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Farley, CA

Brian E. Farley, Los Altos, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090005775EXPANDABLE CATHETER HAVING TWO SETS OF ELECTRODES - A catheter includes a first plurality of expandable leads and a second plurality of expandable leads separate and longitudinally spaced-apart from the first plurality to deliver energy to a hollow anatomical structure, such as vein, fallopian tube, hemorrhoid, esophageal varix, to effectively ligate that structure. Each of the leads includes an electrode located at the distal end of the respective electrode lead. Polarizations of the leads may be selected to achieve the power distribution desired. Each electrode lead includes an outward bend such that when a movable sheath is moved out of contact with the leads, they expand outwardly into apposition with an inner wall of the structure to be ligated. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes are freely moved inward by the shrinking structure while still maintaining apposition with the inner wall of the shrinking structure.01-01-2009
20090054884METHOD OF LIGATING HOLLOW ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES - A catheter includes a plurality of expandable primary leads to deliver energy to a fallopian tube, a vein such as a hemorrhoid or an esophageal varix, or another hollow anatomical structure requiring ligation or occlusion. Each of the primary leads includes an electrode located at the working end of the catheter. Separation is maintained between the primary leads such that the leads can receive power of selected polarity. The primary leads are constructed to expand outwardly to place the electrodes into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes of the primary leads are moved closer to one another.02-26-2009
20090137998EXPANDABLE VEIN LIGATOR CATHETER HAVING MULTIPLE ELECTRODE LEADS, AND METHOD - A catheter includes a plurality of primary leads to deliver energy for ligating a hollow anatomical structure. Each of the primary leads includes an electrode located at the working end of the catheter. Separation is maintained between the primary leads such that each primary lead can individually receive power of selected polarity. The primary leads are constructed to expand outwardly to place the electrodes into apposition with an anatomical structure. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes of the primary leads are moved closer to one another. Where the hollow anatomical structure is a vein, energy is applied until the diameter of the vein is reduced to the point where the vein is occluded. In one embodiment, a secondary lead is surrounded by the primary leads, and extends beyond the primary leads. The secondary lead includes an electrode at the working end of the catheter. The secondary lead can have a polarity opposite to the polarity of the primary leads in a bipolar configuration. The polarity of the leads can be switched and the catheter can be moved during treatment to ligate an extended length of the vein. The catheter can include a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery.05-28-2009
20100106156APPARATUS FOR TREATING VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY - A catheter delivers an electrode within a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency using RF energy. The catheter is introduced into a patient and positioned within the section of the vein to be treated. The electrode radiates high frequency energy towards the vein, and the surrounding venous tissue becomes heated and begins to shrink. The catheter includes a controllable member for limiting the amount of shrinkage of the vein to the diameter of the member. The electrode remains active until there has been sufficient shrinkage of the vein. The extent of shrinkage of the vein may be detected by fluoroscopy. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter and the electrode can be repositioned intraluminally within the vein to treat different sections of the vein until all desired venous sections and valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent.04-29-2010
20110160813METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A CATHETER RELATIVE TO AN ANATOMICAL JUNCTION - An electrode catheter is introduced into a vein or other hollow anatomical structure, and is positioned at a treatment: site within the structure. The end of the catheter is positioned near a junction formed in the structure. This junction can be the sapheno-femoral junction. The position of the catheter near the junction is determined based on a signal from a device associated with the catheter within the structure. A fiber optic filament which emits light is used with the catheter or a guide wire over which the catheter is advanced. The light is visible externally from the patient. The light dims and may no longer externally visible at the sapheno-femoral junction where the catheter moves past the deep fascia and toward the deep venous system. The position of the catheter can be determined based on this external observation. The position of the catheter can also be determined based on measured parameters such as temperature or flow rate within the structure, and the measured changes in one or more of these parameters as the catheter nears the junction. The hollow anatomical structure can be compressed for this procedure. The position of the catheter can also be determined mechanically by including a hook-shaped tip on the catheter or guide wire which would physically engage the junction.06-30-2011
20110202047Apparatus for Treating Venous Insufficiency Using Directionally Applied Energy - A catheter introduces electrodes in a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of venous insufficiency by the application of energy to cause selective heating of the vein. The catheter is positioned within the vein to be treated, and the electrodes on the catheter are moved toward one side of the vein. RF energy is applied in a directional manner from the electrodes at the working end of the catheter to cause localized heating and corresponding shrinkage of the adjacent venous tissue, which may include commissures, leaflets and ostia. Fluoroscopy or ultrasound may be used to detect shrinkage of the vein. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter can be repositioned to place the electrodes to treat different sections of the vein until all desired venous valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent.08-18-2011

