(19)

(11)

EP 1 377 203 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 19.12.2002 (43) Date of publication: 07.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/02 (21) Application number: 02721411.3 (22) Date of filing: 14.03.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 3/16 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/007736 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/075368 (26.09.2002 Gazette 2002/39)

(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: 19.03.2001 US 811709 (71) Applicant: FFHK Development Company LLC Mystic, Connecticut 06355 (US)	(72) Inventors: FALCK, Francis, Y., Jr. Stonington, CT 06378 (US) FALCK, Robert, W. Pawcatuck, CT 06379 (US) (74) Representative: Sutcliffe, Nicholas Robert et al Mewburn Ellis,York House,23 Kingsway London WC2B 6HP London WC2B 6HP (GB)