SINGAPORE, Dec. 10, 2015 /CNW/ - 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.
About Zecotek
Zecotek Photonics Inc (TSX-V: ZMS;
Frankfurt: W1I; OTCPK: ZMSPF) is a
photonics technology company developing high-performance
scintillation crystals, photo detectors, positron emission
tomography scanning technologies, 3D auto-stereoscopic displays, 3D
metal printing, and lasers for applications in medical, high-tech
and industrial sectors. Founded in 2004, Zecotek operates
three divisions: Imaging Systems, Optronics Systems and 3D Display
Systems with labs located in Canada, Korea, Russia, Singapore and U.S.A. The management team is focused on
building shareholder value by commercializing over 50 patented and
patent pending novel photonic technologies directly and through
strategic alliances and joint ventures with leading industry
partners including Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan), the European Organization for Nuclear
Research (Switzerland), Beijing
Opto-Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. (China), NuCare Medical Systems (South Korea), the University of Washington (United States), and National NanoFab Center
(South Korea). For more
information visit www.zecotek.com and follow @zecotek on
Twitter.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements
that are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections
and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are
difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends
may differ materially from what may have been stated.
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SOURCE Zecotek Photonics Inc.