• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.294-299
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• 2007

For efficient and accurate diagnosis of ultrasound images, appropriate time gain compensation(TGC) and dynamic range(DR) control of ultrasound echo signals are important. TGC is used for compensating the attenuation of ultrasound echo signals along the depth, and DR controls the image contrast. In recent ultrasound systems, these two factors are automatically set by a system and/or manually adjusted by an operator to obtain the desired image quality on the screen. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to find the optimized parameter values far TGC and DR automatically. In TGC optimization, we determine the degree of attenuation compensation along the depth by dividing an image into vertical strips and reliably estimating the attenuation characteristic of ultrasound signals. For DR optimization, we define a novel cost function by properly using the characteristics of ultrasound images. We obtain experimental results by applying the proposed algorithm to a real ultrasound(US) imaging system. The results verify that the proposed algorithm automatically sets values of TGC and DR in real-time such that the subjective quality of the enhanced ultrasound images may be sufficiently high for efficient and accurate diagnosis.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.31-35
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• 2005

A novel synthetic aperture method for real-time three-way dynamic focusing is proposed, which provides lateral beam patterns represented as the product of Fourier transforms of transmit subaperture, receive subaperture, and a synthetic window function. In the proposed method, all array elements are fired individually and for each firing echo signals are recorded from all elements of a receive subaperture moving along an array with the transmit element. The three-way dynamic focusing is then achieved by employing a synthetic aperture algorithm for two-way dynamic focusing and a synthetic focusing method for transmit dynamic focusing. Both theoretical analysis and computer simulation results show that the proposed method produces ultrasound beams with improved lateral resolution at all depths compared to the conventional phased array imaging and synthetic aperture focusing methods.

• 대한정형외과 초음파학회지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.94-100
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• 2013

근골격계 초음파는 방사선 노출에서 자유로우며, MRI 에 비해 저렴한 가격, 외래에서 쉽게 시술할 수 있는 접근성, 또한, 이학적 검사와 함께 병행하면서 검사의 정확성을 더 높일 수도 있는 독특한 장점을 가지고 있다. 스트레스 검사와 함께 동적으로 시행하는 초음파 검사는 건, 인대, 신경 등의 숨은 병변을 확인하는 데에 유용한 것으로 알려져 있다. 주관절 초음파는 관절면, 활액막 공간에 대한 검사, 외측 상과염, 내측 상과염 등의 건 관련 질환이나 말초 신경의 병적 상태에 대한 진단 및 초음파 유도하 전, 후방 점액낭 및 관절내 주사를 위해 외래에서 손쉽게 사용될 수 있다.

• 대한전자공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한전자공학회 2005년도 추계종합학술대회
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• pp.399-402
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• 2005

For efficient and accurate diagnosis of ultrasound images, the time gain compensation (TGC) and dynamic range (DR) control of the ultrasound echo signal are important. TGC is for compensating the attenuation of the ultrasound echo signal along the depth, and DR is used to control the image contrast. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for finding the optimized values of TGC and DR automatically. For TGC, the degree of compensation is determined along the depth based on the effective attenuation estimation of ultrasound signal. For DR optimization, we introduce a novel cost function on the basis of the characteristics of ultrasound image, which provides the minimum value at the optimal DR. Experiments have been performed by applying the proposed algorithm to a real US imaging system. The results show that the algorithm automatically can determine the values of TGC and DR in realtime so that the subjective quality of the corresponding US image may be good enough for diagnosis.

• 대한정형외과 초음파학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.28-37
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• 2013

초음파는 슬관절의 초기 검사에 이용할 수 있고 다양한 슬관절 병변을 평가하는 유용한 진단 장비이다. 슬관절의 초음파 검사는 비침습적이며 쉽게 이용할 수 있고 비교적 저렴하여 환자의 검사에 대한 저항감이 적고 동적 검사가 가능한 기술적인 장점이 있다. 검사의 한계는 신뢰도가 주로 검사자의 숙련 정도에 좌우되고 심부 구조는 볼 수 없다는 점이다. 유럽 근골격계 방사선학회에서 제시한 초음파 검사의 기본 술기 지침과 함께 여러 슬관절 병변에 대한 소견들을 소개하고자 한다.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.172-193
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• 2015

