(19)

(11)

EP 1 466 144 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 13.10.2004 Bulletin 2004/42 (21) Application number: 02805626.5 (22) Date of filing: 18.12.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G01D 15/16, B44C 1/22, C02F 1/40, B01D 57/02, G21G 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/040575 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/054488 (03.07.2003 Gazette 2003/27)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO (30) Priority: 19.12.2001 US 341069 P 30.01.2002 US 61001 17.06.2002 US 174343 26.11.2002 US 305045 (71) Applicant: Staats, Sau Lan Tang Hockessin, DE 19707 (US)	(72) Inventor: Staats, Sau Lan Tang Hockessin, DE 19707 (US) (74) Representative: Howard, Paul Nicholas et al Carpmaels & Ransford,43-45 Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2RA London WC1A 2RA (GB)