CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,846,863	$ 3,339,374
Short-term investments in certificates of deposit	2,650,000	3,500,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	278,496	174,566
Total current assets	5,775,359	7,013,940
Patents, net of accumulated amortization of $1,371,660 and $1,290,336, respectively	1,664,451	1,745,775
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $39,756 and $35,725, respectively	50,828	52,701
Total assets	7,490,638	8,812,416
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	416,925	480,324
Accrued expenses	669,633	409,169
Total current liabilities	1,086,558	889,493
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 19,860 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding and Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 140 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 24,000,000 shares authorized; 16,631,191 and 16,602,759 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	166,312	166,028
Additional paid-in capital	164,281,744	163,931,079
Accumulated deficit	(158,012,256)	(156,174,184)
Total shareholders’ equity	6,435,800	7,922,923
Noncontrolling interest (Note 1)	(31,720)	0
Total equity	6,404,080	7,922,923
Total liabilities and equity	7,490,638	8,812,416
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 19,860 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding and Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 140 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 19,860 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding and Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 140 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding