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SEC Comment Letter for Apyx Medical Corp (APYX) (CIK 0000719135) (APYX) — Dec 22, 2004

Apyx Medical Corp (APYX) (CIK 0000719135)
Date: Dec. 22, 2004 · CIK: 0000719135 · Accession: 0000000000-04-041463

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

Sentiment
Urgency
Document Type
Confidence
SEC Posture
Company Posture

Summary

Reasoning

File numbers found in text: 333-120741

Date
December 22, 2004
Author
Not clearly detected
Form
UPLOAD
Company
Apyx Medical Corp (APYX) (CIK 0000719135)

Letter

December 22, 2004 Andrew Makrides President, Chief Executive Officer Bovie Medical Corporation 734 Walt Whitman Road Melville, New York 11747

Re: Bovie Medical Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed November 23, 2004 Registration No. 333-120741

Dear Mr. Makrides:

We have reviewed your filing and have the following comments. Where indicated, we think you should revise your document in response to these comments. If you disagree, we will consider your explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is unnecessary. Please be as detailed as necessary in your explanation. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with supplemental information so we may better understand your disclosure. After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise additional comments.

Please understand that the purpose of our review process is to assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing. We look forward to working with you in these respects. We welcome any questions you may have about our comments or on any other aspect of our review. Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed at the end of this letter.

Registration Statement on Form S-3

General

1. We note that the certifications filed as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to your Form 10-KSB and Forms 10-QSB that have been incorporated into your registration statement were not in the proper form. The required certifications must be in the exact form prescribed and the wording of the required certifications may not be changed in any respect. For example, we note that paragraph 4 of Exhibits 31.1 does not follow the form prescribed by Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S- B. Accordingly, please file an amendment to each of your latest Form 10- KSB and subsequent Forms 10-QSB that includes the entire report together with the certifications of each of your CEO and CFO in the form currently set forth in Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-B.

2. Consideration should be given to the updating requirements of Item 310(g) of Regulation S-B. 3. A currently dated consent of the independent auditors should be included in the amendment that will be declared effective. In addition, the date of the audit report of March 25, 2003 referenced in the consent does not agree with the date of the report included in the 10-KSB of March 30, 2004. Please revise.

Where you can find more information - Pages 3 to 4

4. Please reorganize your prospectus so that this section appears after your "Summary" and "Risk Factors" sections.

5. Please include the name of a contact person at Bovie Medical and the statement required by Item 12(c)(1)(i) of Form S-3.

6. Item 12 of Form S-3 does not permit incorporation by reference of a previously filed Schedule 13D or proxy statement. Also, Item 12(a)(3) requires that you incorporate your Exchange Act registration statement. Please revise accordingly.

Risk Factors - Pages 6 to 14

7. Please revise the second and third italicized sentences of your introduction to this section to clarify that you have included all material risk factors. Revise your risk factors as necessary to include a discussion of all material risks.

We conduct a significant amount of our sales - Pages 6 to 7

8. Disclose where you have material international sales and operations. Also clarify how the generic risks in the bullet list apply to those countries.

If we fail to attract, here and retain qualified and key personnel - Page 11

9. Please revise the last paragraph of this risk factor to clarify what you mean by "potential taxes."

Selling Stockholders - Pages 16 to 18

10. For each selling stockholder that is a nonpublic entity, please identify the natural person(s) with voting or investment control over the shares held by such entity. Refer to Interpretation I.60 of Telephone Interpretation Manual (July 1997) and Interpretation 4S of Regulation S-K section of 3/99 Supplement to Manual.

11. Tell us whether any selling stockholder is a broker-dealer or affiliate of a broker-dealer.

Proceeds - Page 19

12. Please clarify under what circumstances you will be reimbursed by the selling stockholders.

Exhibits

13. Please file a legal opinion with your next amendment.

14. We note your application for confidential treatment. We will provide any comments on your application separately. Any comments on your application must be resolved before you request for acceleration of the effective date of this registration statement.

Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003

Item 1 - Business

Jump Unipolar Low Temperature Focused Plasma Technology

15. Please direct us to where you have filed the Joint Venture Agreement with Jump Agentur Fuer Elektrotechnik GMBH as an exhibit to your SEC filings. If you have not filed such agreement as an exhibit to your SEC filings, please provide us with your analysis as to why that agreement does not need to be filed as a material agreement as required by Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-B.

