patient with glaucoma; and   an attenuator/beamsteering module which comprises a half wave plate and polarizer, provided outside the laser module for regulating the intensity of the beam of short pulses in the first beam path and for selectively deflecting the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength into the second beam path, the half wave plate being rotationally operable between:
 first positions in which the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength is received by and follows the first beam path at different intensities depending on the orientation of the waveplate; and 
   a second position in which substantially all the beam at said first wavelength is deflected to be received by and follow said second beam path.   
     
     
         14 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the beam of short pulses following the first beam path produces an 8-10 □m spot size in the eye of the patient with secondary cataract. 
     
     
         15 . An ophthalmic laser system for selective treatment of glaucoma and secondary cataract, the ophthalmic laser system comprising:
 a laser module which operates to produce a beam of short pulses of radiation with high energy density at a first wavelength, wherein the laser module is an Nd:YAG laser and the first wavelength is 1064 nm;   a first beam path for secondary cataract treatment incorporating an attenuator, beam shaping optics, and means for directing the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength to produce an 8-10 □m spot size in an eye of a patient with secondary cataract;   a second beam path for glaucoma treatment incorporating a frequency conversion module that converts the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength to a beam of short pulses at a second wavelength of  532  nm, an attenuator, and means for directing the beam of short pulses at said second wavelength to an eye of a patient with glaucoma; and   a half wave plate and polarizer, provided outside the laser module for selectively deflecting the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength into the second beam path, the half wave plate being rationally operable between a first position in which the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength is received by and follows the first beam path; and a second position in which substantially all the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength is deflected to be received by and follows said second beam path.   
     
     
         16 . A method of treating secondary cataract or glaucoma in a patient using an ophthalmic laser system;
 the ophthalmic laser system comprising:
 a laser module, which operates to produce a beam of short pulses of radiation with high energy density at a first wavelength; 
 a first beam path for secondary cataract treatment and incorporating an attenuator, beam shaping optics, and means for directing the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength to an eye of a patient with secondary cataract; 
 a second beam path for glaucoma treatment and incorporating a frequency conversion module that converts the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength to a beam of short pulses at a second wavelength, an attenuator, and means for directing the beam of short pulses at said second wavelength to an eye of a patient with glaucoma; and 
 an attenuator/beamsteering module which comprises a half wave plate and polarizer, provided outside the laser module for regulating the intensity of the beam of short pulses in the first beam path and for selectively deflecting the beam of short pulses at the first wavelength into the second beam path, the half wave plate being rotationally operable between:
 first positions in which the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength is received by and follows the first beam path at different intensities depending on the orientation of the waveplate; and 
 a second position in which substantially all the beam of short pulses at said first wavelength is deflected to be received and follow said second beam path; 
 
   the method including:
 operating the attenuator/beamsteering module to select the first or second beam path depending on whether the patient has secondary cataract or glaucoma; and
 operating the laser system through the selected beam path to treat the patient.