SINGAPORE, April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I.F, OTCPK: ZMSPF), a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for industrial, healthcare and scientific markets, is pleased to announce that the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) program at European Organization for Nuclear Physics (CERN) has selected and ordered its patented LFS scintillation crystals for its work on PET medical scanning devices. After a long process of testing, Zecotek`s LFS scintillation crystals were chosen because they provide the best results for coincidence timing resolution. The LFS technology and formulation also present an intrinsic capability and ability for the future development of even higher performance LFS versions as compared to any competing crystals.

"Our tests show that Zecotek`s LFS scintillation crystals have a faster coincidence time resolution for high resolution PET scanners which improves the image quality and results in shorter scanning times," said Dr. Crispin Williams, INFN physicist working at CERN. "By using an LFS based array configuration we gain both performance and cost effectiveness. We are very pleased with the results obtained using Zecotek's LFS crystals, which we have selected for our present work and continuing well into the future."

"We continue to enjoy the adoption trend of our patented LFS crystals by the industry at large," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc. "OEMs and researchers continue to be impressed by the ability of our crystal and detector technologies to reach even higher performance and cost effectiveness. Our unique internationally patented off-stoichiometric formulations of lutetium oxide with silicate, is such that no other crystal can compete with its speed and brightness. Furthermore, our novel technology allows for even higher performance versions which will be made available to those OEMs using LFS, as new versions are produced. We are proud to be working with CERN and associated groups such as INFN on such an important project and look forward to assisting them in the eventual commercialization program."
As previously announced on June 16, 2015, CERN researchers tested 15 mm lengths of LFS crystals which showed an excellent CTR of 150 picoseconds (ps). CERN along with other PET manufactures are moving toward PET scanners with time-of-flight due to improved performance for patient imaging. Time-of-flight PET devices produce quick, high resolution output, but they require scintillation crystals which are very dense, with high energy resolution and possess fast decay after absorbing gamma photons emanating from the patient's body as a result of an intravenous injection of radio trace substance. Zecotek`s LFS crystal and all its versions, have high density, fast decay time, good energy resolution, low afterglow and superior radiation hardness. Radiation hardness is crucial for high energy physics and homeland security.

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