Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
In a system for photorefractive keratectomy having a source of ablative laser radiation and a means for selectively reprofiling a cornea of an eye by removing a volume of corneal tissue from a region in an optical zone of the cornea with ablative radiation to form a reprofiled region which modifies, at least in part, a central curvature of the cornea; the improvement comprising means for applying to a peripheral region of the cornea an annular beam of ablative radiation having an intensity which varies radially within the annulus of the beam to create a blend zone, thereby permitting a smooth transition between the reprofiled region and an unablated region of the cornea.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a system for photorefractive keratectomy having a source of ablative laser radiation and a means for selectively reprofiling a cornea of an eye by removing a volume of corneal tissue from a region in an optical zone of the cornea with ablative radiation to form a reprofiled region which modifies, at least in part, a central curvature of the cornea; the improvement comprising means for applying to a peripheral region of the cornea an annular beam of ablative radiation having an intensity which varies radially within the annulus of the beam to create a blend zone, thereby permitting a smooth transition between the reprofiled region and an unablated region of the cornea.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the means for applying to a peripheral region of the cornea an annular beam of ablative radiation further comprises a lens element having a front face and a rear face, the front face being conical such that a light beam incident on the front face along an optical axis will be refracted into an annular beam.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of photorefractive keratectomy comprising (a) selectively reprofiling a cornea of an eye by removing a volume of corneal tissue from a region in an optical zone of the cornea with ablative radiation to form a reprofiled region which modifies, at least in part, a central curvature of the cornea; and (b) applying to a peripheral region of the cornea an annular beam of ablative radiation having an intensity which varies radially within the annulus of the beam to create a blend zone which provides a smooth transition between the reprofiled region and an unablated region of the cornea.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of photorefractive keratectomy comprising (a) selectively reprofiling a cornea of an eye by removing a volume of corneal tissue from a region in an optical zone of the cornea with ablative radiation to form a reprofiled region which modifies, at least in part, a central curvature of the cornea; and (b) applying to a peripheral region of the cornea an annular beam of ablative radiation having an intensity which varies radially within the annulus of the beam to create a blend zone which provides a smooth transition between the reprofiled region and an unablated region of the cornea.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of reprofiling the cornea further comprises varying the size of an annular exposure area on the cornea over time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of reprofiling the cornea further comprises selectively transmitting ablative radiation through a mask onto the cornea.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of rotating the mask.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the mask has a profile of resistance to ablative radiation which is progressively destroyed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of creating a blend zone further comprises applying an annular beam to the peripheral region of the cornea which has, at least in part, a radially decreasing intensity profile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of creating a blend zone further comprises applying an annular beam to the peripheral region of the cornea which has, at least in part, a radially increasing intensity profile.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of creating a blend zone further comprises applying an annular beam to the peripheral region of the cornea which has an intensity profile which first increases and then decreases as a function of radial distance from axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of creating a blend zone further comprises applying an annular beam to the peripheral region of the cornea which has an intensity profile that provides a compliment to the reprofiling step and achieves a blend zone by cumulative action.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of reprofiling of the optical zone is performed before applying the annular beam to define the blend zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of applying the annular beam of ablative radiation is performed before reprofiling of the optical zone.