(19)

(11)

EP 1 265 562 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 29.08.2002 (43) Date of publication: 18.12.2002 Bulletin 2002/51 (21) Application number: 01918636.0 (22) Date of filing: 14.03.2001

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61F 2/44 (86) International application number: PCT/US0108/073 (87) International publication number: WO 0106/8005 (20.09.2001 Gazette 2001/38)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 14.03.2000 DE 20004693 U (71) Applicant: SDGI Holdings, Inc. Wilmington, DE 19801 (US)	(72) Inventors: LIU, Mingyan F-92340 Bourge la Reine (FR) FRUH, Hans-Joachim 94469 Deggendorf (DE) EBNER, Harald 94469 Deggendorf (DE) ESTES, Bradley, T. Durham,NC 27705 (US) (74) Representative: Hughes, Andrea Michelle  Frank B. Dehn & Co.,European Patent Attorneys,179 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EL London EC4V 4EL (GB)