Patent applications by Brian E. Farley, Los Altos, CA US

Brian Eugene Farley, Los Altos, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090306637ENERGY DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING HOLLOW ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES - Apparatus and methods for segmental treatment of hollow anatomical structures using an optical fiber are disclosed. An elongate energy application device can absorb, scatter and/or reflect laser energy over a length of the elongate energy application device to thereby treat the hollow anatomical structure along one or more lengthened treatment segments.12-10-2009

David Farley, Corona, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110061167PILLOWS WITH LARGE DIAMETER CLEAVING FOR ENHANCED LATERAL SOFTNESS - A pillow including a main body having a top support surface, a bottom support surface and rounded ends joining the top and bottom support surfaces about a rounded profile. The rounded profile of the pillow has no recessed areas where a thickness of the main body decreases progressively towards an edge of the main body. The main body is made of a cellular material. The pillow includes a plurality of holes defined to extend through the main body and include openings on the top and bottom support surfaces. The holes have a constant circular cross section having a diameter of ⅝ inch or greater.03-17-2011
20110061168SLEEP SUPPORT SURFACE THAT INCLUDES A LAYER WITH LARGE DIAMETER CLEAVING - A layered mattress including a first layer having a first support surface facing substantially externally and a second support surface opposite the first support surface; a specialized layer having a top support surface adjacent the second support surface of the first layer, a bottom support surface, and a plurality of holes defined to extend through the specialized layer; a second layer having a third support surface adjacent the bottom support surface of the specialized layer and a fourth support surface opposite the third support surface; and a pad having a fifth support surface adjacent the fourth support surface of the second layer and a sixth support surface opposite the fifth support surface.03-17-2011
20110061170SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURING FLEXIBLE FOAM MATTRESS COVERS FROM MISALIGNMENT - A mattress covering system and associated method including a flexible foam mattress core having a top surface, a bottom surface and side walls connecting the top and bottom surfaces, a mattress cover made of a flexible and stretchable material, and a fabric connector mounted to the flexible foam core and coupled to at least a portion of the mattress cover to alleviate the possibility of misalignment during compression packing or extended use of the flexible foam mattress core.03-17-2011
20110062181DISPENSER BOX WITH TILTED TOP SURFACE AND TIPPING CORNER - A dispenser box that includes a tilted or inclined top surface that defines a plurality of object wells that are configured to receive objects and secure them for shipping as well as display. The object wells are configured to secure each object on display as the objects are removed from the dispenser box, such that the last remaining object may continue to stand secure and in place.03-17-2011

David Aaron Farley, Corona, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120031511Transverse Mounted In-Line Shower Filter - A shower filter/diverter assembly is provided for selectively outputting filtered water to one of a plurality of output ports. The assembly comprises a shower filter/diverter body having an input port for receiving unfiltered water, a plurality of output ports for outputting filtered water, a first end for receiving a shower filter and a second end for communicating the filtered water to one of the plurality of body output ports. A diverter control assembly is engageable to the filter/diverter body second end and translatable to selectively direct filtered water to one of the plurality of body output ports.02-09-2012

Linda Sue Farley, Laguna Beach, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090165732Ultraviolet light-reflecting collar for cats for deterring predation on birds - A UV (ultraviolet light) reflecting cat collar adapted to be carried by a predatory animal is provided. The device reflects light in ultraviolet wavelengths to which many species of bird have a pronounced sensitivity as UV reflectance is strongly involved in mate selection, territorial displays, and foraging for food by many bird species. Therefore, stationary or moving cats wearing the UV reflective collar will be highly visible, during the day and crepuscular periods (i.e., dawn and dusk), to many species of birds that can, in turn, avoid predation by earlier detection of hunting cats and taking evasive action. Predation by domestic cats is a major source of mortality for songbirds and represents a significant conservation threat to many species. Cats killing birds is also a source of concern and distress for many cat owners. Ultraviolet reflecting-fabrics, -materials, or -coatings are either firmly attached to the exterior of a standard cat collar, or the entire collar is made of UV light-reflecting material or covered in UV-reflecting coatings. Different fabrics or coatings that reflect or absorb different wavelengths of ultraviolet light may be arranged in patterns along the collar to enhance visibility to a wide range of bird species with varying sensitivities to different UV wavelengths or contrasting patterns of UV and visible wavelengths. Cats wearing these collars during daylight will be more easily detected by birds that, subsequently, can take evasive action and alert other birds through alarm calls.07-02-2009

