Note 17 - Patents and Other Intangibles

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE Q – PATENTS AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

Details of intangible assets are summarized as follows:

	September 30, 2012							December 31, 2011
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Patents	$	1,707,425	$	(466,239	)	$	1,241,186	$	1,179,883	$	(377,073	)	$	802,810
Deferred Patents		754,317		--			754,317		1,217,648		--			1,217,648
Trademarks		--		--			--		144,226		(144,226	)		--
	$	2,461,742	$	(466,239	)	$	1,995,503	$	2,541,757	$	(521,299	)	$	2,020,458

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 $89,000 and $71,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The trademarks are fully amortized. The weighted-average remaining amortization period for patents at September 30, 2012 was approximately 10 years. Future amortization expense on our amortizable intangible assets over the next five years is estimated as follows:

2012	$	30,000
2013		132,000
2014		132,000
2015		131,000
2016		129,000
	$	554,000

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we wrote-off impaired patent applications in the aggregate amount of $55,000.  This charge is included in general and administrative expenses in our statements of operations.  We also wrote-off fully amortized expired trademarks in the aggregate amount of $144,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we wrote-off fully amortized expired patents in the aggregate amount of $270,000.