VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 1, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Zecotek Medical Systems Inc. (TSX-V:ZMS) (Frankfurt:W1I) today announced it has successfully developed a new generation of Silicon based Photon Counters, designated the New Generation of surface Micro-pixel Avalanche Photo Diodes (N-MAPD). The counting property is a further refinement of its acquired photo-detector technology. The N-MAPD is aimed at replacing existing photo-detection devices, known as Photo-Multiplier Tubes (PMT's) used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for medical imaging, as well as in wide industrial and research applications. The development of this N-MAPD and its manufacturing process was achieved in a joint collaboration with Dubna-Detectors Ltd, an R&D company based within the Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. The development of the N-MAPD is wholly financed by Zecotek and, under the Agreement, Zecotek retains joint patent ownership and sole rights to commercialization, subject to the payment of an agreed participation incentive to Dubna Detectors Ltd.
Photo-detection devices form a major cost component in the current USD 1 billion market for PET and PET-CT scanners, representing up to one-third of the cost of each unit. Zecotek's new solid state photo-counter N-MAPD has been designed to replace existing PMT's (Photo-Multiplier Tubes) by offering cost/performance advantages. Existing PMT's are also critical components of medical inspection devices used in blood analysis and DNA sequencing. Additional non-medical applications include systems for homeland security, environmental monitoring, industrial controls, robotics, biomedical testing, navigation and guidance, laser radar and high energy physics.
The N-MAPD also represents a key milestone in Zecotek's joint development of integrated PET-MRI products with the University of Washington, where Zecotek retains world rights to commercialization and a share of a new, annual market estimated to reach approximately USD 500M by 2012.
The N-MAPD element is a market-ready product. Manufacturing of the N-MAPD will be outsourced, with the support of the Government of Singapore, to one of Singapore's highly competitive semiconductor companies. This OEM manufacturer will complete the manufacturing process of arrays of N-MAPD elements targeted at the next generation of PET machines and other applications.
"The development of the N-MAPD, a solid state analogue of the PMT, has been a difficult challenge that has evaded even major players. We are delighted that the combined expertise of Zecotek and the world class team at Dubna Institute of Nuclear Research has brought this new generation device from the lab to commercial fruition. We are even more excited that this is highly synergistic with our scintillation materials, providing for higher resolution machines for the medical imaging market," commented Dr. A. Faouzi Zerrouk, Chairman and CEO of Zecotek.
The N-MAPD is just one of several next generation imaging and laser products in Zecotek's pipeline for the medical, biotech and other markets.
For additional information on Zecotek Medical Systems and our technologies please see our Website at www.zecotekmed.com.