Mark Farley, Laguna Niguel, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090093800Flexible Surgical Probe - A probe having a flexible, small diameter fiber sheathed in a small diameter flexible tube comprising the distal tip of the probe. The small diameters of the fiber and tube allow the fiber to be bent in a tighter radius along essentially the entire length of the exposed portion of the fiber, with low tube bending forces during insertion, providing a compact design which eliminates the need for a straight distal portion. The small diameter tube also allows a greater wall thickness outer cannula to be used, thereby increasing instrument rigidity. This compact, rigid design with low insertion forces allows the fiber greater access to the internal posterior structures of the eye, while providing increased instrument rigidity for manipulation of the eye, as well as low insertion forces.04-09-2009

Mark Farley, Napa, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090213879Automated Laser Tuning - In exemplary embodiments, an ultra short pulse system comprises a laser platform which includes an optical source configured to generate an optical pulse, an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical pulse, and a compressor configured to temporally compress the amplified optical pulse. The ultra short pulse system further comprises monitor circuitry configured to monitor one or more performance aspects of the laser platform. Additionally, the ultra short pulse system may comprise logic configured to control the one or more performance aspects of the laser platform in response to at least the monitored one or more performance aspects.08-27-2009
20090216494Network Laser System with Remote Diagnostics - In exemplary embodiments, a network laser system comprises a laser platform including an optical source configured to generate an optical pulse, an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical pulse, and a compressor configured to temporally compress the amplified optical pulse. The network laser system may also comprise monitor circuitry (e.g., sensors) configured to monitor one or more performance aspects of the laser platform. The network laser system may further comprise logic configured to transmit data to a remote computing device over a network. The network laser system may be configured to perform a diagnostic test and/or maintenance in response to instructions received from the remote computing device.08-27-2009
20090323740Systems And Methods For Control Of Ultra Short Pulse Amplification - A method of controlling an ultra-short pulse system is described comprising controlling an optical power within the ultra-short pulse system and control-system controlling a width of an optical pulse. In some embodiments, the method also comprises tuning a compressor by controlling a number of passes of the optical pulse through a Bragg grating to control the width of the optical pulse output from the compressor. In other embodiments, the method may comprise tuning a multi-pass stretcher by controlling a number of passes of the optical pulse through a loop of the multi-pass stretcher to control the width of the optical pulse output from the multi-pass stretcher. A method of controlling an ultra-short pulse system may also comprise accessing a control system from a remotely located command station, communicating status information from the control system to the command station, and communicating information from the command station to the control system.12-31-2009
20100111539TRANSCEIVER MODULE AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH DUAL EYE OPENERS - A transceiver module having integrated eye diagram opening functionality for reducing jitter is described. The transceiver module may include a transmitter eye opener and a receiver eye opener integrated in a single circuit. The transceiver module may also include serial control and various other integrated components. Other functionalities that may be integrated on the transceiver module include loopback modes, bypass features, bit error rate testing, and power down modes.05-06-2010
20110293285TRANSCEIVER MODULE AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH DUAL EYE OPENERS - A transceiver module having integrated eye diagram opening functionality for reducing jitter is described. The transceiver module may include a transmitter eye opener and a receiver eye opener integrated in a single circuit. The transceiver module may also include serial control and various other integrated components. Other functionalities that may be integrated on the transceiver module include loopback modes, bypass features, bit error rate testing, and power down modes.12-01-2011

Patent applications by Mark Farley, Napa, CA US

Mark H. Farley, Laguna Niguel, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110125139Multi-fiber flexible surgical probe - A probe having a flexible, small diameter fiber optic sheathed in a small diameter flexible tube comprising the distal tip of the probe. The small diameters of the fiber and tube allow the fiber to be bent in a tight radius comprising the major portion of the length of the exposed portion of the fiber, with low tube bending forces during insertion, providing a compact design which reduces or eliminates the need for a straight distal portion of flexible tube extending from the cannula. The small diameter tube also allows a greater wall thickness outer cannula to be used, thereby increasing instrument rigidity. One embodiment encompasses a larger flexible tube with corresponding larger bend radius, to encase a plurality of fiber optics, providing separately optimized laser and illumination delivery paths. Anti-friction coating material may be used to further reduce insertion forces.05-26-2011

