(19)

(11)

EP 1 848 470 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 29.03.2007 (43) Date of publication: 31.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/44 (21) Application number: 06769759.9 (22) Date of filing: 15.02.2006

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61L 31/16(2006.01) A61L 29/16(2006.01) A61L 27/54(2006.01) A61L 31/14(2006.01) A61L 29/14(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2006/005690 (87) International publication number: WO 2006/112932 (26.10.2006 Gazette 2006/43)

(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 Designated Extension States: AL BA HR MK YU (30) Priority: 17.02.2005 US 654212 P (71) Applicant: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. Santa Clara, CA 95054 (US)	(72) Inventors: ASTAFIEVA, Irina Palo Alto, California 94306 (US) GLAUSER, Thierry Redwood City, California 94086 (US) HOSSAINY, Syed Faiyaz Ahmed Fremont, California 94555 (US) (74) Representative: Keen, Celia Mary  J.A. Kemp & Co. 14 South Square Gray's Inn London WC1R 5JJ London WC1R 5JJ (GB)