(19)

(11)

EP 1 848 351 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 11.01.2007 (43) Date of publication: 31.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/44 (21) Application number: 06735305.2 (22) Date of filing: 17.02.2006

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61B 17/56(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2006/005580 (87) International publication number: WO 2006/089085 (24.08.2006 Gazette 2006/34)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 17.02.2005 US 59526 19.10.2005 US 252879 19.10.2005 US 252880 01.07.2005 US 695836 P (71) Applicant: Kyphon Inc. Sunnyvale, CA 94089 (US)

(72) Inventors: KOHM, Andrew Sunnyvale, California 94089 (US) VANDERVELDE, Robert, Alexander Mountain View, California 94043 (US) MALANDAIN, Hugues, F. B-3080 Tervuren (BE) EDIDIN, Avram, Allan Burlingame, California 94010 (US) SLATER, Thomas, A. Mountain View, California 64043 (US) CLARK, Janna, G. Belmont, California 942002 (US) (74) Representative: Haley, Stephen  Gill Jennings & Every LLP Broadgate House 7 Eldon Street London EC2M 7LH London EC2M 7LH (GB)