(19)

(11)

EP 1 494 597 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 12.01.2005 Bulletin 2005/02 (21) Application number: 03746135.7 (22) Date of filing: 01.04.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 17/08 (86) International application number: PCT/US2003/010289 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/084410 (16.10.2003 Gazette 2003/42)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 01.04.2002 US 369063 P (71) Applicant: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM Austin,Texas 78701 (US)	(72) Inventor: BUTLER, Charles, E. Houston, TX 77030 (US) (74) Representative: Jones, Nicholas Andrew  Withers & RogersGoldings House2 Hays Lane London SE1 2HW London SE1 2HW (GB)