title: Integration of analog and digital retinal tracking and coagulation subsystems.
abstract: Laser photocoagulation is used by ophthalmologists to treat retinal disorders such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal breaks and tears. Currently, the procedure is performed manually and suffers from several drawbacks: it often requires many clinical visits, it is very tedious for both patient and physician, the laser pointing accuracy and safety margin are limited by a combination of the physician's manual dexterity and the patient's ability to hold their eye still, and there is a wide variability in retinal tissue absorption parameters. This paper describes progress in developing a computer-assisted robotic laser system that will rapidly and safely place multiple therapeutic lesions at desired locations on the retina in a few seconds.
authors.affiliation: United States Air Force Academy, Department of Electrical Engineering, CO 80840, USA.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Oberg
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000703:Analog-Digital Conversion; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted