(19)

(11)

EP 0 897 285 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 24.02.1999 Bulletin 1999/08 (21) Application number: 96915691.0 (22) Date of filing: 10.05.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61B 5/ 107( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/006693 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/042871 (20.11.1997 Gazette 1997/50)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR (71) Applicant: CARDIOVASCULAR CONCEPTS, INC. Cupertino, California 95014 (US)	(72) Inventor: MURPHY, Richard Mountain View, CA 94043 (US) (74) Representative: Sparing - Röhl - Henseler Patentanwälte  Rethelstrasse 123 40237 Düsseldorf 40237 Düsseldorf (DE)