Matthew John Farley, Los Angeles, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100166113RECEIVER STATE ESTIMATION IN A DUTY CYCLED RADIO - A method for receiver state estimation includes communicating, from a first communications device to a second communications device, a first plurality of wake-up frames; receiving, at the first communications device from the second communications device, an indication of a received wake-up frame of the communicated first plurality of wake-up frames; determining, by the first communications device, a time at which the second communications device is in a ready state based on the received indication; subsequently communicating, from the first communications device to the second communications device, a second plurality of wake-up frames. The first plurality is greater than the second plurality, the reduction in number from the first plurality to the second plurality being based on the determined time at which the second communications device is in a ready state.07-01-2010

Richard O. Farley, San Diego, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110207440MOBILE DEVICE PROFILE AGGREGATION - Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are described for generating an aggregated group profile of access terminal users in an identified geographic region (e.g., at an entertainment venue). A group profile request may be received for a set of mobile access terminal users in the identified geographic region. User profile information may be requested for each of the users. User profiles may be aggregated to generate an aggregated group profile. The aggregated group profile may be distributed (e.g., for use in selecting advertisements at an entertainment venue to reflect the users currently in attendance).08-25-2011
20120013475LOCATION DETERMINATION USING RADIO WAVE MEASUREMENTS AND PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS - A method and apparatus for determining a location of a wireless device using radio waves and pressure measurements is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of Radio Signal Strength (RSS) measurements are used to trilaterate an approximate location of the wireless device. The wireless device also takes pressure measurements that are compared with a second pressure measurement made by at least one other pressure sensor at a known elevation and in a local area near the wireless device. This comparison is used to generate an accurate estimate of the elevation of the wireless device. The accurate estimate of elevation may be combined with the RSS measurements to yield an accurate estimate of the location of the wireless device.01-19-2012
20120015665SENSOR NODE POSITIONING FOR LOCATION DETERMINATION - Systems, methods, and devices are described for determining a physical location of a wireless device. A receiver may be configured to receive associations between anchor locations and sensor nodes, wherein each sensor node uses near field communications to identify an anchor location. The receiver may also receive signal strength measurements from the wireless device measuring the signal strength of wireless sensor nodes. Arrangements may also be configured to determine physical locations of the sensor nodes based on physical locations of anchor locations and utilize received signal strength measurements with the determined physical locations of the sensor nodes to determine the physical location of the wireless device.01-19-2012

Rodney Farley, Yorba Linda, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100008503Secure Terminal Data Loader Apparatus and Method for a Mobile Platform - A terminal data loading device on a mobile platform includes a media unit for receiving a transportable media element containing media data and outputting a media signal to a control processor unit. The control processor unit outputs an information signal to a wireline communication unit. The wireline communication unit outputs a wireline signal to a network on the mobile platform.01-14-2010
20100138581Universal Docking System - A docking system is presented for an ecosystem where multiple media players provide functionality according to the location of corresponding docking stations. The docking stations have locally encoded media player persona information that depends on the location where the docking station is installed. Once a media player is docked with the docking station, the media player obtains the persona information and configures itself to provide the functionality required for the location. The media player can restrict content as necessary based on the obtained persona information. Other features also can be incorporated within the docking station and media player assemblies to provide for proper airflow, isolation from vibration, or installation by unskilled individuals. A preferred ecosystem employing the disclosed techniques includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment system.06-03-2010
20100138582ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WITH LOOPED DAISY-CHAINED NETWORK OF DOCKING STATIONS - An entertainment system comprising a media server networked with a plurality of docking stations is presented. The media server and docking stations can be networked together into a looped daisy-chained network to provide for content distribution to docked media players. The looped daisy-chained network retains connectivity or continuity when media players are undocked or when a connection is broken. In preferred embodiments, the entertainment system can be deployed within an aircraft as an in-flight entertainment system.06-03-2010
20100138879Entertainment Systems Utilizing Field Replaceable Storage Units - Vehicular entertainment systems where devices in the systems can each utilize a common type of storage units are presented. A vehicular entertainment system can include a media server head unit in communication over a network with a plurality of media players that are installed about the cabin of a vehicle. Media content can be stored on a plurality of field replaceable storage units where each of the storage units can be installed in any one of the players or the server. Each of the storage units can store a substantially identical content set including passenger content, player content, server content, crew content, or other types of content. The server or players can be restricted from accessing content to which they lack rights, possibly based on a location identifier that indicates roles or responsibilities of the players at their installed location.06-03-2010