STOCK OPTIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options life	10 years
Stock options vesting period	5 years
Total unrecognized compensation costs related to outstanding stock options	$ 608,500
Unrecognized compensation costs related to outstanding stock options, recognition period	5 years
Number of options [Roll forward]
Outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)	1,532,846	1,948,260
Granted (in shares)	379,500	25,000
Exercised (in shares)	(28,000)	(69,000)
Cancelled (in shares)	(4,885)	(371,414)
Outstanding, end of period (in shares)	1,879,461	1,532,846	1,948,260
Exercisable (in shares)	1,232,894
Weighted average exercise price [Roll forward]
Outstanding, beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 3.99	$ 3.79
Granted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.90	$ 2.81
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.57
Cancelled (in dollars per share)	$ 7.33	$ 3.52
Outstanding, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 3.81	$ 3.99	$ 3.79
Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 3.73
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares)	1,879,461
Options Exercisable (in shares)	1,232,894
Number of options non-vested, outstanding [Roll forward]
Non-vested at beginning of period (in shares)	337,734
Granted (in shares)	379,500	25,000
Vested in 2012 (in shares)	(65,782)
Forfeited in 2012 (in shares)	(4,885)
Non-vested at end of period (in shares)	646,567	337,734
Options non-vested, weighted average grant date fair value [Roll Forward]
Non-vested at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 2.12
Granted in 2012 (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03
Vested in 2012 (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50
Forfeited in 2012 (in dollars per share)	$ 2.82
Non-vested at end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 1.43	$ 2.12
Fair value assumptions used for options [Abstract]
Expected volatility rate, minimum (in hundredths)	41.00%	41.00%	42.00%
Expected volatility rate, maximum (in hundredths)	43.00%	42.00%	43.00%
Expected term	5 years	7 years	7 years
Risk free interest rate (in hundredths)	0.40%
Risk free interest rate, minimum (in hundredths)		1.80%	1.10%
Risk free interest rate, maximum (in hundredths)	2.60%	2.27%
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Weighting percentages relative to our stock and the peer group	50%/50%	50%/50%	50%/50%	75% to 25%
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and expected to vest	194,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of currently exercisable stock options	175,000
Closing stock price of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 2.42
Total number of in-the-money options outstanding and exercisable (in shares)	555,000
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	58,000	157,000	198,000
Total cash proceeds received from the exercise of stock options	0	0	9,000
Total fair value of options granted	390,000	33,000	496,000
Total fair value of option shares vested	164,000	248,000	121,000
Number of common shares issued in exchange for employee and non-employee stock options (in shares)	20,814
Number of common shares issued in stock swap (in shares)	7,186
Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0	9,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Allocated stock based compensation expense	161,000	132,000	163,000
Cost of Sales [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Allocated stock based compensation expense	16,000	16,000	16,000
Research and Development [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Allocated stock based compensation expense	37,000	11,000	33,000
Salaries and Related Costs [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Allocated stock based compensation expense	108,000	105,000	114,000
Exercise Price $0.70 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70
Number Outstanding (in shares)	7,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year
Options Exercisable (in shares)	7,000
Exercise Price $0.75 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75
Number Outstanding (in shares)	21,500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year
Options Exercisable (in shares)	21,500
Exercise Price $1.30 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 1.30
Number Outstanding (in shares)	25,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year
Options Exercisable (in shares)	25,000
Exercise Price $2.13 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.13
Number Outstanding (in shares)	125,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	125,000
Exercise Price $2.25 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.25
Number Outstanding (in shares)	322,500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	322,500
Exercise Price $2.41 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.41
Number Outstanding (in shares)	40,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	40,000
Exercise Price $2.93 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.93
Number Outstanding (in shares)	35,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	35,000
Exercise Price $2.95 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.95
Number Outstanding (in shares)	2,500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	2,500
Exercise Price $3.25 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 3.25
Number Outstanding (in shares)	331,700
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year
Options Exercisable (in shares)	331,700
Exercise Price $6.93 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 6.93
Number Outstanding (in shares)	20,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	20,000
Exercise Price $7.10 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 7.10
Number Outstanding (in shares)	12,125
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	10,696
Exercise Price $7.18 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 7.18
Number Outstanding (in shares)	50,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	50,000
Exercise Price $7.33 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 7.33
Number Outstanding (in shares)	131,190
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	77,809
Exercise Price $7.68 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 7.68
Number Outstanding (in shares)	7,500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	5,357
Exercise Price $8.66 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 8.66
Number Outstanding (in shares)	97,857
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	70,714
Exercise Price $6.60 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 6.60
Number Outstanding (in shares)	500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	500
Exercise Price $8.32 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 8.32
Number Outstanding (in shares)	68,214
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	29,643
Exercise Price $7.85 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 7.85
Number Outstanding (in shares)	7,500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	3,214
Exercise Price $6.00 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 6.00
Number Outstanding (in shares)	30,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	0
Exercise Price $7.45 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 7.45
Number Outstanding (in shares)	14,286
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	14,286
Exercise Price $3.08 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 3.08
Number Outstanding (in shares)	10,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	2,858
Exercise Price $2.46 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.46
Number Outstanding (in shares)	65,589
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	19,759
Exercise Price $1.89 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 1.89
Number Outstanding (in shares)	50,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	14,286
Exercise Price $2.80 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.80
Number Outstanding (in shares)	10,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	1,429
Exercise Price $2.81 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.81
Number Outstanding (in shares)	15,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	2,143
Exercise Price $2.79 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.79
Number Outstanding (in shares)	46,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	10 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	0
Exercise Price $2.54 [Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 2.54
Number Outstanding (in shares)	233,500
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	10 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	0
Exercise Price $3.79[Member]
Summary of information about our options outstanding [Abstract]
Exercise Prices (in dollars per share)	$ 3.79
Number Outstanding (in shares)	100,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	10 years
Options Exercisable (in shares)	0
2003 Executive and Employee Stock Option Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the plan (in shares)	1,200,000
Amended 2003 Executive and Employee Stock Option Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the plan (in shares)	1,700,000
Total unrecognized compensation costs related to outstanding stock options	$ 608,500
Unrecognized compensation costs related to outstanding stock options, recognition period	4 years
2001 Executive and Employee Stock Option Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the plan (in shares)	1,200,000
2012 Executive and Employee Stock Option Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the plan (in shares)	750,000
Number of remaining shares to be issued	416,500