(19)

(11)

EP 2 086 387 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 12.08.2009 Bulletin 2009/33 (21) Application number: 06839809.8 (22) Date of filing: 09.11.2006

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61B 1/32(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2006/060749 (87) International publication number: WO 2008/057117 (15.05.2008 Gazette 2008/20)

(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 (71) Applicant: Ncontact Surgical, Inc. Morrisville, NC 27560 (US)	(72) Inventors: FLEISCHMAN, Sidney D. Durham, NC 27513 (US) WHAYNE, James G. Chapel Hill, NC 27517 (US) NEUBERT, Rebecca Raleigh, NC 27606 (US) ROGERS, Earl Wayne Rougemont, NC 27572 (US) (74) Representative: Price, Nigel John King  J.A. Kemp & Co. 14 South Square Gray's Inn London WC1R 5JJ 14 South Square Gray's Inn London WC1R 5JJ (GB)