(19)

(11)

EP 0 954 561 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 10.11.1999 Bulletin 1999/45 (21) Application number: 98900896.0 (22) Date of filing: 14.01.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C12M 1/ 14( . ) C12M 1/ 22( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/GB1998/000116 (87) International publication number: WO 1998/031783 (23.07.1998 Gazette 1998/29)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 16.01.1997 GB 19970000840 (71) Applicant: Smith & Nephew plc London WC2R 3BP (GB)	(72) Inventors: BLOTT, Patrick, Lewis York YO42 4ER (GB) POOLE, Dawn York YO2432XZ (GB) (74) Representative: Draggett, Peter Thornton, et al  Group Patents & Trade Marks Dept., Smith & Nephew Group Research Centre, York Science Park Heslington, York Y010 5DF Heslington, York Y010 5DF (GB)