(19)

(11)

EP 1 389 962 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 30.10.2003 (43) Date of publication: 25.02.2004 Bulletin 2004/09 (21) Application number: 02766857.3 (22) Date of filing: 30.04.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 17/70 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/013472 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/087654 (07.11.2002 Gazette 2002/45)

(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: 30.04.2001 US 286913 P 24.01.2002 US 351246 P 24.01.2002 US 351247 P (71) Applicant: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. Allendale, NJ 07401 (US)	(72) Inventors: NICHOLS, David Trumbull, CT 06611 (US) PEPPER, John, R. Cheshire, CT 06410 (US) (74) Representative: Green, Mark Charles et al Urquhart-Dykes & Lord,30 Welbeck Street London W1G 8ER London W1G 8ER (GB)