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What We Did
The Digital Image Elasto-Tomography, or DIET, is a new method for non-invasive early breast cancer detection. It is the brainchild of Mechanical Engineering’s Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase and his team. The technology uses digital image data from the surface motion of vibrating breast tissue to look for any stiff or malignant masses within the breast tissue, which affect the motions on the breast surface.
In 2017, Prof Chase and his team published a research paper wherein they detailed the methods used to accurately detect cancerous tumours without ‘misidentifying other regions or a healthy no-inclusion phantom.’ The research team spun off into a company called Tiro Medical and raised $450,000 from Callaghan Innovation in 2015. The mobile screening machine does not use any radiation to detect breast cancer, and is thus non-invasive, far lower cost, and suitable for women of any age. The young company has carried out a clinical study to improve its system and plans to have larger clinical trials in the near future.
Who Was Involved
Callaghan Innovation, Tiro Medical
Why It Matters
According to the Ministry of Health, breast cancer is the third most common cancer in New Zealand and results in over 600 deaths every year. It is more likely to be found in women over the age of 50, but regular screening for women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, who comprise up to 10-12% of cases and are ineligible for regular mammograms, can lead to early detection and treatment.
Learn More
- Zhou, C., Chase, J . G., Ismail, H., Rodgers, G. W., Pretty, C., Signal, M., & Haggers, M. (2017). A surface vibration-based method for tumor detection of women breast in a DIET system. Procedia engineering, 199, 310-315.
- Patents:
1.“Global Motion Invariant Signatures For Fast And Accurate Motion Tracking In A Digital Image-Based Elasto-Tomography System,” US-8249691, Chase Hann and Ray (August 21, 2012).
2.“System for Reconstructing Surface Motion in an Optical Elastography System,” US-10,213,112, Chase and Botterill (allowed March 2016; Published Feb 2019)
3.“System for Reconstructing Surface Motion in an Optical Elastography System,” US-10,244,945, Chase and Botterill (allowed March 2016; Published/Granted April 2019 – divisional from same name above with system patent claims separated out by USPTO) - https://tiromedical.com/
Photo Caption:
Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase seen here with a DIET machine for breast cancer diagnosis
