• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2009

Many types of small animal imaging modalities, like micro-CT, micro-PET, and micro-SPECT, have been recently developed worldwide. Small animal imaging systems are now recognized as indispensable tools to validate efficacy and safety of new drugs or new therapeutic methods using the animal disease models. With increasing demands for small animal imaging in biomedical research, multimodal small animal imaging systems, like micro-PET/CT or micro PET/MRI, are now also being developed. Small animal imaging with spatial resolution and sensitivity comparable to human imaging is quite challenging since laboratory small animals are much smaller than human beings. Research activities in Korea on small animal imaging systems are reviewed in this paper. In the field of micro-CT and micro-PET, many world-class technologies have been developed successfully in Korea. It is expected that the developed animal imaging system technologies can be used in the development of clinical imaging systems in Korea in the near future.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1995 no.11
• /
• pp.247-249
• /
• 1995

A new localized imaging technique of reduced imaging time using a locally-linear gradient is proposed. Since most fast MR imaging methods need the whole k-space data corresponding to the whole imaging area, there are limitations in reducing the minimum imaging time. The imaging method proposed in this paper uses a specially-made gradient coil generating a local ramp-shape field and uniform field outside of the imaging area. Conventional imaging sequences can be used without any RF/gradient pulse sequence modifications. The proposed localized imaging technique has been implemented on a 2.0 Tesla whole-body system at KAIST and the imaging results show the utility of the proposed technique.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.143-151
• /
• 2004

Recent progress in the development of non-invasive imaging technologies continues to strengthen the role of molecular imaging biological research. These tools have been validated recently in variety of research models, and have been shown to provide continuous quantitative monitoring of the location(s), magnitude, and time-variation of gene expression. This article reviews the principles, characteristics, categories and the use of radionuclide reporter gene imaging technologies as they have been used in imaging cell trafficking, imaging gene therapy, imaging endogenous gene expression and imaging molecular interactions. The studios published to date demonstrate that reporter gene imaging technologies will help to accelerate pre-clinical model validation as well as allow for clinical monitoring of human diseases.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new localized imaging method of reduced imaging time luting a locally-linear gradient. Since most fast MR(Magnetic Resonance) imaging methods need the whole $\kappa$-space(Spatial frequency space) data corresponding to the whole imaging area, there are limitstions in reducing the minimum imaging time. The imaging method proposed in this paper uses a specially-made gradient coil generating a local ramp-shape field and uniform field outside of the imaging areal Conventional imaging sequences can be used without any RF/gradient pulse sequence modifiestions except the change in the number of encoding steps and the field of view.

• Current Optics and Photonics
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.537-544
• /
• 2023

Differential phase contrast (DPC) microscopy, a central quantitative phase imaging (QPI) technique in cell biology, facilitates label-free, real-time monitoring of intrinsic optical phase variations in biological samples. The existing DPC imaging theory, while important for QPI, is grounded in paraxial diffraction theory. However, this theory lacks accuracy when applied to high numerical aperture (NA) systems that are vital for high-resolution cellular studies. To tackle this limitation, we have, for the first time, formulated a nonparaxial DPC imaging equation with a transmission cross-coefficient (TCC) for high NA DPC microscopy. Our theoretical framework incorporates the apodization of the high NA objective lens, nonparaxial light propagation, and the angular distribution of source intensity or detector sensitivity. Thus, our TCC model deviates significantly from traditional paraxial TCCs, influenced by both NA and the angular variation of illumination or detection. Our nonparaxial imaging theory could enhance phase retrieval accuracy in QPI based on high NA DPC imaging.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.330-336
• /
• 2007

Luminescent CdSe/ZnS QDs, with emission in the red region of the spectrum, were synthesized and encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) diblock copolymer micelles, to prepare water-soluble, bio-compatible QD micelles. PEG-PLA diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of D,L-lactide, in the presence of methoxy PEG as a macro initiator. QDs were encapsulated with PEG-PLA polymers using a solid dispersion method in chloroform. The resultant polymer micelles, with encapsulated QDs, were characterized using various analytical techniques, such as UV- Vis measurement, light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic forced microscopy (AFM). The polymer micelles, with encapsulated QDs, were spherical and showed diameters in the range of 20-150 nm. The encapsulated QDs were highly luminescent, and have high potential for applications in biomedical imaging and detection.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1998 no.11
• /
• pp.98-99
• /
• 1998

In this paper, an interleaved spiral scan imaging is investigated for an ultra fast MR imaging. The interleaved spiral technique has relative advantage over single shot spiral imaging with improved resolution and less inhomogeneity-related artifact. An improved reconstruction algorithm is devised with DC-offset correction. Some preliminary experimental results are shown at 1.0 Tesla and 3.0 Tesla whole body MRI system.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.131-139
• /
• 2004

Small animal models are extensively utilized in the study of biomedical sciences. Current animal experiments and analysis are largely restricted to in vitro measurements and need to sacrifice animals to perform tissue or molecular analysis. This prevents researchers from observing in vivo the natural evolution of the process under study. Imaging techniques can provide repeatedly in vivo anatomic and molecular information noninvasively. Small animal imaging systems have been developed to assess biological process in experimental animals and increasingly employed in the field of molecular imaging studies. This review outlines the current developments in nuclear medicine imaging instrumentations including fused multi-modality imaging systems for small animal imaging.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.229-239
• /
• 2009

Molecular imaging strives to visualize processes in living subjects at the molecular level. Monitoring biochemical processes at this level will allow us to directly track biological processes and signaling events that lead to pathophysiological abnormalities, and help make personalized medicine a reality by allowing evaluation of therapeutic efficacies on an individual basis. Although most molecular imaging techniques emerged from the field of oncology, they have now gradually gained acceptance by the cardiovascular community. Hence, the availability of dedicated high-resolution small animal imaging systems and specific targeting imaging probes is now enhancing our understanding of cardiovascular diseases and expediting the development of newer therapies. Examples include imaging approaches to evaluate and track the progress of recent genetic and cellular therapies for treatment of myocardial ischemia. Other areas include in vivo monitoring of such key molecular processes as angiogenesis and apoptosis, Cardiovascular molecular imaging is already an important research tool in preclinical experiments. The challenge that lies ahead is to implement these techniques into the clinics so that they may help fulfill the promise of molecular therapies and personalized medicine, as well as to resolve disappointments and controversies surrounding the field.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.218-228
• /
• 2021

Due to their high degree of freedom to transfer and acquire light, fiber optics can be used in the presence of strong magnetic fields. Hence, optical sensing and imaging based on fiber optics can be integrated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic systems to acquire valuable information on biological tissues and organs based on a magnetic field. In this article, we explored the combination of MRI and optical sensing/imaging techniques by classifying them into the following topics: 1) functional near-infrared spectroscopy with functional MRI for brain studies and brain disease diagnoses, 2) integration of fiber-optic molecular imaging and optogenetic stimulation with MRI, and 3) optical therapeutic applications with an MRI guidance system. Through these investigations, we believe that a combination of MRI and optical sensing/imaging techniques can be employed as both research methods for multidisciplinary studies and clinical diagnostic/therapeutic devices.