16. With a view toward disclosure, please tell us the percentage you hold of the ownership interest in the joint venture formed with Jump Agentur Fuer Elektrotechnik GMBH, whether this joint venture has recognized any revenues, and how profits are allocated among the venture partners.

New Products

17. Please direct us to where you have filed the exclusive worldwide license agreement with Emergency Medical Innovations, LLC as an exhibit to your SEC filings. If you have not filed such agreement as an exhibit to your SEC filings, please provide us with your analysis as to why that agreement does not need to be filed as a material agreement as required by Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-B.

Competition

18. Please expand your disclosure to describe your competitive position in your industry and the methods by which you compete. Please refer to Item 101(b)(4) of Regulation S-B.

Patents and Trademarks

19. Please indicate the duration of any material patents that you hold. Refer to Item 101(b)(7) of Regulation S-B.

Item 6 - Management`s Discussion and Analysis

General

20. Please provide your critical accounting policy disclosures and the information related to the underlying estimates and judgments required by FR-72 and SEC Release No. 33-8350. The critical accounting policies discussion should supplement, not duplicate, the description of accounting policies that are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. While accounting policy notes in the financial statements generally describe the method used to apply an accounting principle, the discussion in MD&A should present an analysis of the uncertainties involved in applying a principle at a given time or the variability that is reasonably likely to result from its application over time. Details should also be provided of the specific estimates and assumptions that are used in this policy and how these were determined.

Results of Operations

21. Please revise your MD&A to quantify and discuss each of the significant factors that contributed to significant changes in revenues and the various expenses amounts in the financial statements. For example, you indicate that the significant increase in revenue relates to an increase from the sale of electrosurgery products but do not quantify or discuss the reasons for this increase. In addition, you also cite an increase in professional services but do not quantify each of the specific factors or components that contributed to the increase. Please revise to not only quantify all significant changes but also include details of why these changes occurred. Additionally, if there are offsetting factors you should quantify and discuss each of the offsetting factors. Please apply this guidance throughout MD&A. Before filing your amendment, please review Interpretative Release 33-8350 (December 19, 2003) available on our Web site at http://www.sec.gov/rules/interp/33-8350.htm.

22. Clarify which of your medical products materially contributed to sales. Also disclose the extent to which those contributions varied over the periods presented and the reasons for that variation.

23. Discuss why the cost of sales of your OEM generators increased.

Financial Condition

24. Please revise to provide more details of the following as required by Item 303 (b) of Regulation S-B: a) Provide details of any purchase, sale or other material commitments for capital expenditures and the expected source of funds for these expenditures; b) Provide a summary of product research and development that you plan to pursue for the next year and the expected funds needed for these activities; c) Discuss any known events that could have an impact on continuing operations such as the sale of your non-medical segment; and d) Clarify whether you expect to be able to satisfy your short- term liquidity requirements or if you will need to raise additional funds in the next 12 months. All sources of internal and external sources of liquidity should be addressed. 25. Please revise to disclose details of significant changes in balance sheet accounts each period in MD&A.

Item 9 - Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons

26. Please provide the disclosure required by Item 401(e) and (f) of Regulation S-B.

27. Provide the disclosure required by Regulation S-B Items 405 and 406.

28. We note that Mr. Kozloff has not been identified as an executive officer of your company. Since Mr. Kozloff has been identified as an executive officer under Item 10, please include the disclosures required by Item 401 for Mr. Kozloff as well.

Item 10 - Remuneration

29. Revise your disclosure to use the table format and column headings required by Item 402 of Regulation S-B.

Item 11 - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management of Bovie

30. Please tell us how you are complying with Exchange Act Rule 16a- 3(k).

Item 13 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

31. Please conform the heading of this Item to "Exhibits" as required by Form 10-KSB and furnish the exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-B. For example, please file the agreements mentioned in the section entitled "Reliance on Collaborative, Manufacturing and Selling Arrangements" of Item 6. In addition, please include an exhibit index listing all of the required exhibits indicating whether those exhibits have been filed along with your Form 10-KSB or whether they have been incorporated by reference.

