• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.942-952
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• 2006

We propose an automatic segmentation method for identifying pulmonary structures using gray-level information of chest CT images. Our method consists of following five steps. First, to segment pulmonary structures based on the difference of gray-level value, we select the threshold using optimal thresholding. Second, we separate the thorax from the background air and then the lungs and airways from the thorax by applying the inverse operation of 2D region growing in chest CT images. To eliminate non-pulmonary structures which has similar intensities with the lungs, we use 3D connected component labeling. Third, we segment the trachea and left and right mainstem bronchi using 3D branch-based region growing in chest CT images. Fourth, we can obtain accurate lung boundaries by subtracting the result of third step from the result of second step. Finally, we select the threshold in accordance with histogram analysis and then segment radio-dense pulmonary vessels by applying gray-level thresholding to the result of the second step. To evaluate the accuracy of proposed method, we make a visual inspection of segmentation result of lungs, airways and pulmonary vessels. We compare the result of the conventional region growing with the result of proposed 3D branch-based region growing. Experimental results show that our proposed method extracts lung boundaries, airways, and pulmonary vessels automatically and accurately.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.51-61
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• 2004

In the dental field, the 3D tooth model in which each tooth can be manipulated individually is an essential component for the simulation of orthodontic surgery and treatment. To reconstruct such a tooth model from CT slices, we need to define the accurate boundary of each tooth from CT slices. However, the global threshold method, which is commonly used in most existing 3D reconstruction systems, is not effective for the tooth segmentation in the CT image. In tooth CT slices, some teeth touch with other teeth and some are located inside of alveolar bone whose intensity is similar to that of teeth. In this paper, we propose an image segmentation algorithm based on B-spline curve fitting to produce smooth tooth regions from such CT slices. The proposed algorithm prevents the malfitting problem of the B-spline algorithm by providing accurate initial tooth boundary for the fitting process. This paper proposes an optimal threshold scheme using the intensity and shape information passed by previous slice for the initial boundary generation and an efficient B-spline fitting method based on genetic algorithm. The test result shows that the proposed method detects contour of the individual tooth successfully and can produce a smooth and accurate 3D tooth model for the simulation of orthodontic surgery and treatment.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

In order to provide complementary image data, CT(computed tomography), MR(magnetic resonance) and angiography have been used in the field of Stereotactic Radiosurgery(SRS) and neurosurgery. The aim of this work is to develop 3-D stereotactic localization system in order to determine the precise shape, size and location of the lesion in the brain in the field of Stereotactic Radiosurgery(SRS) and neurosurgery using multi-image modality and multi purpose QA phantom. In order to obtain accurate position of a target, Hitchcoke stereotactic frame and CT/angiography localizers were rigidly attached to the phantom with nine targets dispersed in 3-D space. The algorithms to obtain a 3-D stereotactic coordinates of the target have been developed using the images of the geometrical phantom which were taken by CT/angiography. Positions of targets computed by our algorithms were compared to the absolute position assigned in the phantom. Outlines of targets on each CT image were superimposed each other on angiography images. A spatial mean distance errors were 1.02${\pm}$0.17mm for CT with a 512${\times}$512 matrix and 2mm slice thickness, 0.41${\pm}$0.05mm for angiogra- phy localization. The resulting accuracy in the target localization suggests that the developed system has enough Qualification for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS).

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1383-1391
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• 2011

Following the appearance of the latest medical equipment with improved function, the importance of image analysis which enables effective image processing and analysis consistent with the hardware performance is on the rise. As well as, ongoing study is being done on the 2D medical image processing and 3D reconstruction. This paper segments chest CT images into each stage and finally shows 3D reconstruction of each segmented result. Among various image segmentation methods, Region Growing and apply sharpening and Gamma Controller as for image improvement for effective segmentation, image segmentation in order of bronchus and lung, bronchus, lung. Human organs image of segmented is use VTK(Visualization Toolkit) to make 3D reconstruction, two and three-dimensional medical image processing and analysis for lesions diagnosis are able to utilized.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1998

Background： Three-dementional imaging with spiral CT(3D spiral CT) is a well established imaging modality which has been investigated in various clinical settings. However the 3D spiral CT in upper airway disease is rarely reported and its results are still obscure. Objectives： To access the usefulness of 3D spiral CT imaging in patients with upper airway diseases. Materials and Methods We performed 3D spiral CT in fourteen patients In whom upper airway diseases were clinically suspected. Nine of these patients had upper airway stenosis, two had laryngeal cartilage fracture, and three had laryngo-hypopharyngeal cancer. For evaluation of location and extent of the lesions, we compared the findings of 3D imaging with those of air tracheogram, conventional 2D CT images, endoscopic and operative findings. Results： In case of stenosis, 3D spiral CT provide significant useful information, particularly the site and length of the stenotic segment. But, it was difficult to define the fracture of the laryngeal framework and to detect the cartilagenous invasion by head and neck cancer using the 3D imaging. Conclusion : The 3D spiral CT was an useful adjunctive method to assess some kind of upper airway disease but not in others. So, we should compare the findings of 3D images with those of other diagnostic tools for accurate diagnosis of the upper airway disease.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.93-101
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• 2011

