Zecotek Files Suit Against Saint-Gobain, Philips

Zecotek Imaging Systems Pte Ltd., a subsidiary of Zecotek Photonics Inc., has filed a patent suit in the US against Saint-Gobain Corp. and Philips for infringing its US Patent No. 7,132,060, the company announced.

The patent covers the substances and chemical formulations used to grow lutetium fine silicate (LFS) scintillation crystals, which are characterized by their combined high light yield and ultrafast decay times and typically are used in medical scanning devices. The lawsuit alleges that Saint-Gobain’s LYSO crystals infringe Zecotek’s patent, and that Philips infringes by using those crystals in the PET scanners it sells.

“We believe that this patent is fundamental, and that damages are very substantial,” said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, chairman, president and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc. “We are determined to vigorously enforce our intellectual property rights to recover damages afflicted on Zecotek and the lost value to our shareholders.”

The patent that covers Zecotek’s LFS scintillation crystals was granted Nov. 6, 2006.

Zecotek is joined by its exclusive licensee for certain LFS crystals, Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Co. Ltd., as co-plaintiff.

Zecotek Photonics Inc. develops crystals, photodetectors, medical lasers, optical imaging and 3-D display technologies for commercial applications in the medical diagnostics and high-tech industry.

For more information, visit: www.zecotek.com