Stewart M Brown

US Patent:

50984268, Mar 24, 1992

Filed:

Feb 6, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/307315

Inventors:

H. Alfred Sklar - San Francisco CA
Alan M. Frank - Livermore CA
Olga M. Ferrer - Miami FL
Charles F. McMillan - Livermore CA
Stewart A. Brown - Livermore CA
Fred Rienecker - Pleasanton CA
Paul Harriss - Livermore CA
Steven Schiffer - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Phoenix Laser Systems, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

A61N 502

US Classification:

606 5

Abstract:

A system for effecting precision laser surgery includes an intensified surgical video microscope directed at the tissue to be operated upon and having zoom capability. The surgical microscope presents a microscopic image on a video screen in front of the surgeon. Preferably, the video screen is divided into multiple separate sections, with the microscopic video image in one section and precise cross sectional and plan views indicating location presented in the other sections of the screen. These additional views may be generated using Moire interferometry by projecting a Ronchi ruling on the surface of the tissue, in viewing the projection with a camera to obtain all necessary information for contour tracking of the subject surface. Interior elements and interfaces of, for example, the eye are also sensed by a light beam and precisely located and mapped by a computer forming a part of the device. The imaging system of the invention enables the surgeon to have before him abundant visual information on the video screen with indication of precisely where, in three dimensions, a focused surgical laser beam is directed at any time.