Note 10 - Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 46,127,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Research	1,914,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Research	$ 547,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	34.00%
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	$ 20,636,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Research	2,461,000	$ 2,309,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	$ 1,130,000
Sustained Profitability, Number of Years	6 years
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 12,109,000	$ 12,175,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	0.00%