# US 10,769,790 B2 · Methods of cancer detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,769,790 B2 - Document ID: US10769790B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/577,238 - Filed: 2019-09-20 - Published: 2020-03-12 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-23 - Assignees: University of Maine System Board of Trustees - Applicants: University of Maine System Board of Trustees - Inventors: Andre Khalil; Kendra Ann Batchelder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769790B2 ## CPC - G06T 7/0016: {involving temporal comparison} - A61B 5/4312: {Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis (optical mammography A61B5/0091)} - A61B 5/7257: {using Fourier transforms} - A61B 5/726: {using Wavelet transforms} - A61B 6/502: {for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography} - G06T 7/48: using fractals - A61B 5/08: Measuring devices for evaluating the respiratory organs - A61B 5/201: {Assessing renal or kidney functions} - A61B 5/4064: {Evaluating the brain (for intracranial pressure A61B5/031; for cerebral blood gases A61B5/14553; using EEG A61B5/369)} - A61B 5/4244: {liver} - A61B 5/425: {pancreas} - A61B 5/4325: {of the uterine cavities, e.g. uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries} - A61B 5/444: {Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar} - A61B 2576/00: Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis (A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence) - G06T 2207/20021: Dividing image into blocks, subimages or windows - G06T 2207/20064: Wavelet transform [DWT] - G06T 2207/30024: Cell structures in vitro; Tissue sections in vitro - G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract The present invention provides, among other things, methods of identifying cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue including providing a first region of tissue from a subject, calculating a roughness exponent for the first region of tissue, and comparing the roughness exponent of the first region of tissue to 0.5, wherein a difference of less than 0.2 between the roughness exponent of the first region of tissue and 0.5 indicates that the tissue is cancerous or pre-cancerous. Additionally, the present invention provides methods including providing a first view of a region of tissue, providing a second view of a region of tissue, calculating a first fractal dimension for the first view of the region of tissue, and calculating a second fractal dimension for the second view of the region of tissue, wherein if the fractal dimension of at least one of the first fractal dimension and the second fractal dimension is in the fractal zone, the region of tissue is considered cancerous. Also provided are systems for performing these assessments. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising providing a first view of a region of tissue; providing a second view of the region of tissue; calculating a first fractal dimension for the first view of the region of tissue; and calculating a second fractal dimension for the second view of the region of tissue; wherein a fractal zone is defined as a polygon consisting of a central square and a first, second, third, and fourth extending triangular region as plotted on a graph of the fractal dimension of the first view of the region of tissue by the fractal dimension of the second view of the region of tissue; and wherein if the fractal dimension of at least one of the first fractal dimension and the second fractal dimension is in the fractal zone, the region of tissue is considered cancerous. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the region of tissue if it is cancerous. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the central square and first, second, third and fourth extending triangular regions are defined by the following fractal dimensions, as plotted on a graph of the fractal dimension of the first view by the fractal dimension of the second view: central square: (1.2, 1.2), (1.2, 1.8), (1.8, 1.2)(1.8, 1.8); first extending triangular region: (0.5, 1.5), (1.2, 1.2), (1.2, 1.8); second extending triangular region: (1.5, 0.5), (1.2, 1.2), (1.8, 1.2); third extending triangular region: (1.5, 2.3), (1.2, 1.8), (1.8, 1.8); and fourth extending triangular region: (2.3, 1.5), (1.8, 1.2), (1.8, 1.8). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the central square and first, second, third and fourth extending triangular regions are defined by the following fractal dimensions, as plotted on a graph of the fractal dimension of the first view by the fractal dimension of the second view: central square: (1.1, 1.1), (1.1, 1.9), (1.9, 1.1)(1.9, 1.9); first extending triangular region: (0.5, 1.5), (1.1, 1.1), (1.1, 1.9); second extending triangular region: (1.5, 0.5), (1.1, 1.1), (1.9, 1.1); third extending triangular region: (1.5, 2.3), (1.1, 1.9), (1.9, 1.9); and fourth extending triangular region: (2.3, 1.5), (1.9, 1.1), (1.9, 1.9). