California Patent Attorney - California Patent Lawyer

California - A recently-published patent granted to Google last year for methods of conveying and gathering digital information with a user's hand could form the basis for a computerized glove counterpart to the company's Google Glasses currently en route to the marketplace.

U.S. Patent Number 8,009,141, aptly titled "Seeing with your hand," covers methods like using a detector to record a series of images of an environment and detecting a predetermined motion by comparing two or more images in the series.

The patented methods may also include selecting a function based on the predetermined motion and triggering the function, using a first detector to record a first series of images of an environment and using a second detector to record a second series of images of an environment.

The method of detecting a predetermined relative motion by comparing one or more images from the first series with one or more images from the second series, and selecting or triggering a function based on the predetermined relative motion, is also covered by the patent.

The central claim of the patent is a glove, comprising a detector positioned on a fingertip which is configured to record a series of images of an environment, coupled with a a processor configured to stabilize the series of images to produce a stabilized series of images, and an output interface configured to trigger at least one function.

The processor also determines at least one predetermined motion of the detector by comparing at least two images in the stabilized series of images and, based on the predetermined motion, selects at least one function from a plurality of functions.

In one example cited in the patent summary, to allow a user to "see" an inaccessible environment, a user may wear a device equipped with one or more detectors on one of his or her hands, or on other areas of the user's body.

The detectors may record a series of images of the environment, and a display may display the series of images to the user. In this manner, the user may "see" the inaccessible environment as if the user's eyes were located on the user's hand or finger, or on the other area of the user's body, the patent summary says.

Inventors Liang-Yu Chi of San Francisco, California, Robert Allen Ryskamp of Zurich, Switzerland, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez of Hayward, California, Harvey Ho of Mountain View, California and Google top dog Sergey Brin of Palo Alto, California filed their application for the patent in March 2011, and had it granted in August 2011.

California - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Friday affirmed a lower court's ruling that Eli Lilly & Co.'s patent for the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed, marketed under the name Alimta, is valid, overruling a challenge from generic pharmaceutical makers Teva Parenteral Medicines Inc., Barr Laboratories Inc. and APP Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The compound patent provides protection for Alimta in the U.S. through January of 2017, Eli Lilly said Friday. Pemetrexed won FDA approval in 2004 for use in treating mesothelioma and then in 2008 for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

"We are pleased with today's ruling from the Court of Appeals affirming the validity of the compound patent for Alimta," Eli Lilly senior vice president and general counsel Robert A. Armitage said. "By affirming the district court ruling, we believe that the Court fairly applied long-standing patent law principles."

"Protection of intellectual property rights is extremely important to the biopharmaceutical industry and the physicians and patients we serve, as these rights help support the development of the next generation of innovative medicines to treat unmet medical needs," he said.

Teva, Barr and APP had appealed a Delaware federal judge's ruling that U.S. Patent 5,344,932 is not invalid for obviousness-type double patenting.

The Delaware case centered on applications the generic pharmaceutical manufacturers filed seeking regulatory approval to market generic formulations of the chemotherapy agent pemetrexed.

The generics makers' abbreviated new drug applications with the FDA each included a certification asserting that the '932 patent was invalid, unenforceable, or would not be infringed by the proposed generic products. Eli Lilly responded with an infringement suit against the generics makers.

During the proceedings, Teva conceded infringement but maintained that the asserted claims of the '932 patent were invalid for obviousness-type double patenting over two earlier-issued claims: one claim of a related compound patent and one claim of a related intermediate patent.

The Delaware judge rejected Teva's arguments and held that the claims of the '932 patent were not invalid for obviousness-type double patenting over either the compound or the intermediate.

California - A California federal judge told Google Inc. on Monday that the company had not adequately complied with his order to disclose the identities of any bloggers, journalists, authors or others who received money from Google while writing about its major patent infringement war with Oracle Corp.

Judge William Alsup, who is presiding over the Google-Oracle patent case, remonstrated Google for not fulfilling its obligations, and gave it until Friday at noon to turn over the names.

On August 7 Judge Alsup originally ordered Google and Oracle to each file a statement identifying all authors, journalists, commentators or bloggers who have reported or commented on any issues in the case and who have received money from the companies or their counsel during the pendency of the action.

"Although proceedings in this matter are almost over, they are not fully over yet and, in any event, the disclosure required by this order would be of use on appeal or on any remand to make clear whether any treatise, article, commentary or analysis on the issues posed by this case are possibly influenced by financial relationships to the parties or counsel," Judge Alsup said at the time.

