(19)

(11)

EP 2 642 937 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 17.01.2013 (43) Date of publication: 02.10.2013 Bulletin 2013/40 (21) Application number: 11842994.3 (22) Date of filing: 23.11.2011

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61B 18/12(2006.01) A61N 1/18(2006.01) A61K 48/00(2006.01) A61B 18/14(2006.01) A61F 2/20(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2011/062067 (87) International publication number: WO 2012/071526 (31.05.2012 Gazette 2012/22)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (30) Priority: 23.11.2010 US 416534 P (71) Applicant: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. Blacksburg, VA 24060 (US)	(72) Inventors: SANO, Michael Blacksburg, VA 24060 (US) DAVALOS, Rafael Blacksburg, VA 24060 (US) ROBERTSON, John Floyd, VA 24091 (US) GARCIA, Paulo, A. Blacksburg, VA 24060 (US) NEAL, Robert, E. Richmond, VA 23233 (US) (74) Representative: Steinecke, Peter  Müller Fottner Steinecke Rechtsanwälte Patentanwälte Postfach 11 40 Römerstrasse 16 b 52412 Jülich 52412 Jülich (DE)