(19)

(11)

EP 0 988 498 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 29.03.2000 Bulletin 2000/13 (21) Application number: 98926318.1 (22) Date of filing: 12.06.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F26B 19/00, F26B 21/06, F26B 3/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9811/594 (87) International publication number: WO 9857/110 (17.12.1998 Gazette 1998/50)

(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: 13.06.1997 US 49498 P (71) Applicant: Novatec. Inc. Baltimore, MD 21225 (US)	(72) Inventors: GILLETTE, W., John Millersville, MD 21108 (US) FRANK, Paul, M. Crofton, MD 21114 (US) (74) Representative: Wiklund, Erik  AWAPATENT AB,Box 5117 200 71 Malmö 200 71 Malmö (SE)