SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME FEEDBACK OF ABLATION RATE DURING LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY

摘要

A laser-based refractive surgery system (200) includes a laser source (105) including a laser controller (108), wherein at least a portion (118) of the laser beam pulse (109) is directed to target eye tissue (120) of a patient. The beam portion (118) produces a reflected beam (127) after striking the eye tissue (120). The system includes at least one detector (128) for detecting the reflected beam (127). A computer or data processor (155) is communicably coupled to the detector (128) and the laser controller (108). The computer or data processor (155) generates a cross-correlation function using a plurality of discrete points which digitally represent a waveform representation of the reflected beam and a plurality of reference points. The reference points are preferably associated with a digital representation of the incident beam. The laser controller receives and utilizes the cross-correlation function or parameter derived therefrom, or the ablation rate, and adjusts at least one operating parameter of the laser beam in real-time during a refractive procedure.