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Clifford, CA

Anton Clifford, Mountain View, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080262468System and Method for the Simultaneous Bilateral Treatment of Target Tissues Within the Ears Using a Guide Block Structure - Systems and methods for treating a patient having a head with a first ear and a second ear, function by mounting a support structure to the head of the patient; aligning the support structure with a target tissue in an ear canal of the first ear; stabilizing the support structure relative to the target tissue by injecting a material into the canal and hardening the material; and actuating a device while the device is supported by the support system so that the device therapeutically remodels the target tissue of the first ear.10-23-2008
20080262508System and Method for the Simultaneous Bilateral Placement of Pressure Equalization Tubes - Systems and methods for bilateral treatment of a patient having a head with a first ear and a second ear function by aligning a first device with a target tissue of the first ear; aligning a second device with a target tissue of the second ear; and therapeutically remodeling, with synchronization, the target tissues of the first and second ear with the first and second aligned devices, respectively.10-23-2008
20080262509System and Method for the Simultaneous Bilateral Integrated Tympanic Drug Delivery and Guided Treatment of Target Tissues Within the Ears - Systems and methods for treating a patient having a head with a first ear and a second ear function by mounting a support system to the head of the patient so that the support system is aligned with a target tissue of the first ear; applying a therapeutic agent to the first ear by energizing an iontophoresis electrode supported by the support system; and actuating a device while the device is supported by the support system so that the device therapeutically remodels the target tissue of the first ear.10-23-2008
20080262510Disposable Iontophoresis System and Tympanic Membrane Pain Inhibition Method - Systems and methods for treating a patient having an ear canal and a target tissue function by positioning a fluid or gel in the ear canal, the fluid or gel comprising a therapeutic agent; retaining the fluid or gel with a support structure, the support structure supporting an electrode and a battery; and applying the agent from the fluid or gel to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential from the battery.10-23-2008
20100049304Endoprosthesis Having Foot Extensions - Endoprosthesis, such as a stent, includes at least one annular element defined by a first set of strut members interconnected to define apices proximate opposite sides of the annular element. The annular element further includes a foot extension extending between at least one pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members. The foot extension has first and second foot portions extending circumferentially from corresponding ends of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members, and are contoured to provide at least two areas of flexure. The first and second foot portions are joined at a toe portion of the foot extension, and define a circumferentially-directed apex between the pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members. Preferably, at least one or more additional annular elements, each defined by interconnected strut members, are provided. The annular elements are generally expandable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration. The annular elements are longitudinally aligned and connected at connection locations with connectors, wherein at least one of the connectors is constructed of a bio-absorbable material.02-25-2010

Patent applications by Anton Clifford, Mountain View, CA US

Brendan Clifford, Encinitas, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110197899NANO-OTOLOGIC PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR IMPACT NOISE TOXICITY AND/OR BLAST OVERPRESSURE EXPOSURE - An apparatus for preventing hearing loss having a body made of a soft compliant material having first and second ends and a channel extending therethrough, an acoustically limp material adjacent one of the ends of the body with the acoustically limp material having a hole therein aligned with the channel extending through the body, and a component film, disc or other structure covering or sealing the opening in the acoustically limp material. The film or disc may be formed of a high-strength polymer material and may be less than 10 micrometers in thickness. Rather than having a single channel extending through the body, a plurality of channels may extend therethrough and a plurality of corresponding holes may be provided in the acoustically limp material. The film, disc or other structure covers or seals the plurality of holes in the acoustically limp material. The film, disc or other structure may be attached in such a fashion as to behave like a flap whose operation is to close in response to high energy sound waves. The flap is pressed shut from the high intensity shock wave itself. The body may cylindrical in shape or may have another shape to fit snugly in a human ear canal.08-18-2011
20120033823NANO-OTOLOGIC PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR IMPACT NOISE TOXICITY AND/OR BLAST OVERPRESSURE EXPOSURE - An apparatus for preventing hearing loss having a body made of a soft compliant material having first and second ends and a channel extending therethrough, an acoustically limp material adjacent one of the ends of the body with the acoustically limp material having a hole therein aligned with the channel extending through the body, and a component film, disc or other structure covering or sealing the opening in the acoustically limp material. The film or disc may be formed of a high-strength polymer material and may be less than 10 micrometers in thickness. Rather than having a single channel extending through the body, a plurality of channels may extend therethrough and a plurality of corresponding holes may be provided in the acoustically limp material. The film, disc or other structure covers or seals the plurality of holes in the acoustically limp material. The film, disc or other structure may be attached in such a fashion as to behave like a flap whose operation is to close in response to high energy sound waves. The flap is pressed shut from the high intensity shock wave itself. The body may cylindrical in shape or may have another shape to fit snugly in a human ear canal.02-09-2012

