(19)

(11)

EP 1 224 459 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 18.10.2001 (43) Date of publication: 24.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/30 (21) Application number: 00986189.9 (22) Date of filing: 04.10.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G01N 33/20, G01N 21/76, G06K 19/06, G01B 15/06, A61N 5/00, G21G 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US0027/423 (87) International publication number: WO 0125/748 (12.04.2001 Gazette 2001/15)

(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: 04.10.1999 US 157573 P (71) Applicant: Edax Inc. Mahwah, NJ 07430 (US)	(72) Inventors: KAISER, Bruce, John St. Louis, MO 63129 (US) KENNING, Don Kennewick, WA 99336 (US) KUHLMAN, Robert, D. Richland, WA 99352 (US) (74) Representative: Howden, Christopher Andrew  FORRESTER & BOEHMERTPettenkoferstrasse 20-22 80336 München 80336 München (DE)