The August 7 order was not limited to authors "paid . . . to report or comment" or to "quid pro quo" situations, but was designed to bring to light authors whose statements about the issues in the case might have been influenced by the receipt of money from Google or Oracle, Judge Alsup said Monday.

Oracle has disclosed that it retained a blogger as a consultant, the judge noted. Even though the payment was for consulting work, the payment might have influenced the blogger's reports on issues in the civil action, he said.

"Just as a treatise on the law may influence the courts, public commentary that purports to be independent may have an influence on the courts and/or their staff if only in subtle ways," Judge Alsup said. "If a treatise author or blogger is paid by a litigant, should not that relationship be known?"

Google has suggested that it has paid so many commenters that it will be impossible to list them all, according to the judge.

"Please simply do your best but the impossible is not required," he said. "Oracle managed to do it. Google can do it too by listing all commenters known by Google to have received payments as consultants, contractors, vendors, or employees."

Oracle and Google have been feuding since 2010 over whether Google's Android mobile operating system infringes its patents for the Java programming language.

California - Apple announced last week that it has applied for a patent to protect its slick new iPad cover. The application lists the patent as "Cover Attachment with Flexible Display". The new technology offers such useful additions as a keyboard, an extra row of apps, and the option of having special notifications appear on the cover space.

Undoubtedly, iPad users have reason to be excited at the possibility of a new Apple issued accessory for the iPad. Some of the cool new features possibly offered will be an ambient power collector, a keyboard and touch screen integrated into the cover flap, a rear display with controls in the back of the iPad, and additional alerts that could be displayed on the cover such as calendar notifications. Many iPad users end up purchasing separate keyboards for use with their iPad, so the keyboard option could prove to be a useful addition when the user folds the cover back. In addition, ambient power has become a popular new option for consumers who would prefer to use solar power to boost displays, particularly when using the iPad outdoors. The cover alert portion of the patent would allow users to display calendar events, notifications and alerts on the cover. The rear display function seems like the least likely of the options to actually come to pass. Industry experts say that locating controls on the back of the product would be impractical since the user would constantly have to turn the product around to see what buttons they were pushing.

The timing of the patent is interesting considering the recently unveiled Microsoft Surface tablet which will be sold with a cover that includes a kick stand and keyboard. The Apple patent could result in a single cover for the iPad, or several smart covers with different feature options. The new iPad smart cover should come out in time for the 2012 Christmas shopping season. The manager of product design at Apple, Fletcher Rothkopf, is listed as the inventor.

California - Apple had a busy week recently with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in which it was issued a whopping 25 patents for various new inventions. Within the last several months, Apple has been on somewhat of a patent spree with filings for everything from hardware, to software, to accessories.

Some would argue that the most important of these newly granted patents is one that applies to a "portable electronic device, method and graphical user interface for displaying electronic lists and documents". In particular, patent number 8,223,134 covers the graphical interface that Apple designed for use with telephones, email, cameras, video players, calendars and numerous other multi-touch applications. Filed in March 2012, experts are calling the patent extremely important and have dubbed it "the mother of all smartphone software patents". Additionally, Apple's newest smartphone patent is expected to provide significant competition for its main adversary Google Android.

In the years since the smartphone burst into the cell phone market, mobile phone technology has increased at such a rapid rate that consumers can hardly keep up. But savvy smartphone users have likely noticed a variety of similarities between the top products.

Before iPhone hit the market, smartphones used actual physical buttons and keys that had to be pushed to direct actions. However, the iPhone ushered in a period of new technology that advanced multi-touch graphical user interfaces that are a trademark of the iPhone today. Smartphone manufacturers have not hesitated to copy that design to the extent possible with new products in the marketplace today. Historically, Apple has taken drastic steps to protect its intellectual property, including extensive patent applications and numerous patent infringement lawsuits. Undoubtedly, the newest patent granted to Apple will play a part in ongoing litigation with companies such as Samsung, Motorola and HTC, who have chosen to battle it out in court with Apple over patent infringement.

California - There was more bad news for the beleaguered creators of Blackberry last week. After a three-week trial and a week of deliberations, an eight-person jury found Research In Motion (RIM) guilty of patent infringement.

The decision, handed down last Friday in Northern California, was based on allegations that the Canadian Blackberry maker was illegally using patented technology created by New Jersey based Mformation for managing wireless devices. Initiated in 2008, the lawsuit alleged that the Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) was based on Mformation's patents for wireless device management. The Mformation software was designed to allow companies to remotely access employee cell phones in order to erase data from stolen phones, update software or change passwords. The Canadian Blackberry Company was subsequently ordered to pay 147.2 million dollars in damages, approximately eight dollars for each of the 18.4 million Blackberry devices connected to the Blackberry Server from the day the lawsuit was filed to the start of litigation.