Nowadays shoulder ultrasound is commonly used in the assessment of shoulder diseases and is as accurate as magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of several pathologies. Operator dependence is the main disadvantage of shoulder ultrasound. After adhering to a strict examination protocol, good knowledge of normal anatomy and pathologic processes and an awareness of common pitfalls, it can be used as a focused examination providing rapid, real-time diagnosis, and treatment by ultrasound-guided interventions in desired clinical situations. Also shoulder ultrasound can help the surgeon decide whether treatment will be surgical or nonsurgical. If arthroscopy is planned, sonographic findings help to counsel patients regarding surgical and functional outcomes. If a nonsurgical approach is indicated, ultrasound can be used to follow patients. This review article presents the examination techniques, the normal sonographic appearances and the main pathologic conditions found in shoulder ultrasound. And also addresses a simplified approach to scanning and ultrasound-guided intervention. Knowledge of optimal techniques, normal anatomy, dynamic maneuvers, and pathologic conditions is essential for optimal performance and interpretation of images.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.321-330
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• 2001

In this paper, we propose a new synthetic aperture focusing scheme for improving the lateral resolution which is one of the most important factors determining the quality of ultrasound imaging. The proposed scheme enables full round-trip dynamic focusing with approximately limited property. This properties are obtained through transmitting plane waves of which the traveling angle varies with the receive subaperture position, as opposed to stepping the spherical wave source across an array in other synthetic aperture focusing schemes, and employing dynamic focusing in receive. In this paper, the properties of the proposed scheme is analyzed in which a hypothetical infinite line source is used to transmit the plane waves and verified through computer simulation results. Also, we show that the proposed scheme is realizable with an array transducer with a finite aperture size. In summary, it is shown through comparison between the field contours of the proposed scheme and the conventional scheme that the proposed scheme can improve greatly the lateral resolution of ultrasound imaging.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.426-430
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• 2020

극상건의 부분 파열(partial thickness tear)이 자기공명영상이나 Middleton, Crass position하의 정적초음파영상에서는 관찰되지 않는 경우가 있다. 저자들은 견관절의 extension position에서 저항 scaption (resisted scaption 또는 scapular plane abduction)을 이용한 동적초음파 검사를 이용하면 다른 영상의학적 도구나 자세에서 진단을 놓칠 수 있는 극상건의 부분 파열도 효과적으로 관찰할 수 있음을 여러 증례를 통하여 경험하였다. 현재까지 극상건 부분 파열을 진단하기 위한 동적 검사 방법은 문헌으로 보고된 적이 없었던 바, 이에 두 증례를 통하여 저항 scaption을 이용한 동적 초음파에 대한 저자들의 술기를 보고하고자 한다.

• 대한정형외과 초음파학회지
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.94-98
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• 2009

침술은 중국에서 3,000년 이상의 기원을 가진 가장 대중적인 보완대체의학 치료 방법으로 전세계적에서 널리 시행되고 있다. 초음파는 교육과 연구목적, 신경과 늑막과 같은 위험한 구조 주위 경혈에 침술을 시행할 때 도움이 된다. 또한 초음파는 조직에서 침 수기의 생 기계적 효과를 평가하는 데 이상적인 영상 검사로 조직 형태와 생 기계적 정보의 영상을 제공하는 특징적 장점을 가지고 있다. 탄성영상은 내부 혹은 외부에서 발생하는 기계적 자극에 의한 조직의 기계적 성질 혹은 반응을 정량화 할 수 있다. 그러므로 초음파와 탄성영상의 결합은 침술에 의한 인체 결합조직 구조의 동적변화를 정량적으로 평가할 수 있다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.22-29
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• 2006

This paper proposes an efficient array beamforming method using spatial matched filtering for ultrasound imaging. In the proposed method, ultrasound waves are transmitted from an array subaperture with fixed transmit focus as in conventional array imaging. At receive, radio frequency (RF) echo signals from each receive channel are passed through a spatial matched filter that is constructed based on the system transmit-receive spatial impulse response. The filtered echo signals are then summed. The filter remaps and spatially registers the acoustic energy from each element so that the pulse-echo impulse response of the summed output is focused with acceptably low side lobes. Analytical beam pattern analysis and simulation results using a linear array show that the proposed spatial filtering method can provide more improved spatial resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) compared with conventional dynamic receive focusing (DRF) method by implementing two-way dynamically focused beam pattern throughout the field.