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Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation
1.     Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation
 
Description of Business
 
SpectraScience, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Minnesota on May 4, 1983 as GV Medical, Inc. In October 1992, GV Medical discontinued its prior business, refocused its development efforts and changed its name to SpectraScience, Inc. The “Company,” hereinafter, refers to SpectraScience, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries Luma Imaging Corporation (“LUMA”) and Spectra Science International, Inc. (“International”). Since 1996, the Company has focused primarily on developing the WavSTAT Optical Biopsy System (the “WavSTAT System”).
 
The Company has developed and received the European CE mark approval to market a proprietary, minimally invasive technology that optically illuminates tissue in real-time to distinguish between normal, pre-cancerous or cancerous cells without the need to remove the subject cell tissue from the body to make such determinations. The WavSTAT System operates by using cool, safe laser light to optically illuminate and analyze tissue, enabling the physician to make an instant diagnosis during endoscopy when screening for cancer, and if warranted, to begin immediate treatment during the same procedure. Beginning in December 2011, the WavSTAT 4 version of the product began to be sold in the European Union for colon cancer detection. In June 2012, the Company entered into a distribution agreement with PENTAX Europe, GmbH, for the sale of its systems internationally.
 
On November 6, 2007, the Company acquired the assets of LUMA in an equity transaction accounted for as an acquisition of assets and now operates LUMA as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. LUMA had acquired the assets from a predecessor company that had developed, and received FDA approval for, a non-invasive diagnostic imaging system that can detect cervical cancer precursors and which utilizes an underlying technology that is similar to that of the WavSTAT System. The addition of the LUMA technology to the Company’s existing WavSTAT System technology provides the Company with a broad suite of fluorescence-based intellectual property and know-how. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Company wrote off the remaining fair value of the LUMA inventory in order to focus on the continued development and marketing of the WavSTAT System. The Company retained the intellectual property of LUMA for use in the development of future generations of the WavSTAT System.
 
The transaction was accounted for as an acquisition of assets that included intellectual property, inventory and equipment. The intellectual property consisted of a total of 34 issued U.S. patents and 28 additional patent applications.
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q as they are prescribed for smaller reporting companies. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary to make the financial statements not misleading have been included. Operating results for the nine month period ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013. These statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
  
Going Concern
 
Historically, the Company’s sources of cash have come from the issuance and sales of equity securities and convertible debentures. The Company’s historical cash outflows have been primarily used for operating activities including research, development, administrative and sales activities. Fluctuations in the Company’s working capital due to timing differences of its cash receipts and cash disbursements also impact its cash flow. The Company expects to incur significant additional operating losses through at least the end of 2013, as it completes proof-of-concept trials, conducts outcome-based clinical studies and increases sales and marketing efforts to commercialize the WavSTAT4 Systems in Europe. If the Company does not receive sufficient funding, there is substantial doubt that the Company will be able to continue as a going concern. The Company may incur unknown expenses or may not be able to meet its revenue forecast, and one or more of these circumstances would require the Company to seek additional capital. The Company may not be able to obtain equity capital or debt funding on terms that are acceptable. Even if the Company receives additional funding, such proceeds may not be sufficient to allow the Company to sustain operations until it becomes profitable and begins to generate positive cash flows from operations.
 
As of September 30, 2013, the Company had a working capital deficit of $5,144,041 and cash of $238,485, compared to a working capital deficit of $3,340,787 and cash of $90,192 as of December 31, 2012. In December 2011, the Company entered into an Engagement Agreement with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., which Engagement Agreement was amended in July 2012. Under the Engagement Agreement, Laidlaw agreed to assist the Company in raising up to $20.0 million in capital over a two year period from the date of the Engagement Agreement. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company raised $1,159,136, net of transaction costs, under this agreement. Subsequent to June 30, 2013, the Company has engaged another agent to assist the Company with raising capital and has commenced raising capital on its own. However, if the Company does not receive additional funds in a timely manner, the Company could be in jeopardy as a going concern. The Company may not be able to find alternative capital or raise capital or debt on terms that are acceptable. Management believes that if the events defined in the Engagement Agreement occur as expected, or if the Company is otherwise able to raise a similar level of funds, such proceeds will be sufficient to allow the Company to sustain operations until it attains profitability and positive cash flows from operations. However, the Company may incur unknown expenses or may not be able to meet its revenue expectations requiring it to seek additional capital. In such event, the Company may not be able to find capital or raise capital or debt on terms that are acceptable.
 
The holders of Convertible Debentures control the conversion of the Convertible Debentures and certain of the Convertible Debentures were not converted at their maturity constituting a potential default on the matured, but unconverted, Convertible Debentures. In the event of such default, principal, accrued interest and other related costs are immediately due and payable in cash. As of September 30, 2013, Convertible Debentures with a face value of $1,588,733 held by 32 individual investors are in default. None of these investors have served notice of default on the Convertible Debentures held by them.
 
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.