RIM has already suffered tremendous setbacks in the past year as its market share has further declined, revenues dropped and its stock is at a nine-year low. Experts speculate that RIM's struggles are undoubtedly a result of increasing Apple and Google smartphone popularity. At the height of its popularity, Blackberry captured 41% of the market share for its devices in 2007. However, that number reportedly dropped to under 4% in the first quarter of 2012. Once known for its cutting edge products, RIM has suffered as its consumers are gradually switching to iPhones and other smartphones that allow users to do more sophisticated applications beyond just checking emails and making phone calls.

Shareholders, employees and users are definitely watching anxiously to see how RIM will deal with its latest legal woes. In the wake of a year of negative news, RIM recently also announced it was cutting 5000 jobs, or roughly 30% of its workforce in an attempt to reduce operating costs. Blackberry further saw its opportunity to catch up with its competitors wane after reported delays in its Blackberry 10 Operating Systems. Representatives for RIM expressed disappointment with the court's decision and will likely appeal the decision. The judge involved in the case is reportedly still reviewing certain other legal issues related to the lawsuit.

California - The U.S. Commerce Department made the announcement earlier this month that it has decided to open four regional United States Patent & Trademark Offices. The new offices will be located in Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colorado and Silicon Valley, California. These offices join the previously announced satellite office in Detroit, Michigan that is scheduled to open on July 13, 2012. According to the United States Patent & Trademark Office ("USPTO") website, the locations selected were based on significant studies that analyzed geographical diversity, regional economic impact, ability to recruit and retain employees, and the ability to engage the intellectual property community.

In September 2011, President Obama signed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011 (AIA), which requires the USPTO to select regions for its satellite locations. This Act will also change the U.S. rights for filing patent applications from as it stands today which is a "first-to-invent" system to a "first inventor-to-file" system. The changes regarding the "first inventor-to-file" will take effect on March 16, 2013.

Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank stated regarding the USPTO changes, "Intellectual property protection and innovation are engines of economic growth and the bedrock of America's private sector. The Obama administration is committed to making certain that our businesses and entrepreneurs have the resources they need to grow, create jobs and compete globally. These new offices are an historic step toward further advancing our world's best IP system, and reinforcing the United States as the number one destination for innovation capital, and research and development around the world."

The USPTO's office in Silicon Valley will not only create jobs here in California but it is also expected to positively change the economy as well. The satellite office in Silicon Valley will be located among many of its Applicant's who hold enormous intellectual property portfolios. Among the top 100 companies listed on the 2012 Fortune 500 list include companies in Silicon Valley such as Palo Alto-based Hewlett Packard (HP), Santa Clara-based Apple, and San Jose-based Cisco Systems.

David Kappos, Director of the USPTO states, "By expanding our operation outside of the Washington metropolitan area for the first time in our agency's 200-plus year history, we are taking unprecedented steps to recruit a diverse range of talented technical experts, creating new opportunities across the American workforce. These efforts, in conjunction with our ongoing implementation of the America Invents Act, are improving the effectiveness of our IP system, and breathing new life into the innovation ecosystem."

With changes such as these that aim to boost the economy, things are looking a bit brighter here in the Golden State.

California - Head-mounted wearable computers are the hottest new trend electronics. Consequently, industry experts anticipate mainstream use of such devices will explode within the next five years.

In an effort to capitalize on this new trend and compete with Google's recently released similar device, Apple announced this week that it was awarded a patent for its own head-mounted display device. Patent number 8,212,859 covers technology that projects an image in front of the viewer's eyes and is designed to enhance a user's viewing experience. The user then has an augmented view of reality with a see-through image imposed on top of the real-world image. According to the patent description, Apple's device could have several small CRT, LCD or OLED displays embedded in a wearable headset incorporated into a helmet, pair of glasses, or a visor.

To capture an even larger market share for head-mounted display devices, Apple is planning on adding sophisticated app development, a possible second display, processor memory and advanced user interfaces. Originally filed back in 2006, the patent for the new technology could also possibly be utilized by heath-care professionals in day-to-day procedures. Developers claim that surgeons could use the product to display information while they operate, such as MRI imaging, CAT scans or other radiographic data. Additionally, Apple anticipates potential use for military, police and firefighters, who could use the new product to display tactical information. The headset could provide an invaluable tool for viewing maps and thermal imaging information, as well as for traditional uses like gaming or internet entertainment applications.

