Judy E Mazza

US Patent:

57386773, Apr 14, 1998

Filed:

May 31, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/455732

Inventors:

Michael Colvard - Pacific Palisades CA
Varouj D. Amirkhanian - Glendale CA
HeeJung Koh Wescoat - Garden Grove CA
Judy E. Mazza - El Toro CA
Colette Cozean - El Toro CA

Assignee:

Premier Laser Systems, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61N 506

US Classification:

606 4

Abstract:

An optical probe configured for insertion into the anterior chamber of an eye, adjacent to the cataractous lens of the eye, comprises an optical source, and an optical waveguide connected to deliver optical radiation from the source to the probe. The optical radiation is in the form of pulses which have a repetition rate, a wavelength and an optical energy selected to cause significant ablation-induced damage to the lens within an ablation zone, and significant acoustic-induced damage to the lens within an acoustic zone, such that the acoustic zone is significantly larger in size than the ablation zone. The acoustic zone is created by generating shock waves which radiate from the ablation zone and propagate through hard nuclear material of the cataractous lens, such that the nuclear material is microfractured. The microfractured lens material is significantly more reactive to the laser pulses than prior to microfracturing, and the hard nuclear material readily disintegrates into small fragments in response to application of laser pulses.