What is the origin of the company’s name?
The word Katana means sword in the Japanese language. The Katana is a Samurai precision sword known for its quality, effectiveness, precision, flexibility, great speed, solidity and extreme durability. To manufacture a Katana affords a meticulous process and has to be made with great care. Katana is considered as "the soul of the Samurai".
What are the advantages of Katana LaserSoft in comparison to conventional excimer lasers?
Katana LaserSoft is a solid-state laser. The medium of a solid-state laser is a crystal therefore no Excimer Laser refill or disposal is necessary, which leads to the absence of toxic and hazardous materials. The deep UV source is more compact and reliable. In comparison to the excimer lasers it needs significantly less maintenance. Furthermore the Katana LaserSoft can be operated at a much higher repetition rate (it uses a different wavelength 210 nm instead of 193 nm). Katana LaserSoft also suffers a much less energy fluctuation than the excimer lasers do. That is why it ensures a greater precision for accurate and controllable ablations. (see also here)
Why is eye-tracking necessary?
The eye tracker maintains centering during the entire procedure. The eye tracker takes control of the laser beam and redirects the beam to follow any eye movement. The results are more accurate especially where the ablation time is long or the process more complicated (for hyperopia, the slightest decentration of ablation may cause severe glare and other symptoms). Eye tracker is mandatory for long procedures, LASIK especially, when the patient cannot fixate after a flap is cut. Eye tracking can also influence the procedure time, to provide maximized cooling of the cornea (short procedure may produce too much heat and are not acceptable). Katana’s EyeTracker has the advantage not to be a passive eye tracker only. When applying it, even if the eye moves, the laser does not need to stop, for the tracking system will follow any small eye movement. EyeTracker has also no operating range limit.
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