(19)

(11)

EP 1 181 588 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 27.02.2002 Bulletin 2002/09 (21) Application number: 00904724.2 (22) Date of filing: 14.02.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G02B 6/10, B23K 26/36 (86) International application number: PCT/AU0000/099 (87) International publication number: WO 0048/024 (17.08.2000 Gazette 2000/33)

(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: 12.02.1999 AU PP865599 (71) Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Sydney, New South Wales 2006 (AU)	(72) Inventors: CANNING, John Carlton, NSW 2218 (AU) ASLUND, Mattias Cronulla, NSW 2230 (AU) (74) Representative: Wright, Howard Hugh Burnby et al Withers & Rogers, Goldings House, 2 Hays Lane London SE1 2HW London SE1 2HW (GB)