(19)

(11)

EP 1 168 965 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 09.01.2002 Bulletin 2002/02 (21) Application number: 00916286.8 (22) Date of filing: 10.03.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 17/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US0006/494 (87) International publication number: WO 0054/659 (21.09.2000 Gazette 2000/38)

(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: 15.03.1999 US 124419 P 22.06.1999 US 338302 (71) Applicant: Prolifix Medical, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (US)	(72) Inventors: TO, John Newark, CA 94560 (US) MCFANN, Tim Redwood City, CA 94062 (US) FORSTER, David Woodside, CA 94062 (US) (74) Representative: Kazi, Ilya et al Mathys & Squire, 100 Gray's Inn Road London WC1X 8AL London WC1X 8AL (GB)