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Precise laser incisions, corrected for patient respiration with an intelligent aiming system
L Reinisch1, M H Mendenhall, R H Ossoff
1Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Background And Objective:
Patient motion due to respiration and blood flow can negatively affect the precision of a laser incision.
Study Design/Materials And Methods:
The video image of the surgical field is monitored by a computer system, and trends in the motion are "learned" by the computer. The laser beam is then adjusted to compensate for predicted motion. Occasional erratic motion sometime causes a false prediction. In this event, the prediction is corrected with real-time feedback.
Results:
Our experience shows that even with occasional false predictions, the motion compensation still gives a better incision. The surgeon always maintains control of the laser. The net effect of the intelligent aiming system is to subtract away nearly all patient motions.
Conclusion:
Laser surgery can be performed with greater accuracy and reduced unwanted tissue damage with the predictive tracking of motion.