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the central square and first, second, third and fourth extending triangular regions are defined by the following fractal dimensions, as plotted on a graph of the fractal dimension of the first view by the fractal dimension of the second view: central square: (1.3, 1.3), (1.3, 1.7), (1.7, 1.3)(1.7, 1.7); first extending triangular region: (0.5, 1.5), (1.3, 1.3), (1.3, 1.7); second extending triangular region: (1.5, 0.5), (1.3, 1.3), (1.7, 1.3); third extending triangular region: (1.5, 2.3), (1.3, 1.7), (1.7, 1.7); and fourth extending triangular region: (2.3, 1.5), (1.7, 1.3), (1.7, 1.7). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a third view of the region of tissue; and calculating a third fractal dimension for the third view of the region of tissue; wherein if the fractal dimension of at least one of the first fractal dimension, the second fractal dimension, and the third fractal dimension is in the fractal zone, the region of tissue is considered cancerous. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue is selected from breast tissue, brain tissue, lung tissue, kidney tissue, liver tissue, uterine tissue, dermal tissue, and pancreatic tissue. ### Claim 8 An apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a set of instructions; and a processor for executing the set of instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to: provide a first view of a region of tissue; provide a second view of the region of tissue; calculate a first fractal dimension for the first view of the region of tissue; and calculate a second fractal dimension for the second view of the region of tissue; wherein a fractal zone is defined as a polygon consisting of a central square and a first, second, third, and fourth extending triangular region as plotted on a graph of the fractal dimension of the first view of the region of tissue by the fractal dimension of the second view of the region of tissue; and determine if one or more of the fractal dimension and the second fractal dimension is in the fractal zone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the central square and first, second, third and fourth extending triangular regions are defined by the following fractal dimensions, as plotted on a graph of the fractal dimension of the first view by the fractal dimension of the second view: central square: (1.2, 1.2), (1.2, 1.8), (1.8, 1.2)(1.8, 1.8); first extending triangular region: (0.5, 1.5), (1.2, 1.2), (1.2, 1.8); second extending triangular region: (1.5, 0.5), (1.2, 1.2), (1.8, 1.2); third extending triangular region: (1.5, 2.3), (1.2, 1.8), (1.8, 1.8); and fourth extending triangular region: (2.3, 1.5), (1.8, 1.2), (1.8, 1.8). ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the central square and first, second, third and fourth extending triangular regions are defined by the following fractal dimensions, as plotted on a graph of the fractal dimension of the first view by the fractal dimension of the second view: central square: (1.1, 1.1), (1.1, 1.9), (1.9, 1.1)(1.9, 1.9); first extending triangular region: (0.5, 1.5), (1.1, 1.1), (1.1, 1.9); second extending triangular region: (1.5, 0.5), (1.1, 1.1), (1.9, 1.1); third extending triangular region: (1.5, 2.3), (1.1, 1.9), (1.9, 1.9); and fourth extending triangular region: (2.3, 1.5), (1.9, 1.1), (1.9, 1.9). ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the central square and first, second, third and fourth extending triangular regions are defined by the following fractal dimensions, as plotted on a graph of the fractal dimension of the first view by the fractal dimension of the second view: central square: (1.3, 1.3), (1.3, 1.7), (1.7, 1.3)(1.7, 1.7); first extending triangular region: (0.5, 1.5), (1.3, 1.3), (1.3, 1.7); second extending triangular region: (1.5, 0.5), (1.3, 1.3), (1.7, 1.3); third extending triangular region: (1.5, 2.3), (1.3, 1.7), (1.7, 1.7); and fourth extending triangular region: (2.3, 1.5), (1.7, 1.3), (1.7, 1.7). ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor further: provides a third view of the region of tissue; and calculates a third fractal dimension for the third view of the region of tissue. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tissue is selected from breast tissue, brain tissue, lung tissue, kidney tissue, liver tissue, uterine tissue, dermal tissue, and pancreatic tissue.