(19)

(11)

EP 0 999 785 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 17.05.2000 Bulletin 2000/20 (21) Application number: 98931672.4 (22) Date of filing: 26.06.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9813/391 (87) International publication number: WO 9900/052 (07.01.1999 Gazette 1999/01)

(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: 27.06.1997 US 884289 (71) Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFTHE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY Palo Alto, CA 94304-1850 (US)	(72) Inventor: SHAHIDI, Ramin Palo Alto, CA 94304 (US) (74) Representative: Müller, Frank Peter, Dipl.-Ing.  Müller, Schupfner & GaugerPatentanwältePostfach 10 11 61 80085 München 80085 München (DE)