Item 14 - Disclosure Controls and Procedures

32. Revise this filing and your most recent quarterly report to comply with Regulation S-B Item 307 which requires the conclusions be stated as of the end of the period covered by the report.

Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders Equity 33. Tell us the difference between "Subscription receivable paid in cash" and "Subscription Receivable." Also the subscription transaction should be disclosed in the footnotes.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

34. Please tell us the nature of the short term notes and where these are disclosed in the accounting policies.

35. Please tell us where the term loan payment and the line of credit payment from Note 7 are reflected in the financing activities of the statement of cash flows.

36. Please provide details of the inventory and parts and development costs write-downs included in the statement of cash flows and indicate where these amounts have been disclosed in the footnotes. The specific circumstances and assumptions related to these write- downs should be clearly disclosed. If there have been any subsequent sales of inventory that have been written-down the impact of theses sales on margins should be disclosed in MD&A.

Note 1. Accounts Receivable 37. We reference the allowance for discounts in Note 3. Please include a description of the discount policy that you use in relation to accounts receivable and the amount that was written-off for each year.

Note 1. Inventory and Repair Parts 38. Please tell us where the inventory reserves are reflected in the balance sheet. In addition, the reserves and write-offs each period should be separately disclosed in Note 1. Clarify whether these reserves establish a new cost basis. 39. Please provide details of the reason that repair parts are classified as a non-current asset.

Long-lived Assets 40. Please provide details of the basis for classifying trade name as an indefinite-lived intangible asset. In addition, provide more details about how you evaluate and test indefinite-lived intangibles and goodwill for impairment.

Revenue Recognition and Product Warranty

41. Please provide more details of the revenue recognition policy for all significant products and services and the basis for recognition of revenue at shipment, including details of post-shipment obligations, customer acceptance, rights of return, etc. and how these impact revenue recognition. In addition, provide details of discounts, credits and other sales incentives and clarify the accounting treatment. 42. Please provide more details of product warranties, including the reconciliation of the reserve as required by FIN 45. 43. Tell us and discuss in your revised filing your revenue recognition policy for research and development performed for others as noted in Note 15.

Research and Development

44. Please separately disclose the amounts of any development costs that are capitalized.

Note 2. Joint Venture Agreement

45. Please provide details of the ownership percentage of the joint venture and the related accounting treatment. Provide details of whether the equity investment meets the requirements of Rule 4-08 (g) of Regulation S-X for summarized financial information.

Note 5 - Due to Shareholders

46. We reference the amounts included in the financial statements related to the recission offer made by the Company. Provide more details of this offer and how this has been recorded in the financial statements.

Note 6. Intangible Assets

47. Please revise to remove indefinite lived intangible assets (trade name and goodwill) from those that are subject to amortization. In addition, assets that have been fully amortized should be removed from this table. The total in the table should also agree with the balance sheets. 48. Tell us why the Electrosurgery Technology, Multifunction Cautery and the patent rights original balances decreased or were written- off separate from the normal accumulated depreciation. 49. Please revise to separate the useful lives by type of intangible asset.

Note 8. Options 50. Please revise the "Summary of Significant Policies" footnote to include the required information regarding stock-based compensation in paragraph 2 (c) (1-5) of SFAS 148.

51. Provide details of the 1.8 million stock options granted during the year, including whether the price was at fair value (and how this was determined) and the amount of any compensation recorded.

Note 9. Taxes and Net Operating Loss Carryforwards 52. We note that the Company believes that it is possible that the benefit of these assets may not be realized in the future, therefore tell us why the net current deferred tax assets have not changed from 2002 to 2003, and why a valuation allowance has not been established for the entire deferred tax asset.

Note 12. Commitment and Contingencies

53. We reference the discussion in Item 1 that the Company is responsible for securing an estimated $1.5 million in financing for the joint venture with the German company. Disclose details of any significant commitments, contingencies or guarantees with this or any other joint venture or from any other collaborative arrangement. 54. Provide supplemental details of whether the existing policy for product liability insurance that expires December 31, 2004 has been renewed. Note

Show Raw Text
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>LETTER
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.txt
<TEXT>

      December 22, 2004

Andrew Makrides
President, Chief Executive Officer
Bovie Medical Corporation
734 Walt Whitman Road
Melville, New York 11747

Re:	Bovie Medical Corporation
	Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed November 23, 2004
	Registration No. 333-120741

Dear Mr. Makrides:

      We have reviewed your filing and have the following
comments.
Where indicated, we think you should revise your document in
response
to these comments.  If you disagree, we will consider your
explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is
unnecessary.  Please be as detailed as necessary in your
explanation.
In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with
supplemental information so we may better understand your
disclosure.
After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise
additional
comments.

