| Convertible debentures | 
    | Note Agreement | 
      | 
    
         Balance at 
        September 30, 2017 
 | 
      | 
      | 
    Balance at December 31, 2016 | 
      | 
 
    |   | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
 
    | 2009 Debentures | 
      | 
    $ | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
    $ | 
    305,000 | 
      | 
 
    | June 2011 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    64,000 | 
      | 
 
    | November 2011 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    125,000 | 
      | 
 
    | March 2012 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    140,000 | 
      | 
 
    | May 2012 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    225,000 | 
      | 
 
    | December 2012 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    425,000 | 
      | 
 
    | November 2013 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    172,000 | 
      | 
 
    | July 2014 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    3,140,000 | 
      | 
 
    | October 2014 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    1,250,000 | 
      | 
 
    | March 2015 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    2,175,000 | 
      | 
 
    | July 2015 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    500,000 | 
      | 
 
    | October 2015 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    330,000 | 
      | 
 
    | November 2015 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    190,000 | 
      | 
 
    | December 2015 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    200,000 | 
      | 
 
    | January 2016 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    150,000 | 
      | 
 
    | May 2016 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    1,503,000 | 
      | 
 
    | September 2016 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    250,000 | 
      | 
 
    | January 2017 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
 
    | March 2017 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
 
    | April 2017 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
 
    | July 2017 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
 
    | August 2017 Debentures | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
 
    |   | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
 
    | Total convertible debentures | 
      | 
    $ | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
    $ | 
    11,144,000 | 
      | 
 
    | Less: discount | 
      | 
      | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
    (794,000 | 
    ) | 
 
    | Total convertible debentures, net of discount | 
      | 
    $ | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
    $ | 
    10,350,000  | 
      | 
 
    |   | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
 
    | Total short term convertible debentures, net of discount | 
      | 
    $ | 
    - | 
      | 
      | 
    $ | 
    10,350,000  | 
      | 
 
 
 |