Japanese Positron Emission Tomography and Radiation Detection Manufacturers Initiate Orders of Zecotek’s Patented LFS Scintillation Crystals
Singapore, January 24, 2013 - Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I), a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for medical, industrial and scientific markets, today announced that it has received trial orders for its patented Lutetium Fine Silicate (LFS) scintillation crystals from a positron emission tomography (PET) original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a radiation detection OEM based in Japan.
“These trial orders represent an important opportunity for Zecotek as each PET scanner requires a large number of scintillation crystals which make up a significant portion of the cost of each device,” said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc. “Original equipment manufacturers are seeking a cost competitive, patent secure and reliable supply of scintillation material. Our patented LFS scintillation crystals have a proven reputation of being very fast and very bright. These are ideal characteristics for medical imaging, high energy physics and other gamma camera applications. Our strategic partner, the Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Company, will produce the newest version of the scintillation crystals for these new customers and we look forward to growing both our customer base and the production output of this highly specialized material.”
Zecotek’s patented (US patent No. 7,132,060) LFS series of scintillation crystals are distinguished by their combined high light yields and ultra-fast decay times. These performance advantages enable faster, higher-resolution operation of medical and industrial imaging devices including PET, PET-CT, hybrids and gamma cameras. Furthermore the line of LFS crystals developed at Zecotek, covers a wide range of emission wavelengths which can be tailored to match the spectral sensitivity of various photo detectors and Zecotek’s flagship range of MAPD avalanche photo detector arrays. The competitive advantages of Zecotek’s medical imaging components, crystals and arrays, are being recognized for their potential of bringing unprecedented performance to a wide range of imaging technologies at a competitive cost.
The Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Company (BOET) is a leader in the photonics industry specializing in growing, cutting, polishing and large scale production of scintillation crystals grown by Czochralski. It will supply the scintillation crystals to the currently unnamed Japanese companies. Founded in 2001, the BOET is a subsidiary of North-China Research Institute of Electronics-Optics and is owned in part by the Chinese government. It has a number of international customers in the field of crystal applications and has worked closely with Zecotek’s scientific team to establish a high quality and consistent supply of LFS material.
Zecotek’s manufacturing processes and technologies permit the growth of very large-diameter boules with uniform properties and without cracks (a problem with many other competing scintillation materials) resulting in high element output and lower unit costs. The LFS scintillation crystals are extensively used in particle physics experiments and in other environments where the detection hardware is exposed to very large doses of ionising radiation. Recent improvements in the crystal’s radiation hardness directly translate into fewer replacements of detector blocks and less frequent recalibration of detection systems. With superior price and performance Zecotek’s crystals are meeting tight budgetary and performance requirements demanded by medical scanning device manufactures and high energy physics experiments such as CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.
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About Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. (BOET) was founded in 2001 and is a subsidiary of North-China Research Institute of Electronics-Optics (NCRIEO), one of the earliest institutes in studying laser technology in China. BOET is the leader in the large-scale production of Nd:YAG crystal grown by Czochralski method in China, and is adept in growing other YAG crystals doped with all kinds of rare-earth and transition metal ions, such as Cr4+:YAG, Yb:YAG, Nd:Ce:YAG and Ho:Cr:Tm:YAG and Er:YAG crystals. BOET is a core commercial partner of government and military for improving and developing laser crystals and has over 20 scientific experts in the production process of scintillation crystal material. For more information, please visit: www.oet.com.cn
About Zecotek
Zecotek Photonics Inc (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I) is a photonics technology company developing high-performance scintillation crystals, photo detectors, positron emission tomography scanner technologies, 3D auto-stereoscopic displays, fiber lasers and waveguide micro lasers for applications in medical, high-tech and industrial sectors. Founded in 2004, Zecotek operates three divisional companies: Zecotek Imaging (medical, industrial and research), Zecotek Lasers (industrial and research) and Zecotek 3D (monitors for multimedia, entertainment, industrial and medical). The Company has labs located in Canada, Singapore and Russia, with affiliated R&D and production facilities in USA, China, and South Korea. Zecotek commercializes its novel, patented and patent-pending photonic technologies directly and through strategic alliances with multinational OEMs, distributors and other industry leaders. For more information, visit www.zecotek.com.
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Zecotek Photonics Inc. Michael Minder T: (604) 783-8291 [email protected] |
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