      Please understand that the purpose of our review process is
to
assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure
requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing.
We look forward to working with you in these respects.  We welcome
any questions you may have about our comments or on any other
aspect
of our review.  Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers
listed
at the end of this letter.

Registration Statement on Form S-3

General

1. We note that the certifications filed as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2
to
your Form 10-KSB and Forms 10-QSB that have been incorporated into
your registration statement were not in the proper form.  The
required certifications must be in the exact form prescribed and
the
wording of the required certifications may not be changed in any
respect.  For example, we note that paragraph 4 of Exhibits 31.1
does
not follow the form prescribed by Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-
B.
Accordingly, please file an amendment to each of your latest Form
10-
KSB and subsequent Forms 10-QSB that includes the entire report
together with the certifications of each of your CEO and CFO in
the
form currently set forth in Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-B.

2. Consideration should be given to the updating requirements of
Item
310(g) of Regulation S-B.
3. A currently dated consent of the independent auditors should be
included in the amendment that will be declared effective.  In
addition, the date of the audit report of March 25, 2003
referenced
in the consent does not agree with the date of the report included
in
the 10-KSB of March 30, 2004.  Please revise.

Where you can find more information - Pages 3 to 4

4. Please reorganize your prospectus so that this section appears
after your "Summary" and "Risk Factors" sections.

5. Please include the name of a contact person at Bovie Medical
and
the statement required by Item 12(c)(1)(i) of Form S-3.

6. Item 12 of Form S-3 does not permit incorporation by reference
of
a previously filed Schedule 13D or proxy statement.  Also, Item
12(a)(3) requires that you incorporate your Exchange Act
registration
statement.  Please revise accordingly.

Risk Factors - Pages 6 to 14

7. Please revise the second and third italicized sentences of your
introduction to this section to clarify that you have included all
material risk factors.  Revise your risk factors as necessary to
include a discussion of all material risks.

	We conduct a significant amount of our sales - Pages 6 to 7

8. Disclose where you have material international sales and
operations.  Also clarify how the generic risks in the bullet list
apply to those countries.

	If we fail to attract, here and retain qualified and key
personnel - Page 11

9. Please revise the last paragraph of this risk factor to clarify
what you mean by "potential taxes."

Selling Stockholders - Pages 16 to 18

10. For each selling stockholder that is a nonpublic entity,
please
identify the natural person(s) with voting or investment control
over
the shares held by such entity.  Refer to Interpretation I.60 of
Telephone Interpretation Manual (July 1997) and Interpretation 4S
of
Regulation S-K section of 3/99 Supplement to Manual.

11. Tell us whether any selling stockholder is a broker-dealer or
affiliate of a broker-dealer.

Proceeds - Page 19

12. Please clarify under what circumstances you will be reimbursed
by
the selling stockholders.

Exhibits

13. Please file a legal opinion with your next amendment.

14. We note your application for confidential treatment.  We will
provide any comments on your application separately.  Any comments
on
your application must be resolved before you request for
acceleration
of the effective date of this registration statement.

Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003

Item 1 - Business

	Jump Unipolar Low Temperature Focused Plasma Technology

15. Please direct us to where you have filed the Joint Venture
Agreement with Jump Agentur Fuer Elektrotechnik GMBH as an exhibit
to
your SEC filings.  If you have not filed such agreement as an
exhibit
to your SEC filings, please provide us with your analysis as to
why
that agreement does not need to be filed as a material agreement
as
required by Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-B.

16. With a view toward disclosure, please tell us the percentage
you
hold of the ownership interest in the joint venture formed with
Jump
Agentur Fuer Elektrotechnik GMBH, whether this joint venture has
recognized any revenues, and how profits are allocated among the
venture partners.

