Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the financial statements of Pulse and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, BioElectroMed Corp. (“BEM”) and NanoBlate Corp. (“NB”), since their date of acquisition on November 6, 2014 . ThelioPulse, Inc. (“TPI”), which was acquired on November 6, 2014 , was merged into Pulse subsequent to its acquisition and ceased to exist as a separate entity. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates . Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and investments. The Company places its cash equivalents and investments with high credit quality financial institutions and, by policy, limits the amounts invested with any one financial institution or issuer. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. The Company has not experienced any losses since inception. Fair Value of Financial Instruments The Company believes the carrying amounts of its financial instruments, including cash equivalents, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of such instruments. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Investments The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company has designated all marketable investments as available-for-sale and therefore, such marketable investments are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) in stockholders’ equity. The cost of marketable securities is adjusted for the amortization of premiums and discounts to expected maturity. Premium and discount amortization is included in other income, net. Realized gains and losses, as well as interest income, on available-for-sale securities are also included in other income, net. The Company includes all of its available-for-sale securities in current assets. All of the Company’s marketable investments are subject to a periodic impairment review. The Company recognizes an impairment charge when a decline in the fair value of its marketable investments below the cost basis is judged to be other-than-temporary. Factors considered in determining whether a loss is temporary include the length of time and extent to which the marketable investments fair value has been less than the cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, extent of the loss related to credit of the issuer, the expected cash flows from the security, the Company’s intent to sell the security and whether or not the Company will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost. During the year ended December 31 2016, the Company did not recognize any impairment charges on its investments as it is more likely than not that the Company will recover their amortized cost basis upon sale or maturity. The Company did not hold investment securities at any time during the prior year. Deferred and Capitalized Offering Costs Costs incurred in connection with ongoing equity financing activities, consisting primarily of legal, accounting and other professional fees, are deferred until the related financing is either completed or abandoned. Costs related to completed equity financings are charged directly to additional paid-in capital. Costs related to abandoned financings are charged to operations. Equipment Equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from three to five years. Intangible Assets The Company’s intangible assets consist of acquired patents and licenses, which are being amortized over their estimated useful lives of twelve years. Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews long-lived assets, consisting of equipment and intangible assets, for impairment during each fiscal year or when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of these assets may exceed their current fair values. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are separately presented in the consolidated balance sheet and reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell, and are no longer depreciated. The Company has not historically recorded any impairment to its long-lived assets. In the future, if events or market conditions affect the estimated fair value to the extent that a long-lived asset is impaired, the Company will adjust the carrying value of these long-lived assets in the period in which the impairment occurs. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and the period from May 19, 2014 (inception) through December 31, 2014, the Company had not deemed any long-lived assets as impaired, and was not aware of the existence of any indicators of impairment at such dates. Goodwill The Company records goodwill when the consideration paid in a business acquisition exceeds the fair value of the net tangible assets and the identified intangible assets acquired. The Company reviews goodwill for impairment at least annually or whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the goodwill may not be recoverable. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and the period from May 19, 2014 (inception) through December 31, 2014, the Company had not deemed the value of goodwill as impaired, and was not aware of the existence of any indicators of impairment at such dates. Stock-Based Compensation The Company periodically issues stock options to officers, directors, employees and consultants for services rendered. Such issuances vest and expire according to terms established at the issuance date. Stock-based payments to officers, directors and employees, including grants of employee stock options, are recognized in the financial statements based on their grant date fair values. Stock option grants, which are generally time vested, are measured at the grant date fair value and charged to operations on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The fair value of stock options is determined utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which is affected by several variables, including the risk-free interest rate, the expected dividend yield, the life of the equity award, the exercise price of the stock option as compared to the fair value of the common stock on the grant date, and the estimated volatility of the common stock over the term of the equity award. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Company estimates volatility based on the average historical volatilities of comparable public companies in a similar industry. The expected dividend yield is based on the current yield at the grant date; the Company has never declared or paid dividends and has no plans to do so for the foreseeable future. As permitted by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, due to the Company’s lack of history and option activity, management utilizes the simplified method to estimate the expected term of options at the date of grant. Prior to the Company’s IPO, the fair value of common stock was determined by reference to either recent or anticipated cash transactions involving the sale of the Company’s common stock. Stock options issued to non-employees as compensation for services provided to the Company are accounted for based upon the estimated fair value of the stock option. Management utilizes the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of the stock options issued by the Company. The Company recognizes this expense over the period in which the services are provided. The Company recognizes the fair value of stock-based compensation costs in general and administrative costs and in research and development costs, as appropriate, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company issues new shares to satisfy stock option exercises. Research Grants Research grants are generally funded and paid through governmental, institutional, educational or research organizations. Grants received from agencies of the federal government are subject to federal regulation as to how the Company conducts its research activities, and the Company is required to comply with the respective research agreement terms relating to those grants. Amounts received under research grants are nonrefundable, regardless of the success of the underlying research project, to the extent that such amounts are expended in accordance with the approved