Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I.F, OTCPK: ZMSPF), a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for industrial, healthcare and scientific markets, is pleased to announce that it has received an order for its patented Lutetium Fine Silicate (LFS) scintillation crystals from a specialized medical imaging device manufacturer based in the United States. The U.S. based company has developed a state-of-the-art molecular brain imaging device for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. The U.S. based company has selected the LFS crystal for its commercial program. The initial LFS crystal order will meet the need for a single, specialized positron emission tomography (PET) medical imaging scanner which is being constructed to showcase the advanced capabilities of the new device.
"With an aging population in the United States, new state-of-the-art molecular imaging technologies will play a significant role in the research, diagnosis and treatment and of disorders of the brain," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc. "Diseases of the brain touch all of us and there is significant growing demand for technology which allow scientists and medical professionals to visualize and measure brain function. There are only a few companies worldwide entering the commercialization of such imaging solutions and therefore for competitive reasons, our new partner, a leader in this growing field, will not be named at this time. We look forward to working closely with the medical imaging device manufacturer as it rolls out a new line of state-of-the-art molecular brain imaging devices."
Molecular neuroimaging is a growing branch of medical imaging that uses technology, like positron emission tomography, to provide unprecedented views into the structure and functionality of the brain. As the worldwide geriatric population increases, the World Health Organization estimates that nearly 14% of the world population will suffer from neurologic disorders by 2020, there is a significant opportunity to expand the number of operating imaging devices across the U.S. and around the world. With the neuroimaging market currently under served, the U.S. based medical imaging device manufacturer expects to launch more than 1,000 devices over the next five years.
The LFS crystal order was a result of meetings at the recently concluded Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference in San Diego. Zecotek's patented (US patent No. 7,132,060) LFS scintillation crystals were selected among all attending vendors' products because of superiority in both performance and price. Zecotek's LFS crystals are known for their high light yields and ultra-fast decay times which allow for faster and higher-resolution operation of medical and industrial imaging devices including PET medical scanners. The Company's line of LFS crystals also cover a wide range of emission wavelengths which can be tailored to match the spectral sensitivity of various photo detectors including the Company's own solid-state MAPD photo detector arrays.
The LFS scintillation crystals will be supplied by the Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Company (BOET), a subsidiary of North-China Research Institute of Electronics-Optics an industry leader in growing, cutting, polishing and large scale production of scintillation crystals grown by the Czochralski method. Zecotek's crystal manufacturing process permits the growth of very large-diameter boules with uniform properties and without cracking (a problem with many competing scintillation materials). High element output results in a consistent and reliable supply and lower unit costs. Zecotek also uses robotics for assembling LFS crystal arrays resulting in faster production of the crystal arrays with exceptional accuracy and uniformity.
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