Hydrophilicity alteration system and method

Abstract

A system/method allowing hydrophilicity alteration of a polymeric material (PM) is disclosed. The PM hydrophilicity alteration changes the PM characteristics by decreasing the PM refractive index, increasing the PM electrical conductivity, and increasing the PM weight. The system/method incorporates a laser radiation source that generates tightly focused laser pulses within a three-dimensional portion of the PM to affect these changes in PM properties. The system/method may be applied to the formation of customized intraocular lenses comprising material (PLM) wherein the lens created using the system/method is surgically positioned within the eye of the patient. The implanted lens refractive index may then be optionally altered in situ with laser pulses to change the optical properties of the implanted lens and thus achieve optimal corrected patient vision. This system/method permits numerous in situ modifications of an implanted lens as the patient's vision changes with age.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for modifying a polymeric material (PM) for use as a lens comprising:
 modifying a single layer between an anterior surface and a posterior surface of the lens;   creating a set of phase wrapped zones within the single layer with a femtosecond laser utilizing an intermittent stream of laser pulses to make a change to a hydrophilicity level of some or all of the phase wrapped zones;   utilizing a first energy of the intermittent stream of laser pulses to create a first structure having a first hydrophilicity level within a first phase wrapped zone, wherein the first energy is different from a second energy of the intermittent stream of laser pulses used to create a second structure having a second hydrophilicity level within the first phase wrapped zone of the set of phase wrapped zones, and the first energy and the second energy are each used to create at least two structures within each phase wrapped zone of the set of phase wrapped zones to create multiple hydrophilicity changes within the PM.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing water to be absorbed by the PM within the at least two structures of each phase wrapped zone of the set of phase wrapped zones through the use of the intermittent stream of laser pulses. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising initiating a chemical reaction within the PM with the intermittent stream of laser pulses. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PM comprises a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PM comprises a hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising changing at least one refractive characteristic of the lens. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the changing of the at least one refractive characteristic further comprises changing the PM's ability to transmit light and may include changes to a spherical diopter, a cylindrical diopter, or an asphericity of the lens. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two structures within each phase wrapped zone of the set of phase wrapped zones of the single layer have an increased water content after application of energy from the femtosecond laser when a laser modified area is in relation to a liquid; and utilizing the laser modified area adjusts a refractive index of the PM by application of different levels of energy from the femtosecond laser to different structures within each phase wrapped zone of the set of phase wrapped zones. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid is a water based solution. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid is a naturally occurring liquid. 
     
     
         11 . A system for producing a phase-wrapped gradient lens comprising:
 a laser source capable of generating a pulsed laser radiation output with a wavelength of selected to permit a two-photon process within a modified polymeric material (PM);   a microscope having an input area for receiving the pulsed laser radiation output, and distributing the pulsed laser radiation output through a microscope objective into a set of structures;   wherein a first energy per structure of a first phase wrapped zone is constant for each phase wrapped zone but a second energy of a second set of structures within the first phase wrapped zone is modulated to alter a hydrophilicity level of one or more structures within each phase wrapped zone; and   wherein a single layer within the PM receives the pulsed laser radiation output.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pulsed laser radiation output is received at a depth between 5 and 150 microns in the single layer. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pulsed laser radiation output is received at a depth of at least 5 microns in the single layer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pulsed laser radiation output is received at a depth that is less than 250 microns in the single layer. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the set of structures define an internal region that when modified changes a refractive index of the internal region. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the refractive index change is negative. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the set of structures are an internal region that, when modified, changes the hydrophobic properties of the internal region. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the set of structures structures are an internal region that, when modified, changes the hydrophilic properties of the internal region. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprises pausing the pulsed laser radiation output to allow for heat dissipation in the PM. 
     
     
         20 . A phase wrapped gradient lens formed of a modified polymeric material (PM) comprising:
 a single layer within the PM for receiving a stream of laser pulses from a laser source;   a set of phase wrapped zones within the single layer, with each phase wrapped zone having a set of structures; and   wherein a first energy per structure of a first phase wrapped zone is constant for each phase wrapped zone but a second energy of a second set of structures within the first phase wrapped zone is modulated to alter the hydrophilicity of one or more structures within each phase wrapped zone.