In California, a core white-LED patent held by Spectros Corp. of Portola Valley has been validated and will reissue next year. During re-examination of US Patent No. 6,711,426, the US Patent Office has affirmed that the company’s use of white LEDs in medical spectroscopy is unique and protectable and that certain other applications in biomedical and industrial spectroscopy devices also fall under this patent. The company says that this development will serve as the basis for its expansion into lab-on-a-chip devices, color sensors, spectrometers, fluorimeters and white-LED pulse and tissue oximeters.