Scanning laser ophthalmoscope for selective therapeutic laser

(54) SCANNING LASER OPHTHALMOSCOPE FOR SELECTIVE THERAPEUTIC LASER

(75) Inventor: Frans J. Van de Velde, Boston, MA (US)

(73) Assignee: Jozek F. Van de Velde, Oosterzele (BE)

( * ) Notice: Under 35 U.S.C. 154(b), the term of this patent shall be extended for 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/431,680

(22) Filed: Nov. 1, 1999

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/317,098, filed on May 23, 1999, now abandoned.

(51) Int. C I. A61B 3/10

(52) U.S. C I 351/205

(58) Field of Search 351/200, 205-211,

351/221, 246; 600/310; 606/4, 5, 6

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

Primary Examiner—George Manuel (57) ABSTRACT

A combination of a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and external laser sources (52) is used for microphotocoagulation and photodynamic therapy, two examples of selective therapeutic laser. A linkage device incorporating a beamsplitter (56) and collimator-telescope (60) is adjusted to align the pivot point (16) of the scanning lasers (38, 40) and external laser source (52). A similar pivot point minimizes wavefront aberrations, enables precise focusing and registration of the therapeutic laser beam (52) on the retina without the risk of vignetting. One confocal detection pathway of the scanning laser ophthalmoscope images the retina. A second and synchronized detection pathway with a different barrier filter (48) is needed to draw the position and extent of the therapeutic laser spot on the retinal image, as an overlay (64). Advanced spatial modulation increases the selectivity of the therapeutic laser. In microphotocoagulation, an adaptive optics lens (318) is attached to the scanning laser ophthalmoscope, in proximity of the eye. It corrects the higher order optical aberrations of the eye optics, resulting in smaller and better focused applications. In photodynamic therapy, a spatial modulator (420) is placed within the collimator-telescope (60) of the therapeutic laser beam (52), customizing its shape as needed. A similar effect can be obtained by modulating a scanning laser source (38) of appropriate wavelength for photodynamic therapy.