(19)

(11)

EP 0 862 477 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 09.09.1998 Bulletin 1998/37 (21) Application number: 96936150.0 (22) Date of filing: 02.10.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61M 25/ 00( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/015845 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/014466 (24.04.1997 Gazette 1997/18)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR (30) Priority: 17.10.1995 US 19950543992 (71) Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55432 (US)	(72) Inventors: BRIN, David, S. West Newbury, MA 01950 (US) MACDONALD, Stuart, R. Danvers, MA 01923 (US) DUNFEE, Albert, H. Byfield, MA 01922 (US) (74) Representative: Hughes, Andrea Michelle  Frank B. Dehn & Co., European Patent Attorneys, 179 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EL London EC4V 4EL (GB)