(19)

(11)

EP 0 882 230 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 09.12.1998 Bulletin 1998/50 (21) Application number: 96940503.0 (22) Date of filing: 18.11.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01N 21/ 78( . ) C12Q 1/ 04( . ) G01N 21/ 76( . ) C12Q 1/ 02( . ) C12Q 1/ 66( . ) G01N 33/ 543( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/018443 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/019353 (29.05.1997 Gazette 1997/23)

(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: 17.11.1995 US 19950560094 22.12.1995 US 19950577624 (71) Applicant: Universal Healthwatch, Inc. Columbia, MD 21045 (US)

(72) Inventors: CHILDS, Mary Ann Baltimore, MD 21234 (US) McCLINTOCK, Joseph, A. Baltimore, MD 21215 (US) SHIPMAN, Gregory, K. Baltimore, MD 21207 (US) TRAINOR, William, P. Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062 (US) GRAY, Erick Columbia, MD 21044 (US) BERNSTEIN, David Eldersburg, MD 21784 (US) LAUB, David, W. Oakton, VA 22124 (US) KIMMS, Lyle, K. Arlington, VA 22204 (US) CHUNG, Craig Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (US) (74) Representative: Mercer, Christopher Paul  Carpmaels & Ransford 43, Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2RA London WC1A 2RA (GB)