(19)

(11)

EP 1 991 173 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 20.03.2008 (43) Date of publication: 19.11.2008 Bulletin 2008/47 (21) Application number: 07752453.6 (22) Date of filing: 08.03.2007

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61F 2/44(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2007/005757 (87) International publication number: WO 2007/103404 (13.09.2007 Gazette 2007/37)

(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 MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 08.03.2006 US 780903 P (71) Applicant: Blackstone Medical, Inc. Springfield, MA 01104 (US)	(72) Inventors: STUDER, Armin Springfield, MA 01104 (US) LOMBARDO, Alan Springfield, MA 01104 (US) (74) Representative: Lockey, Robert Alexander  Forrester & Boehmert Pettenkoferstrasse 20-22 80336 München 80336 München (DE)