(19)

(11)

EP 1 495 301 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 04.11.2004 (43) Date of publication: 12.01.2005 Bulletin 2005/02 (21) Application number: 99967699.2 (22) Date of filing: 27.12.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G01N 1/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US1999/031086 (87) International publication number: WO 2000/039557 (06.07.2000 Gazette 2000/27)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 28.12.1998 US 114048 P 18.05.1999 US 134613 P 12.07.1999 US 143476 P 12.07.1999 US 143359 P 14.12.1999 US 170997 P (71) Applicant: Cytyc Corporation Boxborough, MA 01719 (US)

(72) Inventors: HUNG, David Belmont, CA 94002 (US) KEN, Christopher, G., M. San Mateo, CA 94403 (US) HE, Xuanmin Palo Alto, CA 94306 (US) OLSEN, Philip, M. Cupertino,CA 95014 (US) NIKOLCHEV, Julian Portola Valley, CA 94028 (US) O'LEARY, Shawn Mission Viejo,California 92691 (US) SAYAVONG, Pam Newark, CA 94560 (US) (74) Representative: Tombling, Adrian George et al Withers & RogersGoldings House2 Hays Lane London SE1 2HW London SE1 2HW (GB)