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2. Significant accounting policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
2.     Significant accounting policies

a)     Development stage company

Since its inception, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to business planning, research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, developing operating assets and raising capital. Accordingly, the Company is considered to be in the development stage as defined in ASC 915 Development Stage Entities. While the Company generated revenues from its previous generation of products, the Company has not generated any revenues from its current principal operations, and there is no assurance of future revenues.

b)     Principles of consolidation

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its integrated wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

c)     Options and warrants issued in consideration for debt.

The Company allocates the proceeds received from debt between the liability and the options and warrants issued in consideration for the debt, based on their relative fair values, at the time of issuance. The amount allocated to the options or warrants is recorded as additional paid in capital and as a discount to the related debt. The discount is amortized to interest expense on a yield basis over the term of the related debt.

d)     Stock-based compensation

The Company follows the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation. The Company estimates the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model.  The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The Company estimates the fair value of the stock options using the Black-Scholes valuation model.  The Black-Scholes valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the option’s expected life and the price volatility of the underlying stock.

e)     Income taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, and operating loss carry-forwards that are available to be carried forward to future years for tax purposes.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. When it is not considered to be more likely than not that a deferred income tax asset will be realized, a valuation allowance is provided for the excess.

The Company follows the accounting requirements associated with uncertainty in income taxes using the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 740, Income Taxes.  Using that guidance, tax positions initially need to be recognized in the financial statements when it is more-likely-than-not the positions will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities.  It also provides guidance for derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company has no uncertain tax positions that qualify for either recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

f)     Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Management believes the estimates are reasonable; however, actual results could differ from those estimates.

g)     Loss per share

Basic loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted loss per common share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the year. Common equivalent shares consist of the shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and warrants calculated using the treasury stock method. Common equivalent shares are not included in the calculation of the weighted average number of shares outstanding for diluted loss per common shares when the effect would be anti-dilutive.

h)     Contingencies

Liabilities for loss contingencies, arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. Recoveries from third parties that are probable of realization are separately recorded, and are not offset against the related liability.

i)     Segmented information

The Company primarily operates in one reportable segment, the medical devices segment, in the United States. The majority of the Company’s assets are located in United States.

j)      Comprehensive income

Comprehensive income is the overall change in the net assets of the Company for a period, other than changes attributable to transactions with stockholders. It is made up of net income and other comprehensive income.  Other comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting stockholders’ equity that under generally accepted accounting principles are excluded from net income. The Company has no items of other comprehensive income (loss) in any period presented. Therefore, as presented in the Company’s consolidated statements of loss, net loss equals comprehensive loss.

k)     Fair value of financial instruments

The Company’s financial instruments include cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, promissory notes payable, accrued interest payable and lines of credit.  The fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying values due to the relatively short periods to maturity of these instruments.  For fair value measurement, U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:

Level 1 — observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 — include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

Level 3 — unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.

l)      Recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements

i.   Adopted

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)  issued revised authoritative guidance that requires more robust disclosures about the different classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value, the valuation techniques and inputs used, the activity in Level 3 fair value measurements and the transfers between levels 1, 2 and 3. The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009 (which is January 1, 2010 for the Company) except for disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the roll forward activity in level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years (which is January 1, 2011 for the Company). Early application is encouraged. The revised guidance was adopted as of January 1, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ii.  Issued

In May 2011, the FASB issued a new accounting standard on fair value measurements that clarifies the application of existing guidance and disclosure requirements, changes certain fair value measurement principles and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements.  The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption is not permitted.  The Company does not expect the adoption of this accounting guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future financial statements.