Much like the Apple device, Google recently developed Google Glass, a highly anticipated product utilizing computerized glasses technology. The Android-based glasses have a GPS sensor, cameras, speakers, a microphone and a processor memory. However, unlike the new Apple product, the Google Glass sits slightly above the viewer's eyes, so as to not interfere with vision. Gamers and technology experts anxiously await the introduction of both products into stores and will likely provide multiple reviews within the coming months. Samples of the products are set to be released in 2013 with mass production scheduled for 2014.

California - Trolls are well known for their appearance in fairy tales and children's books. However, trolls of a different kind, patent trolls, or non-practicing entities, are companies that buy patents with no intention of producing or manufacturing any actual products. Instead, they make money by suing companies that produce products using the patents or parts of the patent they own. A recent study from Boston University claims that patent trolls cost U.S. Companies a staggering 29 billion dollars in damages and fees per year. The study, conducted by two Boston University professors, determined that businesses suffered massive losses during the litigation from over 5,842 lawsuits filed in 2011 related to patent infringement.

Data was provided by 82 software and hardware companies and included research on small, medium and large sized companies. The study showed that small and medium sized companies bear most of the cost burden for patent litigation. Small businesses are the hardest hit because they typically do not have as much funding to devote to expensive litigation. In addition, most of the litigation was comprised of "nuisance lawsuits", that were settled for a few hundred thousand dollars, or less. Only a few of the lawsuits studied were worth millions of dollars. The authors of the B.U. report argue that the rapid growth of patent lawsuits and high court cost should trigger significant warnings for policy makers. They insist that the patent system needs major reform, and the way patent litigation is handled by the courts needs greater transparency. Furthermore, the system also needs better supervision of patent damage awards, and damages must be more proportionate to the value of the patented technology.

According to the B.U. study, costs have grown significantly for patent litigation over the last ten years. Companies spent $6.7 billion in patent infringement costs in 2005 and $12.6 billion in 2008, before that number jumped to an astonishing $29.2 billion dollars in 2011. These numbers clearly demonstrate that patent trolls cause significant losses by funneling money away from innovation, research and development and into lawsuits and litigation. As such, policy reform may be in order to help provide necessary changes to the patent system, as well as prevent needless and frivolous lawsuits.

California - Biotechnology and specifically the genetic engineering of seeds has become an extremely competitive industry. Environmental and population size issues have created the necessity for increased growing seasons and larger, more robust crops.

When traditional methods of producing these crops have been exhausted, farmers often turn to biotechnology to assist them. These biotechnology companies then spend millions to develop technology and almost as much to protect it from competitors. Well known seed engineering company Monsanto proved that it was no exception to this rule when it filed a lawsuit last week against Dupont and its Pioneer Hi-Bred International unit for what it considers an egregious infringement of its seed chipping patent. Filed Monday in Missouri district court, the lawsuit involves technology that identifies genetically modified seeds. Monsanto is asking for an injunction to prevent its competitor from infringing on its patented technology, as well as unspecified monetary damages.

Seed chipping is an important process used to automate samples of material from seeds while still allowing them to be planted later. This process allows for seeds to replicate faster. Monsanto introduced its seed chipping system in August 2007 and quickly patented the technology. Pioneer's "laser-assisted seed selection system" was released a year later. Dupont insists that the technology being used in its own seed-chipping technology was developed separate and apart from that being used by Monsanto. Furthermore, DuPont believes the allegations by Monsanto are without merit and vows to vigorously defend against its competitor's lawsuit.

Founded in 1901, Monsanto is the second largest producer of genetically engineered seeds and the leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup). Located in Creve Coeur, Missouri, Monsanto first produced saccharin for the Coca-Cola Company. Further biotechnology inventions came soon after, and Monsanto quickly became a leader in its field. The Missouri based company has a history of taking its competitors to court to protect its patent portfolio and it hopes this latest lawsuit can be settled quickly and amicably. And despite having to resort to litigation, Monsanto has indicated that it is open to the possibility of licensing its technology to DuPont and Pioneer.

California - Mountain View Pharmaceuticals (also known as 'MVP') announced that it was granted a European Patent titled "Polyethylene Glycol Conjugates of Interferon-beta-1b with Enhanced in vitro Biological Potency." This patent aims to aid in the reduction of cases in which patients with multiple sclerosis suffer from a relapse.

