US 12,440,384 B2
Patient interface for ophthalmic laser surgery employing scleral support structures to reduce intraocular pressure
Christina Lagarto, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Jose Garcia, Fremont, CA (US); Trevor Hannon, Hayward, CA (US); and Vyechi Low, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to AMO Development, LLC, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by AMO Development, LLC, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/054,915.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/264,093, filed on Nov. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0149217 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. A61F 9/009 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 9/009 (2013.01) 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A patient interface device for coupling a patient's eye to an ophthalmic surgical laser system, comprising:
a lens cone configured to be coupled to the ophthalmic surgical laser system; and
a suction ring configured to be coupled to the patient's eye, the suction ring including a gripper defining a circular receiving opening and a ring shaped flexible skirt joined to the gripper and concentric with the circular receiving opening, wherein the gripper is configured to receive and retain a portion of the lens cone in the circular receiving opening,
wherein the flexible skirt is configured to be coupled to the patient's eye, the flexible skirt defining an inwardly direction which points toward a central axis of the circular receiving opening and a downwardly direction which is parallel to the central axis and points toward the patient's eye, wherein the flexible skirt includes:
a circular inner edge, and a circular outer edge, both extending downwardly and are configured to contact a surface of the eye;
a circumferential side wall between the circular inner edge and the circular outer edge; and
a plurality of first scleral support protrusions protruding from the circumferential side wall inwardly and downwardly, the first scleral support protrusions being distributed circumferentially with gaps between adjacent first scleral support protrusions, wherein an end surface of each first scleral support protrusion that faces inwardly and downwardly is sloped and curved in a side cross-sectional view,
wherein for the end surface of each first scleral support protrusion, a ratio of a length along a circumferential direction to a width along a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction is between 1.1 and 2.1, and wherein a ratio of an arc angle of each first scleral support protrusion to an arc angle of the gap between the first scleral support protrusion and a neighboring first scleral support protrusion is between 1 and 4,
wherein the flexible skirt is configured to form a circular, ring-shaped sealed space between the flexible skirt and the surface of the eye when the circular inner edge and the circular outer edge contact the surface of the eye.