Zecotek welcomes Markman hearing for infringement of LFS scintillation crystal patent

May 28 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 the claim construction hearing, also called a Markman hearing, for Zecotek Imaging Systems Pte Ltd.'s legal action against defendants Saint-Gobain Corporation and Philips will be held on July 2, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi . During the Markman hearing, the court will hear arguments regarding the language and interpretation of the Zecotek patent at issue in the case. The hearing is considered a critical event in a patent lawsuit as it will define the property rights for the substances and chemical formulations of Zecotek's LFS scintillation crystals.

"We welcome the Markman hearing as our legal action against Saint-Gobain and Philips for infringing on our LFS scintillation crystal patent moves forward," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk , Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc.  "We will continue to vigorously enforce our intellectual property rights to recover the significant damages afflicted on Zecotek and our shareholders."

U.S. Patent # 7,132,060 was granted to Zecotek on November 6, 2006, and covers the substances and chemical formulations used to grow lutetium fine silicate (LFS) scintillation crystals.  LFS scintillation crystals are characterized by their combined high-light yield and ultra-fast decay times and are used in medical scanning devices, high-energy science experiments, and other industrial and security applications.  The lawsuit alleges that Saint-Gobain's LYSO crystals infringe Zecotek's patent, and that Philips infringes by using those crystals in the positron emission tomography medical scanning devices it sells.

Additionally, Zecotek accuses Saint-Gobain and Philips of willful infringement.

Zecotek is joined by its exclusive licensee for certain LFS crystals, Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Co. Ltd., as co-plaintiff.  Zecotek is being represented by Thomas Loop of Loop Intellectual Property Law and Justin Nelson of Susman Godfrey LLP.  Both firms are recognized leaders in patent law and intellectual property litigation matters.

SOURCE Zecotek Photonics Inc.