European Patent No. 1,667,708 B1 is just one of the 170 worldwide patents that MVP has been issued. MVP's Vice-President and Scientific Director Dr. Mark G.P. Saifer made a statement regarding the newly assigned patent stating, "In contrast with other patents and publications relating to PEG conjugates of interferon-beta, MVP's new European patent claims polymer conjugates of interferon-beta-1b that have increased in vitro potency, measured with human cancer cells in culture, and methods of synthesis of these novel conjugates. If our preclinical results are predictive of the performance of the PEG conjugates in humans, conversion of interferon-beta-1b to a long-acting form with higher potency could enhance the utility of this drug in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, viral infections and other conditions."

MVP, a privately owned Corporation, uses the polyethylene glycol (PEG) process in multiple of its patents. On its website, MVP uses the following phrase as its motto, "Better PEGs in Better Places for Better Products" and among its many registered trademarks, the pharmaceutical company is the owner of the U.S. trademark 'PharmaPEG' for multiple goods and services. MVP has also recently announced that it will publicize a scientific report that has been titled, "Next-Generation PEGylation Enables Reduced Immunoreactivity of PEG-Protein Conjugates," which will be published in the Drug Development & Delivery's June 2012 issue.

Dr. Merry R. Sherman, Chief Executive Officer and President of MVP stated of its research and newly announced publication, "MVP's technology related to long-acting forms of drugs based on therapeutic enzymes or cytokines is the product of more than a decade of research and represents a major advance directed toward the multi-billion-dollar market for PEGylated proteins," and "Our recent publications illustrating the advantages of PharmaPEG-protein conjugates, compared with conventional mPEG-protein conjugates, are expected to reach a wide audience of pharmaceutical professionals, including those attending the Biotechnology International Organization Conference ("BIO 2012") in Boston." Based on its history, it seems as though MVP has many more ground breaking ideas for the future.

California - AVT, an industry leader in automated vending machine technology, announced today that it was awarded a patent for a newly developed vending machine technology. Among other things, patent 8,191,779 allows owners of computerized vending systems to control almost every aspect of their machine by remote access. There are a total of 19 claims in the patent including those which compile sales information, add advertising revenues to product sales, collect marketing analysis, and receive wireless payments from debit or credit cards, mobile phones or radio frequency identification. Additionally, the new technology includes touch screen interfaces and trouble-shoots potential mechanical or computer problems from remote locations.

Currently, it is estimated that there are over eight million vending machines being used across the United States. As such, the vending machine industry is the largest cash business in the U.S. and the most pervasive retail channel with the highest number of locations. However, unlike other leading industries, vending machines are the only retail channel that does not universally accept credit or debit card payments. Only two to three percent of machines accept cashless payment.

Historically, vending machine owners were plagued with problems accepting credit and debit cards because of a lack of reliable communication between credit card machines and servers. Consequently, transaction times were long and sometimes unreliable. In addition, there was no convenient way to supplement unit sales with advertising revenues. It is estimated that the addition of reliable credit card acceptance methods would increase vending machine sales by up to 40 percent. Moreover, industry experts say that the addition of cashless payment technology, such as the ones offered by AVT in its new patent, would allow owners of vending machines to offer higher-end merchandise, increase total sales per customer, eliminate vandalism and reduce theft.

Based in Corona, California and established in 1969, AVT is the leading developer of automated and self-service retailing systems. Its large portfolio of products includes LCD vending stores, automated retail offices and custom-vending services for gourmet coffees, office supplies, perfumes and high-end merchandise. Its unique vending machine solutions are intended to drive machine traffic, increase sales, improve security and lower company overhead. AVT stated that it has spent over three years and a significant amount of money developing the technology included in its latest patent. AVT is confident that its new technology will change the way consumers purchase vending machine products and redefine the automated retail industry.

California - The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent for Amarin Corporation's AMR101 last week. The field of pharmaceutical patents is hugely competitive and companies are constantly under pressure to develop new and more effective prescriptions. As such, AMR101 is a key product in the pharmaceutical company's portfolio. As a treatment for high triglycerides, AMR101 is currently undergoing FDA approval, with a decision due in July. In the meantime, Amarin has announced that its product has been successful in multiple Phase III trials. With such positive feedback and test results, AMR101 is primed for success in the marketplace. As a result, the outlook for FDA approval of AMR101 is also extremely positive.

