(19)

(11)

EP 0 868 665 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 07.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/41 (21) Application number: 96944858.0 (22) Date of filing: 23.12.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01N 33/ 52( . ) G01N 33/ 553( . ) G01N 33/ 543( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/020151 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/023781 (03.07.1997 Gazette 1997/29)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV RO SI (30) Priority: 22.12.1995 US 19950577623 22.12.1995 US 19950577127 (71) Applicant: Universal Healthwatch, Inc. Columbia, MD 21045 (US)

(72) Inventors: CHILDS, Mary, Ann Baltimore, MD 21234 (US) CHOWDURY, Mohammed, A. Greenbelt, MD 20770 (US) CHUNG, Craig Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (US) CARTER, Diane Fort Meade, MD 20755 (US) PRAKASH, Anjana Reisterstown, MD 21136 (US) BERNSTEIN, David Elderburg, MD 21784 (US) (74) Representative: Mercer, Christopher Paul  Carpmaels & Ransford 43, Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2RA London WC1A 2RA (GB)