(19)

(11)

EP 1 006 906 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 14.06.2000 Bulletin 2000/24 (21) Application number: 98902789.1 (22) Date of filing: 13.01.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 17/39 (86) International application number: PCT/US9800/555 (87) International publication number: WO 9830/159 (16.07.1998 Gazette 1998/28)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 13.01.1997 US 783817 (71) Applicant: MediCor Corporation Vernon Hills, IL 60061 (US)	(72) Inventors: HENDERSON, Michael Wheeling, IL 60090 (US) JONES, Richard, F. Winnetka, IL 60093 (US) SORENSEN, Nels Zion, IL 60099 (US) (74) Representative: Groening, Hans Wilhelm, Dipl.-Ing.  BOEHMERT & BOEHMERTFranz-Joseph-Strasse 38 80801 München 80801 München (DE) (56) References cited: :