Among the existing pharmaceutical companies, Amarin is in a particularly attractive position because of its current cash value and its prospects for production of many popular patents that have recently expired. Companies seeking to increase their market share of prescriptions can easily pick up production on these expired patents. In addition, there are a number of larger companies such as Pfizer, GlaxoSmith and Human Genome Sciences looking for partnerships. Amarin could easily partner with one of the larger companies and dramatically increase its market share in the field of biopharmaceuticals. Consequently, Amarin could be in prime market position to top the list of hot prospects in 2013 and beyond.

Amarin is a biopharmaceutical company focused primarily on improving treatment of cardiovascular disease. With its U.S. headquarters in Bedminster, New Jersey, Amarin has demonstrated a history of expertise in lipid science and the use of essential fatty acids in treating cardiovascular disease. The therapeutic benefits of AMR101 are intended for patents with high trigylcerides, who are also on statin therapy for elevated LDL-cholesterol levels. It is estimated that over 40 million people suffer from dangerously elevated levels of triglycerides. As a result of these elevated levels, patients have an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity, among other problems. AMR101 is being positioned as a best-in-class prescription for treating these patients and offering them better health, free from diseases caused by elevated triglycerides.

California - Cohera Medical announced today that it has been awarded a patent for its hydrophilic biodegradable adhesives. Hydrophilic biodegradable adhesive products both absorb and dissolve in water, and are highly useful in surgical applications where traditional methods of stitching and stapling may not be as desirable.

The range of products included in the patent cover Cohera's product offerings in surgical adhesive products that are extremely strong, completely synthetic and resorbable by human tissues. Patent number 8,182,647 further involves a broad spectrum of adhesive products including TissuGlu®, a product designed for large flap tissue approximation. The current patent also includes products designed for numerous clinical applications and allows for multiple strengths and cure properties. Such non-traditional adhesive products can be used as alternatives in plastic and aesthetic surgeries such as stomach stapling, tummy tucks, and other cosmetic procedures.

Cohera is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based medical device company with secondary offices in The Netherlands. The medical adhesives company has long held the mission of creating products that improve patient care and quality of life. To that end, Cohera Medical has created a line of products alternative to traditional stitching and stapling methods that are designed for ease of use in the operating theater. In particular, Cohera specializes in adhesive products designed to assist plastic and aesthetic surgeons in a number of procedures reducing or eliminating the need for surgical drains. Cohera's primary adhesive products form a strong and durable bond between tissues, and are resorbable and biocompatible for either internal or external use. Furthermore, Cohera's products are unique from most other products in the market because the ingredients are not human or animal based.

Cohera began selling its tissue adhesive products, including TissuGlu, in Europe after obtaining CE Mark approval in 2011. The range of Cohera products have been successfully used in a wide variety of surgical procedures in Germany over the last year. Cohera Medical's wide range of adhesive products are also currently being used in Europe for such procedures as bowel anastomoses and hernia mesh fixation. The same products, along with a number of new creations, are currently undergoing the process of U.S. Clinical Trials and patent approval.

California - When the iPhone was first introduced by Apple, Steve Jobs insisted that patenting the stylus was a bad idea and not worth the time and effort involved. However, despite the idea previously being shunned by the internal creative powers at Apple, it has been confirmed that Apple has filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for an Optical Stylus.

The current idea being patented is conceptually different from the stylus that most consumers would get with a tablet purchased in the marketplace today. Most stylus products currently being sold are simple optical devices with a pressure sensor that can capture an image using a built in camera. When the stylus touches the prescribed surface, the camera captures the image and relays it to the computer's internal parts, which in turn tells the computer what to do. But today's consumers are more technically savvy than ever and expect more from their products than what a simple stylus has traditionally done. To that end, Apple's newest stylus patent could possibly include several different high-tech variations, including but not limited to: accelerometers, gyroscopes, haptic feedback and/or multiple orientation determining sensors.

It should be noted that the patent application does not mean that Apple plans to market the next iPad with a stylus. However, Apple has traditionally been a creative leader in the computer field and the new stylus ideas are no exception. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that the creative design teams would spend so much time and energy on new stylus ideas if there weren't some products being planned that would incorporate the new stylus ideas in some iteration or another.

This is not to say that the designers at Apple have surmounted the convenience problems that most consumers have with a stylus. Jobs himself famously complained that a stylus was inconvenient and easy to lose. Consequently, even with a convenient space to store the stylus, many consumers end up misplacing the smaller part sooner or later. But with new and creative concepts constantly being bandied about at Apple, it is likely that the creative teams will market the new products and stylus ideas with some interesting new storage ideas.