Christopher Heinz Clifford, San Francisco, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120066651Technique for Repairing a Reflective Photo-Mask - During a calculation technique, a modification to a reflective photo-mask is calculated. In particular, using information associated with different types of analysis techniques a group of one or more potential defects in the reflective photo-mask is determined. Then, the modification to the reflective photo-mask is calculated based on at least a subset of the group of potential defects using an inverse optical calculation. In particular, during the inverse optical calculation, a cost function at an image plane in a model of the photolithographic process is used to determine the modification to the reflective photo-mask at an object plane in the model of the photolithographic process.03-15-2012
20120066652Technique for Analyzing a Reflective Photo-Mask - During a calculation technique, contributions to reflected light from multiple discrete cells in a model of a multilayer stack in a reflective photo-mask may be determined based on angles of incidence of light in a light pattern to the multilayer stack, a polarization of the light in the light pattern, and a varying intensity of the light in the light pattern through the multilayer stack. Then, phase values of the contributions to the reflected light from the multiple discrete cells are adjusted, thereby specifying optical path differences between the multiple discrete cells in the multilayer stack that are associated with the defect. Moreover, the contributions to the reflected light from multiple discrete cells are combined to determine the reflected light from the multilayer stack. Next, k-space representations of the contributions to the reflected light from the multiple discrete cells are selectively shifted based on the angles of incidence.03-15-2012

David C. Clifford, Santa Clara, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080273455Retry Strategies for Use in a Streaming Environment - Strategies are described for performing retry analysis in an environment which involves the transmission of media information from a source module to a target module. In the context of the source module, the retry analysis determines whether the source module should satisfy the retry requests issued by the target module. In the context of the target module, the retry analysis determines whether the target module should generate the retry requests in the first place. Novel request reporting formats are also described. The target module performs analysis to determine what reporting format it should use to convey the retry requests to the source module.11-06-2008
20090077255ACCELERATED CHANNEL CHANGE IN RATE-LIMITED ENVIRONMENTS - Accelerated channel change (ACC) strategies are described for supplying a client module with media information by transitioning between a first delivery of media information provided by first delivery functionality and a second delivery of media information provided by second delivery functionality without exceeding prescribed data rate limitations. The first delivery functionality can represent server-based functionality for delivering a unicast stream of media information at a data rate (or maximum data rate) of some excess amount over the nominal rate of delivery, starting at a selected location within the media information. The second delivery functionality can represent any functionality for delivering the media information at the data rate (or maximum data rate) of the nominal rate of delivery. A join interval separates the first delivery at the excess rate and the second delivery at the nominal rate. In that period, the first delivery functionality can provide media information at a join interval data rate. The join interval data rate, if it is below the nominal data rate, will cause the client module to miss packets of media information. The client module can receive these missing packets by issuing retry requests to the first delivery functionality or to some other entity. The client module can determine the excess amount available by investigating the amount of missing information that occurs at different data rates; or the excess amount can be defined in advance.03-19-2009

Patent applications by David C. Clifford, Santa Clara, CA US

Laurence Clifford, Saratoga, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090141771TEMPERATURE-SENSING AND TRANSMITTING ASSEMBLIES, PROGRAMMABLE TEMPERATURE SENSOR UNITS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THEM - In an exemplary embodiment, a temperature sensor and a 4-20 mA transmitter on a single flexible circuit subassembly with a separate housing suitable for use in industrial control or HVAC applications. In a preferred embodiment, a narrow flex circuit substrate includes a silicon diode-based surface-mount sensor at a sensor end, a surface-mount programmable transmitter IC on a flex circuit substrate in the transmitter section, conductive traces connecting the sensor to the transmitter IC, and two conductive pads at an output end for connecting the 4-20 mA output to a pair of external wires. Additional traces on the flex subassembly are provided for testing and programming the transmitter IC and sensor. The sensor end of the flex subassembly is mounted in a metal sensor tube, filled and sealed in the same manner as RTD or thermistor sensors with leads are currently assembled for use in industrial control or HVAC applications.06-04-2009

Mark J. Clifford, Los Altos, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100076343Methods and devices for removing tissue from a patient - The present invention is directed to tissue removal devices and methods. A tubular element having an open distal end is advanced into tissue so that tissue enters the tubular element. The tissue, which entered the tubular element is cut to separate the tissue from the surrounding tissue. The tissue is then transported proximally by the cutting element or a separate transport element.03-25-2010
20100113922Methods and devices for removing tissue from a patient and placing a marker in the patient - The device is used to remove tissue from a patient and to also place a marker in the patient. The device has an opening through which tissue enters the device. The tissue, which enters the opening is cut and the tissue is removed. The device may be used a number of times to remove a number of tissue masses. The device also includes a marker, which the user may release in the patient at the desired time.05-06-2010
20120035503METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CUTTING AND COLLECTING SOFT TISSUE - Devices and methods for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of tissue. The device may include an integrated cut and collect assembly. The integrated cut and collect assembly includes a cutting portion and a collection portion that includes a flexible membrane. The collection portion of the assembly is attached to the cutting portion thereof. The cutting portion is configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and the collection portion is configured to collect the cut specimen and to encapsulate and isolate the cut specimen within the membrane to enable its safe retraction from the mass of tissue.02-09-2012

Patent applications by Mark J. Clifford, Los Altos, CA US

Matt Kyle Clifford, La Jolla, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120089675SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USER INTERACTION BASED ON LICENSE OR OTHER IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION - Methods and systems for facilitating user interaction are described. One such method includes receiving, from a first user device, identification information associated with a targeted user and retrieving, from a database, contact information associated with the identification information. The method may further include providing the contact information to the first user device to facilitate communication between the first user device and a user device of the targeted user and/or providing a message to the user device of the targeted user.04-12-2012