Share Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Share Based Compensation

8. SHARE BASED COMPENSATION

The Company accounts for the issuance of equity awards to employees in accordance with ASC Topic 718 and 505, which requires that the cost resulting from all share based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. These pronouncements establish fair value as the measurement objective in accounting for share based payment arrangements and requires all companies to apply a fair value based measurement method in accounting for all share based payment transactions with employees. All stock-based compensation is included in operating expenses for the periods as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Compensation cost recognized:
Selling, general and administrative	$	54,434	$	89,118
Research and development		6,274		7,682
	$	60,708	$	96,800

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value the options. The table below presents the weighted average expected life of the options in years. The expected life computation is based on the time to option expiration. Volatility is determined using changes in historical stock prices. The interest rate for periods within the expected life of the award is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

Stock option activity under the 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2015 Stock Option Plans (collectively, the “Plans”) during the periods indicated below were as follows:

	Number of Shares Subject to Issuance			Weighted- average Exercise Price		Weighted- average Remaining Contractual Term		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2017		1,631,358		$	1.36		1.70 years	$	2,106,669
Granted		100,000			2.87
Forfeited or expired		(8,500	)		3.08
Exercised		(593,838	)		1.16
Outstanding at March 31, 2018		1,129,020		$	1.59		2.53 years	$	567,026
Exercisable at March 31, 2018		855,426		$	1.50		2.23 years	$	477,627

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the period and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had they all exercised their options on March 31, 2018. This amount changes based upon the fair market value of the Company’s stock.

Restricted Stock Units

The Company issues Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) which are equity-based instruments that may be settled in shares of common stock of the Company. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company issued RSUs to certain directors as compensation. RSU agreements can vest immediately or with the passage of time. The vesting of all RSUs is contingent on continued board and employment services.

The compensation expense incurred by the Company for RSUs is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and is amortized ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period and charged to general and administrative expense with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital.

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2017		5,859		$	2.56	$	-
Granted		16,296			1.80
Vested and settled in shares		(5,859	)		2.56
Outstanding at March 31, 2018		16,296		$	1.80	$	-

As of March 31, 2018, there was $282,495 of total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to all unvested stock options and restricted stock units, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 3.15 years.

The Company had 762,129 shares available for future grants under the Plans at March 31, 2018.

Warrants

All previously granted warrants were issued with an exercise price that was equal to or above the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had 471,801 remaining warrants outstanding and exercisable through 2021. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, there were no warrants exercised.