High quality X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) imaging of internal microstructures and pore space in geomaterials is often hampered by some inherent noises embedded in the images. In this paper, we introduce image calibration techniques for removing the most common noises in X-ray micro-CT, cupping (brightness difference between the periphery and central regions) and ring artifacts (consecutive concentric circles emanating from the origin). The artifacts removal sequentially applies coordinate transformation, normalization, and low-pass filtering in 2D Fourier spectrum to raw CT-images. The applicability and performance of the techniques are showcased by describing extraction of 3D pore structures from micro-CT images of porous basalt using artifacts reductions, binarization, and volume stacking. Comparisions between calibrated and raw images indicate that the artifacts removal allows us to avoid the overestimation of porosity of imaged materials, and proper calibration of the artifacts plays a crucial role in using X-ray CT for geomaterials.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2018

We proposed a numerical calculation of the proportion of necrotic cells in pulmonary segmentation, pulmonary vessel segmentation lung disease site for diagnosis of lung disease from chest CT images. The first step is to separate the lungs and bronchi by applying a three-dimensional labeling technique from a chest CT image and a three-dimensional region growing method. The second step is to divide the pulmonary vessels by applying the rate of change using the first order polynomial regression, perform noise reduction, and divide the final pulmonary vessels. The third step is to find a disease prediction factor in a two-step image and calculate the proportion of necrotic cells.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.285-286
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• 1998

Virtual Brain-endoscopy is an effective method to detect lesion in brain. Brain is the most part of the human and is not easy part to operate so that reconstructing in 3D may be very helpful to doctors. In this paper, it is suggested that to increase the reliability, method of matching 3D object with the 2D CT slice. 3D Brain-endoscopy is reconstructed with 35 slices of 2D CT images. There is a plate in 3D brain-endoscopy so as to drag upward or downward to match the relevant 2D CT image. Relevant CT image guides the user to recognize the exact part he or she is investigating. VRML Script is used to make the change in images and PlaneSensor node is used to transmit the y coordinate value with the CT image. The result is test on the PC which has the following spec. 400MHz Clock-speed, 512MB ram, and FireGL 3000 3D accelerator is set up. The VRML file size is 3.83MB. There was no delay in controlling the 3D world and no collision in changing the CT images. This brain-endoscopy can be also put to practical use on medical education through internet.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2005.11b
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• pp.859-861
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• 2005

X-ray를 이용한 CT(Computed Tomography : 이하 CT)영상은 사물에 대해 회전하면서 X-ray가 투과하여 감약 정도에 따라서 영상을 획득하지만 검사 목적과는 관계없이 발생되는 통계적인 오차로 인해 정확한 CT영상의 구성을 교란하거나 방해하여 영상의 질을 저하시키고 미세 부분의 관찰 능력을 감소시키는 장해 음영인 아티팩트(artifact)라는 노이즈가 발생한다. 이러한 노이즈를 제거하는 필터를 설계 할 때는 두 가지 고려해야 할 사항이 있는데 첫째는 영상내의 노이즈을 정확히 판단하여 효과적으로 제거해야 하며, 둘째로는 원래의 영상에 가깝도록 경계와 같은 세부 영역을 보존해야 한다는 점이다. 기존에는 mean 필터나 median 필터, 그리고 Gaussian 필터 등을 사용했지만 상세한 부분을 보존하기에는 실패하는 단점이 있다. 따라서 본문에서는 wavelet 변환을 하여 영상의 주파수 대역을 저주파 영역과 고주파 영역으로 분리하여 각각의 영역에서 노이즈를 제거할 수 있도록 적합한 필터를 설계하고 방법을 제안하여 그 필터를 CT 3차원 뇌혈관 영상에 적용하여 많은 노이즈를 제거하였고 낮은 Threshold값에서도 작은 혈관을 관찰 할 수 있었다.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.90-98
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• 2003

Purpose : A new virtual simulation technique for craniospinal irradiation (CSI) that uses a CT-simulator was developed to improve the accuracy of field and shielding placement as well as patient positioning. Materials and Methods : A CT simulator (CT-SIM) and a 3-D conformal radiation treatment planning system (3D-CRT) were used to develop CSI. The head and neck were immobilized with a thermoplastic mask while the rest of the body was immobilized with a Vac-Loc. A volumetric image was then obtained with the CT simulator. In order to improve the reproducibility of the setup, datum lines and points were marked on the head and body. Virtual fluoroscopy was performed with the removal of visual obstacles, such as the treatment table or immobilization devices. After virtual simulation, the treatment isocenters of each field were marked on the body and on the immobilization devices at the conventional simulation room. Each treatment fields was confirmed by comparing the fluoroscopy images with the digitally reconstructed radiography (DRR) and digitally composited radiography (DCR) images from virtual simulation. Port verification films from the first treatment were also compared with the DRR/DCR images for geometric verification. Results : We successfully performed virtual simulations on 11 CSI patients by CT-SIM. It took less than 20 minutes to affix the immobilization devices and to obtain the volumetric images of the entire body. In the absence of the patient, virtual simulation of all fields took 20 min. The DRRs were in agreement with simulation films to within 5 mm. This not only reducee inconveniences to the patients, but also eliminated position-shift variables attendant during the long conventional simulation process. In addition, by obtaining CT volumetric image, critical organs, such as the eyes and the spinal cord, were better defined, and the accuracy of the port designs and shielding was improved. Differences between the DRRs and the portal films were less than 3 m in the vertebral contour. Conclusion : Our analysis showed that CT simulation of craniospinal fields was accurate. In addition, CT simulation reduced the duration of the patient's immobility. During the planning process. This technique can improve accuracy in field placement and shielding by using three-dimensional CT-aided localization of critical and target structures. Overall, it has improved staff efficiency and resource utilization by standard protocol for craniospinal irradiation.