(19)

(11)

EP 1 199 988 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 19.04.2001 (43) Date of publication: 02.05.2002 Bulletin 2002/18 (21) Application number: 00930726.5 (22) Date of filing: 15.05.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 17/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US0013/254 (87) International publication number: WO 0069/342 (23.11.2000 Gazette 2000/47)

(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: 14.05.1999 US 134141 P (71) Applicant: Sutura, Inc. Fountain Valley,California 92708 (US)	(72) Inventors: NOBLES, Anthony, R. Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (US) CREW, John, R. San Francisco, CA 94127 (US) (74) Representative: Musker, David Charles et al R.G.C. Jenkins & Co.26 Caxton Street London SW1H 0RJ London SW1H 0RJ (GB)