(19)

(11)

EP 1 377 204 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 30.10.2003 (43) Date of publication: 07.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/02 (21) Application number: 02707567.0 (22) Date of filing: 22.01.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/002181 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/071933 (19.09.2002 Gazette 2002/38)

(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: 23.01.2001 US 263861 P (71) Applicant: ALLIANCE PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION San DiegoCalifornia 92121 (US)	(72) Inventor: BLIKE, George Norwich, VT 05055 (US) (74) Representative: Granleese, Rhian Jane  Marks & Clerk,57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields London WC2A 3LS London WC2A 3LS (GB)