Ultrasound Improves cancer diagnosis - Isis Project No 3113

An ultrasound imaging technique has been developed that quantifies the stiffness and slip of suspect cancerous masses to aid diagnosis.

The Oxford Invention

The Biomedical Image Analysis group has developed quantitative assessment of the stiffness and slip of suspected cancerous masses. This quantification of the image data supplements the assessment achieved in palpation, aiding diagnosis and helping to reduce the number of interventions. The technology has already been validated in a 70 patient study in collaboration with Oxford Breast Care Unit, and is the subject of ongoing trials.

Below are two sets of three images, the first image of each set shows standard ultrasound scans. The second image shows additional elasticity (stiffness) data, where red signifies a stiff material, and suggests a high probability of being cancerous. The third image of each set show additional slip (mobility) data, where red signifies a mobile mass, and suggests a low probability of being cancerous

From these two sets of images it is possible to see that suspect mass in the first set of images is high risk as it is stiff, and not mobile. The suspect mass in the second set of images has a low stiffness and is mobile, suggesting it is not cancerous.

Marketing Opportunity

The growth in the availability of imaging techniques in medicine has resulted in higher image quality and there are now diminishing returns from further improvements in quality. In addition the volume of image data available means that information overload is an increasing issue for practitioners. As a result there is a need for the quantification of image data to aid interpretation and ultimately diagnosis.

Patent Status

This work is the subject of patent application, and Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developing this commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager to discuss this further.

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