	New Products

17. Please direct us to where you have filed the exclusive
worldwide
license agreement with Emergency Medical Innovations, LLC as an
exhibit to your SEC filings.  If you have not filed such agreement
as
an exhibit to your SEC filings, please provide us with your
analysis
as to why that agreement does not need to be filed as a material
agreement as required by Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-B.

	Competition

18. Please expand your disclosure to describe your competitive
position in your industry and the methods by which you compete.
Please refer to Item 101(b)(4) of Regulation S-B.

	Patents and Trademarks

19. Please indicate the duration of any material patents that you
hold.  Refer to Item 101(b)(7) of Regulation S-B.

Item 6 - Management`s Discussion and Analysis

	General

20. Please provide your critical accounting policy disclosures and
the information related to the underlying estimates and judgments
required by FR-72 and SEC Release No. 33-8350.  The critical
accounting policies discussion should supplement, not duplicate,
the
description of accounting policies that are disclosed in the notes
to
the financial statements.  While accounting policy notes in the
financial statements generally describe the method used to apply
an
accounting principle, the discussion in MD&A should present an
analysis of the uncertainties involved in applying a principle at
a
given time or the variability that is reasonably likely to result
from its application over time.  Details should also be provided
of
the specific estimates and assumptions that are used in this
policy
and how these were determined.

Results of Operations

21. Please revise your MD&A to quantify and discuss each of the
significant factors that contributed to significant changes in
revenues and the various expenses amounts in the financial
statements.  For example, you indicate that the significant
increase
in revenue relates to an increase from the sale of electrosurgery
products but do not quantify or discuss the reasons for this
increase.  In addition, you also cite an increase in professional
services but do not quantify each of the specific factors or
components that contributed to the increase.  Please revise to not
only quantify all significant changes but also include details of
why
these changes occurred.  Additionally, if there are offsetting
factors you should quantify and discuss each of the offsetting
factors.  Please apply this guidance throughout MD&A.  Before
filing
your amendment, please review Interpretative Release 33-8350
(December 19, 2003) available on our Web site at
http://www.sec.gov/rules/interp/33-8350.htm.

22. Clarify which of your medical products materially contributed
to
sales.  Also disclose the extent to which those contributions
varied
over the periods presented and the reasons for that variation.

23. Discuss why the cost of sales of your OEM generators
increased.

	Financial Condition

24. Please revise to provide more details of the following as
required by Item 303 (b) of Regulation S-B:
a) Provide details of any purchase, sale or other material
commitments for capital expenditures and the expected source of
funds
for these expenditures;
b) Provide a summary of product research and development that you
plan to pursue for the next year and the expected funds needed for
these activities;
c) Discuss any known events that could have an impact on
continuing
operations such as the sale of your non-medical segment; and
d) Clarify whether you expect to be able to satisfy your short-
term
liquidity requirements or if you will need to raise additional
funds
in the next 12 months.  All sources of internal and external
sources
of liquidity should be addressed.
25. Please revise to disclose details of significant changes in
balance sheet accounts each period in MD&A.

Item 9 - Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control
Persons

26. Please provide the disclosure required by Item 401(e) and (f)
of
Regulation S-B.

27. Provide the disclosure required by Regulation S-B Items 405
and
406.

28. We note that Mr. Kozloff has not been identified as an
executive
officer of your company.  Since Mr. Kozloff has been identified as
an
executive officer under Item 10, please include the disclosures
required by Item 401 for Mr. Kozloff as well.

Item 10 - Remuneration

29. Revise your disclosure to use the table format and column
headings required by Item 402 of Regulation S-B.

Item 11 - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management of Bovie

30. Please tell us how you are complying with Exchange Act Rule
16a-
3(k).

Item 13 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

31. Please conform the heading of this Item to "Exhibits" as
required
by Form 10-KSB and furnish the exhibits required by Item 601 of
Regulation S-B.  For example, please file the agreements mentioned
in
the section entitled "Reliance on Collaborative, Manufacturing and
Selling Arrangements" of Item 6.  In addition, please include an
exhibit index listing all of the required exhibits indicating
whether
those exhibits have been filed along with your Form 10-KSB or
whether
they have been incorporated by reference.

