Note 17 - Patents and Other Intangibles

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE Q – PATENTS AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

Details of intangible assets are summarized as follows:

	March 31, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net
Patents	$	1,392,000	$	404,000	$	988,000	$	1,180,000	$	377,000	$	803,000
Deferred Patents		1,019,000		--		1,019,000		1,202,000		--		1,202,000
Trademarks		--		--		--		144,000		144,000		--
Deferred Trademarks		--		--		--		15,000		--		15,000
	$	2,411,000	$	404,000	$	2,007,000	$	2,541,000	$	521,000	$	2,020,000

Trademarks and patents are intangible assets with definite useful lives and therefore continue to be amortized in accordance with accounting guidance. Amortization expense amounted to $27,000 and $24,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, respectively. The weighted-average remaining amortization period for trademarks at March 31, 2012 was zero years. The weighted-average remaining amortization period for patents at March 31, 2012 was approximately 10 years. Future amortization expense on our amortizable intangible assets over the next five years is estimated as follows:

2012	$	107,000
2013		117,000
2014		117,000
2015		116,000
2016		114,000
	$	571,000

During the first quarter of 2012, we wrote-off impaired patent and trademark applications in the aggregate amount of $55,000. We also wrote-off fully amortized expired trademarks in the aggregate amount of $144,000. During the first quarter of 2011, we wrote-off fully amortized expired patents in the aggregate amount of $270,000.  These charges are included in General and Administrative expenses in our Statement of Operations.