Device for Ophthalmic Surgery and Method of Use Therefor

Abstract

A lens device for use in Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedures is provided. The lens device includes four internal reflectors, each having a reflector surface configured to direct a laser beam pulse toward the trabecular meshwork region of a patient's eye. Each of the four internal reflectors is arranged to correspond to a particular quadrant of the patient's eye to enable the entire 360-degrees of the trabecular meshwork to be treated with laser pulses without rotation of the lens device. A method for performing an SLT procedure using the lens device is also provided. The method includes placing the lens device on the patient's eye, aligning the internal reflectors with the quadrants of the patient's eye, and directing laser pulses through each internal reflector until the trabecular meshwork in each quadrant of the patient's eye has been treated.

1 . A lens device for use in performing a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure to a patient's eye, the device comprising:
 a device body having a first end configured to receive a laser beam pulse transmission, a second end configured for placement on a patient's eye, and an interior positioned therebetween; and   four internal reflectors located within the interior of the lens device;   wherein each of the internal reflectors corresponds to a quadrant of a patient's eye.   
     
     
         2 . The lens device of  claim 1 , wherein the four internal reflectors comprise:
 a first internal reflector having a first surface configured to re-direct a laser beam pulse received through said first end of the device to a second quadrant of the patient's eye;   a second internal reflector having a second surface configured to re-direct a laser beam pulse received through said first end of the device to a second quadrant of the patient's eye;   a third internal reflector having a third surface configured to re-direct a laser beam pulse received through said first end of the device to a third quadrant of the patient's eye; and   a fourth internal reflector having a fourth surface configured to re-direct a laser beam pulse received through said first end of the device to a fourth quadrant of the patient's eye.   
     
     
         3 . The lens device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the internal reflectors is directed toward the trabecular meshwork area of the patient's eye within the corresponding quadrant. 
     
     
         4 . The lens device of  claim 3 , wherein a 360-degree view of the trabecular meshwork area of the patient's eye is simultaneously visible through the four internal reflectors when the second end of the device is seated onto the patient's eye. 
     
     
         5 . The lens device of  claim 4 , wherein the four internal reflectors enable the lens device to be used to complete an SLT procedure without rotation of the lens device after the second end has been seated on the patient's eye. 
     
     
         6 . The lens device of  claim 5 , wherein the lens device enables laser beam pulses to be transmitted through the four internal reflectors to the entire 360-degrees of the trabecular meshwork area of the patient's eye without rotation of the lens device. 
     
     
         7 . The lens device of  claim 1 , wherein the second end includes a flange configured to secure the lens device to the patient's eye. 
     
     
         8 . The lens device of  claim 1 , wherein the second end includes a curved surface configured to generally conform to the shape of the patient's eye. 
     
     
         9 . The lens device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the four internal reflectors provides a magnification of approximately 1.0. 
     
     
         10 . The lens device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the four internal reflectors provides a magnification greater than 1.0. 
     
     
         11 . A method for performing a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure using a single-mirror lens device to direct laser beam pulses from a laser emitter to the trabecular meshwork of a patient's eye, said method comprising the steps of:
 placing the single-mirror lens device onto the patient's eye;   orientate the single-mirror lens device to view a center-line of a lower quadrant of the patient's eye;   transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the lower quadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a clockwise direction to a first edge of the lower quadrant;   ceasing transmission of laser beam pulses and returning to the center-line of the lower quadrant; and   transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the lower quadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a counterclockwise direction to a second edge of the lower quadrant.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 rotating the single-mirror lens device approximately 180-degrees to orientate the single-mirror lens device to view a center-line of an upper quadrant of the patient's eye;   transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the upper quadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a clockwise direction to a first edge of the upper quadrant;   ceasing transmission of laser beam pulses and returning to the center-line of the upper quadrant; and   transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the upper quadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a counterclockwise direction to a second edge of the upper quadrant.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 rotating the single-mirror lens device approximately 90-degrees to orientate the single-mirror lens device to view a center-line of a right quadrant of the patient's eye;   transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the right quadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a clockwise direction to a first edge of the right quadrant;   ceasing transmission of laser beam pulses and returning to the center-line of the right quadrant; and   transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the right quadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a counterclockwise direction to a second edge of the right quadrant.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 rotating the single-mirror lens device approximately 180-degrees to orientate the single-mirror lens device to view a center-line of a left quadrant of the patient's eye;   transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the left quadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a clockwise direction to a first edge of the left quadrant;   ceasing transmission of laser beam pulses and returning to the center-line of the left quadrant; and   transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the left quadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a counterclockwise direction to a second edge of the left quadrant.