(19)

(11)

EP 1 011 528 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 28.06.2000 Bulletin 2000/26 (21) Application number: 98908691.3 (22) Date of filing: 24.02.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61F 2/06 (86) International application number: PCT/US9803/553 (87) International publication number: WO 9836/709 (27.08.1998 Gazette 1998/34)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 25.02.1997 NZ 31430697 (71) Applicant: SciMed Life Systems, Inc. Maple Grove,Minnesota 55311-1566 (US)	(72) Inventors: WEBSTER, Mark, Wilson, Ian Auckland 1003 (NZ) NOLL, H., Elizabeth Del Mar, CA 92014 (US) (74) Representative: Schwan, Gerhard, Dipl.-Ing.  Schwan Möbus Wiese,Elfenstrasse 32 81739 München 81739 München (DE)