Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 2—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Isis Tele-Communications, Inc., which has no current operations, and SafeStitch LLC. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions, such as useful lives of property and equipment, 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 expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents. We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company holds cash and cash equivalent balances in banks and other financial institutions, and includes overnight repurchase agreements collateralizing its depository bank accounts (sweep accounts) in its cash balances. Balances in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) limitations may not be insured.

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts. The Company provides an allowance for receivables it believes it may not collect in full. Receivables are written off when they are deemed to be uncollectible and all collection attempts have ceased. The amount of bad debt recorded each period and the resulting adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts at the end of each period are determined using a combination of customer-by-customer analysis of the Company’s accounts receivable each period and subjective assessments of the Company’s future bad debt exposure.

Inventories. Inventories are stated at lower of cost or market using the weighted average cost method. Provisions for potentially obsolete or slow-moving inventory are made based on management’s analysis of inventory levels, obsolescence and future sales forecasts. Obsolete inventory aggregating $86,000 was disposed of during 2011.

Property and equipment. Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major additions and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs that do not extend the lives of assets are expensed. Gain or loss, if any, on the disposition of fixed assets is recognized currently in operations. Depreciation is calculated primarily on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of the assets.

Revenue Recognition. Revenue from product sales is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the goods are shipped and title has transferred, the price is fixed or determinable, and the collection of the sales proceeds is reasonably assured.

Advertising Costs. The Company expenses all costs of advertising as incurred. Advertising and promotional costs are included in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) costs and expenses for all periods presented, and totaled $73,000 and $61,000, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Research and development. Research and development costs principally represent salaries of the Company’s medical and biomechanical engineering professionals, material and shop costs associated with manufacturing product prototypes and payments to third parties for clinical trials and additional product development and testing. All research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.

Patent costs. Costs incurred in connection with acquiring patent rights and the protection of proprietary technologies are charged to expense as incurred.

Stock-based compensation. The Company accounts for all share-based payments, including grants of stock options, as operating expenses, based on their grant date fair values. The fair value of the Company’s stock option awards is expensed over the vesting life of the underlying stock options using the graded vesting method, with each tranche of vesting options valued separately. Stock-based compensation is included in general and administrative costs and expenses for all periods presented.

Therapeutic discovery project tax credit. The Company records the therapeutic discovery project tax credit on the accrual basis when approved by the government agency which is reported as other income in the accompanying statements.

Fair value of financial instruments. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate fair value based on their short-term maturity.

Long-lived assets. The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived assets, including long-term investments, for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. Any long-lived assets held for disposal are reported at the lower of their carrying amounts or fair value less costs to sell.

Income taxes. The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes, which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of the assets and liabilities. The Company’s policy is to record a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, when it is more likely than not the deferred tax asset is not recoverable. The Company considers estimated future taxable income or loss and other available evidence when assessing the need for its deferred tax valuation allowance.

Comprehensive income (loss). Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Company’s comprehensive net loss is equal to its net loss for all periods presented.