(19)

(11)

EP 0 883 417 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 16.12.1998 Bulletin 1998/51 (21) Application number: 96908513.0 (22) Date of filing: 12.02.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61M 25/ 00( . ) A61M 1/ 00( . ) A61F 2/ 958( . ) A61M 29/ 02( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/002500 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/028840 (14.08.1997 Gazette 1997/35)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR GB IT NL (71) Applicant: Mentor Urology, Inc. Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (US)	(72) Inventors: CONWAY, Christopher, J. Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (US) FOGARTY, Terance, M. Hudson, WI 54016 (US) (74) Representative: Leale, Robin George  Frank B. Dehn & Co.,European Patent Attorneys, 179 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EL London EC4V 4EL (GB)