grant project. The Company is permitted to draw down the research grants after incurring the related expenses. Amounts received under research grants are offset against the related research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations as the costs are incurred. Research and Development Costs Research and development costs consist primarily of compensation costs, fees paid to consultants and outside service providers and organizations (including research institutes at universities), development prototypes, patent fees and costs, and other expenses relating to the acquisition, design, development and testing of the Company’s product candidates. Research and development costs incurred by the Company are expensed as incurred, unless the achievement of milestones, the completion of contracted work, or other information indicates that a different expensing schedule is more appropriate. Patent Costs The Company is the owner of numerous domestic and foreign patents. Due to the significant uncertainty associated with the successful development of one or more commercially viable products based on the Company’s research efforts and any related patent applications, patent costs not related to acquired patents, including patent-related legal fees, filing fees and other costs, including internally generated costs, are expensed as incurred. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 patent costs totaled $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively . During the period from May 19, 2014 (inception) through December 31, 2014, patent costs were $26,000 . Patent costs are included in research and development costs in the consolidated statement s of operations and comprehensive loss. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Accordingly, the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected impact of differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In the event the Company determines that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be credited to operations in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should the Company determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of its deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be charged to operations in the period such determination was made. The Company is subject to U.S. federal income taxes and income taxes of various state tax jurisdictions. As the Company’s net operating losses have yet to be utilized, previous tax years remain open to examination by federal authorities and other jurisdictions in which the Company currently operates or has operated in the past. The Company is not currently under examination by any tax authority. The Company accounts for uncertainties in income tax law under a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns as prescribed by U.S. GAAP. The tax effects of a position are recognized only if it is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the taxing authority as of the reporting date. If the tax position is not considered “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained, then no benefits of the position are recognized. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had not recorded any liability for uncertain tax positions. The Company includes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense. Comprehensive Loss Comprehensive loss consists of net loss and unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale investments. The Company displays comprehensive loss and its components as part of the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Net Loss per Share The Company’s basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by giving effect to all potential dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. For purposes of this calculation, options to purchase common stock and common stock warrants are considered common stock equivalents. Potential common shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share. Basic and diluted net loss per common share is the same for all periods presented because all warrants and stock options outstanding are anti-dilutive. The following outstanding stock options and warrants to purchase common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect: May 19, 2014 (inception) Years Ended through December 31, December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Common stock warrants 874,610 299,625 299,625 Common stock options 1,229,355 875,221 — Total 2,103,965 1,174,846 299,625 Segment and Geographical Information The Company operate s and manage s its business as one reportable and operating segment. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the chief operating decision maker, reviews financial information on an aggregate basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. All of the Company’s long-lived assets are based in the United States. Recent ly Adopted Standards In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide disclosures when certain criteria are met. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim reporting periods starting in the first quarter of 2017. The Company adopted this standard as of December 31, 2016. Recent Accounting Pronouncements During May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . This updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued an update to defer the effective date of this update by one year. This updated standard becomes effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, but allows the Company to adopt the standard one year earlier if it so chooses. In March 2016, the FASB issued updates to this guidance to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued guidance to clarify aspects related to identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued guidance to clarify the implementation on narrow scope improvements and practical expedients. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting these standards. During February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases , which amends the existing accounting standards for leases. The new standard requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet (with the exception of short-term leases). For lessees, leases will continue to be classified as either operating or financing in the income statement. This ASU becomes effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 and early adoption is permitted. This ASU is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach and requires application of the new standard at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The Company generally does not finance purchases of equipment or other capital, but does lease its facilities. While the Company is continuing to assess all potential impacts of this standard, it expects that most of its lease commitments will be subject to the updated standard and recognized as lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon adoption. During March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting . This ASU simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU requires that excess tax benefits and deficiencies be recognized as income tax benefit or expense in the income statement. The Company currently plans to implement this ASU as required in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a significant impact on its financial position. During June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments , which requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held. ASU 2016-13 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard. During January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Accounting for Goodwill Impairment , which simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment. This ASU removes Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires hypothetical purchase price allocation. A goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the amount of goodwill at reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. ASU 2017-04 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for any impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard. |