Item 14 - Disclosure Controls and Procedures

32. Revise this filing and your most recent quarterly report to
comply with Regulation S-B Item 307 which requires the conclusions
be
stated as of the end of the period covered by the report.

Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders Equity
33. Tell us the difference between "Subscription receivable paid
in
cash" and "Subscription Receivable."  Also the subscription
transaction should be disclosed in the footnotes.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

34. Please tell us the nature of the short term notes and where
these
are disclosed in the accounting policies.

35. Please tell us where the term loan payment and the line of
credit
payment from Note 7 are reflected in the financing activities of
the
statement of cash flows.

36. Please provide details of the inventory and parts and
development
costs write-downs included in the statement of cash flows and
indicate where these amounts have been disclosed in the footnotes.
The specific circumstances and assumptions related to these write-
downs should be clearly disclosed.  If there have been any
subsequent
sales of inventory that have been written-down the impact of
theses
sales on margins should be disclosed in MD&A.

Note 1.  Accounts Receivable
37. We reference the allowance for discounts in Note 3.  Please
include a description of the discount policy that you use in
relation
to accounts receivable and the amount that was written-off for
each
year.

Note 1.  Inventory and Repair Parts
38. Please tell us where the inventory reserves are reflected in
the
balance sheet.  In addition, the reserves and write-offs each
period
should be separately disclosed in Note 1.  Clarify whether these
reserves establish a new cost basis.
39. Please provide details of the reason that repair parts are
classified as a non-current asset.

Long-lived Assets
40. Please provide details of the basis for classifying trade name
as
an indefinite-lived intangible asset.  In addition, provide more
details about how you evaluate and test indefinite-lived
intangibles
and goodwill for impairment.

Revenue Recognition and Product Warranty

41. Please provide more details of the revenue recognition policy
for
all significant products and services and the basis for
recognition
of revenue at shipment, including details of post-shipment
obligations, customer acceptance, rights of return, etc. and how
these impact revenue recognition.  In addition, provide details of
discounts, credits and other sales incentives and clarify the
accounting treatment.
42. Please provide more details of product warranties, including
the
reconciliation of the reserve as required by FIN 45.
43. Tell us and discuss in your revised filing your revenue
recognition policy for research and development performed for
others
as noted in Note 15.

Research and Development

44. Please separately disclose the amounts of any development
costs
that are capitalized.

Note 2. Joint Venture Agreement

45. Please provide details of the ownership percentage of the
joint
venture and the related accounting treatment.  Provide details of
whether the equity investment meets the requirements of Rule 4-08
(g)
of Regulation S-X for summarized financial information.

Note 5 - Due to Shareholders

46. We reference the amounts included in the financial statements
related to the recission offer made by the Company.  Provide more
details of this offer and how this has been recorded in the
financial
statements.

Note 6.  Intangible Assets

47. Please revise to remove indefinite lived intangible assets
(trade
name and goodwill) from those that are subject to amortization. In
addition, assets that have been fully amortized should be removed
from this table.  The total in the table should also agree with
the
balance sheets.
48. Tell us why the Electrosurgery Technology, Multifunction
Cautery
and the patent rights original balances decreased or were written-
off
separate from the normal accumulated depreciation.
49. Please revise to separate the useful lives by type of
intangible
asset.

Note 8.  Options
50. Please revise the "Summary of Significant Policies" footnote
to
include the required information regarding stock-based
compensation
in paragraph 2 (c) (1-5) of SFAS 148.

51. Provide details of the 1.8 million stock options granted
during
the year, including whether the price was at fair value (and how
this
was determined) and the amount of any compensation recorded.

Note 9.  Taxes and Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
52. We note that the Company believes that it is possible that the
benefit of these assets may not be realized in the future,
therefore
tell us why the net current deferred tax assets have not changed
from
2002 to 2003, and why a valuation allowance has not been
established
for the entire deferred tax asset.

Note 12. Commitment and Contingencies

53. We reference the discussion in Item 1 that the Company is
responsible for securing an estimated $1.5 million in financing
for
the joint venture with the German company.  Disclose details of
any
significant commitments, contingencies or guarantees with this or
any
other joint venture or from any other collaborative arrangement.
54. Provide supplemental details of whether the existing policy
for
product liability insurance that expires December 31, 2004 has
been
renewed.
Note