(19)

(11)

EP 0 980 277 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 23.02.2000 Bulletin 2000/08 (21) Application number: 98919966.6 (22) Date of filing: 30.04.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61M 25/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9808/582 (87) International publication number: WO 9850/097 (12.11.1998 Gazette 1998/45)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 05.05.1997 US 850953 26.03.1998 US 48007 (71) Applicant: MICRO THERAPEUTICS, INC. Irvine, CA 92618 (US)	(72) Inventor: CHOW, Sean, L. Anaheim, CA 92807 (US) (74) Representative: Poulin, Gérard et al Société de Protection des Inventions3, rue du Docteur Lancereaux 75008 Paris 75008 Paris (FR)