VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V:ZMS) (Frankfurt:W1I) today announced that it has been granted full patent rights for its latest Micro-channel Avalanche Photodiode solid-state photo detector by the Agency for Intellectual Property Protection in Russia. Zecotek currently has pending U.S. and PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) counterpart applications for worldwide patent rights and anticipates approvals.
"Russia is acknowledged as the leader in the field of photo detection and the granting of Russian patent rights fully endorses the technological breakthroughs we have achieved," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek. "Of equal importance is the demonstration of the MAPD's commercial viability. We have successfully brought the device into production with the Malaysian Institute for Micro-electronics Systems and initiated sales with significant cost and performance advantages over competing devices."
Zecotek's proprietary and patented MAPDs have been designed in several configurations to offer significant cost and performance advantages over the current vacuum tube based photo multiplier tubes (PMT) and other solid-state photo diodes. Zecotek's MAPD-2 addresses specific, high-demand requirements in high-energy physics such as particle accelerators where PMTs are vulnerable to the magnetic environment created by the superconducting magnets used in the collimation of particle tracks. The MAPD-3 meets required specifications for advanced, high resolution PET (positron emission tomography) scanners and gamma camera applications, particularly when matched with Zecotek's patented LFS scintillation materials. Photo detectors, together with the scintillation material, typically constitute 50 to 65% of the manufacturing cost of a PET scanner.
Existing photo multiplier tubes are also key components of medical inspection devices used in blood analysis and DNA sequencing. Additional non-medical applications include: gamma ray detectors for homeland security, environmental monitoring, industrial control systems, robotics, biomedical testing, navigation and guidance systems, laser radars and high-energy physics.
Zecotek's MAPD solid-state photo detectors are supplied through its wholly owned subsidiary Zecotek Imaging Systems Pte. Ltd., Singapore, and manufactured under contract by the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems. Technical specifications of the MAPD can be found on the company's website www.zecotek.com.
About Zecotek
Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V:ZMS) (Frankfurt:W1I) is a photonics technology company developing leading-edge products: crystals, photo detectors, lasers, imaging and 3D display technologies, for medical, biotech, industrial, nanotech and atomic/molecular science applications. Founded in 2003, the company has three distinct operating divisions: Laser Systems, Imaging Systems and 3D Display Systems and labs located in Canada, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia and Russia. Zecotek commercializes its novel, patented and patent-pending photonic technologies directly and through strategic alliances and joint ventures with multinational OEMs, distributors and other industry leaders. For more information, please visit www.zecotek.com.
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