(19)

(11)

EP 1 389 061 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 01.05.2003 (43) Date of publication: 18.02.2004 Bulletin 2004/08 (21) Application number: 02764293.3 (22) Date of filing: 22.04.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 5/042, A61B 18/14 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/012663 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/085205 (31.10.2002 Gazette 2002/44)

(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: 20.04.2001 US 285468 P (71) Applicant: C. R. BARD, INC. Murray Hill, NJ 07974 (US)	(72) Inventor: GIBSON, Charles, A. Malden, MA 02148 (US) (74) Representative: HOFFMANN - EITLE  Patent- und RechtsanwälteArabellastrasse 4 81925 München 81925 München (DE)