(19)

(11)

EP 1 061 988 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 27.12.2000 Bulletin 2000/52 (21) Application number: 99908568.1 (22) Date of filing: 26.02.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61M 31/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9904/398 (87) International publication number: WO 9943/380 (02.09.1999 Gazette 1999/35)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 27.02.1998 US 32896 (71) Applicant: MICRO THERAPEUTICS, INC. Irvine, CA 92618 (US)	(72) Inventor: GREFF, Richard, J. St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 (US) (74) Representative: Des Termes, Monique et al c/o Société de Protection des Inventions3, rue du Docteur Lancereaux 75008 Paris 75008 Paris (FR)