US 12,447,047 B2
Method and apparatus for performing ophthalmic procedures removing undesirable features using laser energy
Tammo Heeren, Aliso Viejo, CA (US)
Assigned to Alcon Inc., Fribourg (CH)
Filed by Alcon Inc., Fribourg (CH)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/050,763.
Application 16/668,353 is a division of application No. 15/225,146, filed on Aug. 1, 2016, granted, now 10,492,951, issued on Dec. 3, 2019.
Application 18/050,763 is a continuation of application No. 16/668,353, filed on Oct. 30, 2019, granted, now 11,547,604.
Prior Publication US 2023/0141098 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. A61F 9/008 (2006.01); A61B 3/00 (2006.01); A61B 3/10 (2006.01); G16H 10/60 (2018.01); G16H 20/30 (2018.01); G16H 30/40 (2018.01); G16H 40/63 (2018.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61F 9/008 (2013.01) [A61B 3/0025 (2013.01); A61B 3/102 (2013.01); A61F 9/00821 (2013.01); G16H 10/60 (2018.01); G16H 20/30 (2018.01); G16H 30/40 (2018.01); G16H 40/63 (2018.01); A61B 2034/2065 (2016.02); A61B 90/361 (2016.02); A61F 2009/00844 (2013.01); A61F 2009/00863 (2013.01); A61F 2009/0087 (2013.01); A61F 2009/00874 (2013.01); A61F 2009/00897 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for performing an ophthalmic procedure on an eye including a lens and a retina, the eye having an optical path from the lens to the retina, the method comprising:
receiving an image of at least a portion of the eye at one or more processors of an ophthalmic laser system including the one or more processors and a control unit, the portion of the eye including the optical path;
determining, via the one or more processors, at least one keep out zone based on the image;
identifying, via the one or more processors, one or more vitreous opacities based on the image;
determining, in quasi-real-time via the one or more processors, that at least one of the vitreous opacity is undesirable based on whether the at least one vitreous opacity has one or more characteristic that is greater than a predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold includes at least a shape threshold;
selecting, in quasi-real-time via the one or more processors, the at least one vitreous opacity determined to be undesirable for removal when the at least one vitreous opacity determined to be undesirable is outside of the at least one keep out zone;
controlling a laser, in quasi-real-time via the control unit, to perform laser removal of the at least one vitreous opacity determined to be undesirable without targeting any portion of the at least one keep out zone.