• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2011

Purpose : A new inhomogeneity correction method based on two-point Dixon sequence is proposed to obtain water and fat images at 0.35T, low field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. Materials and Methods : Joint phase-magnitude density function (JPMF) is obtained from the in-phase and out-of-phase images by the two-point Dixon method. The range of the water signal is adjusted from the JPMF, and 3D inhomogeneity map is obtained from the phase of corresponding water volume. The 3D inhomogeneity map is used to correct the inhomogeneity field iteratively. Results : The proposed water-fat imaging method was successfully applied to various organs. The proposed 3D inhomogeneity correction algorithm provides good performances in overall multi-slice images. Conclusion : The proposed water-fat separation method using JPMF is robust to field inhomogeneity. Three dimensional inhomogeneity map and the iterative inhomogeneity correction algorithm improve water and fat imaging substantially.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2007

Purpose: To acquire high-resolution spiral-scan images at higher magnetic field, high homogeneous magnetic field is needed. Field inhomogeneity mapping and in-vivo shimming are important for rapid imaging such as spiral-scan imaging. The rapid scanning sequences are very susceptible to inhomogeneity. In this paper, we proposed a higher-order shimming method to obtain homogeneous magnetic field. Materials and Methods: To reduce measurement time for field inhomogeneity mapping, simultaneous axial/ sagittal, and coronal acquisitions are done using multi-slice based Fast Spin echo sequence. Acquired field inhomogeneity map is analyzed using the spherical harmonic functions, and shim currents are obtained by the multiplication of the pseudo-inverse of the field pattern with the inhomogeneity map. Results: Since the field inhomogeneity is increasing in proportion to the magnetic field, higher order shimming to reduce the inhomogeneity becomes more important in high field imaging. The shimming technique in which axial, sagittal, and coronal section inhomogeneity maps are obtained in one scan is developed, and the shimming method based on the analysis of spherical harmonics of the imhomogenity map is applied. The proposed technique is applicable to a localized shimming as well. High resolution spiral-scan imaging was successfully obtained with the proposed higher order shimming. Conclusion: Proposed pulse sequence for rapid measurement of inhomogeneity map and higher order shimming based on the inhomogeneity map work very well at 3 Tesla MRI system. With the proposed higher order shimming and localized higher order shimming techniques, high resolution spiral-scan images are successfully obtained at 3 T MRI system.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.57-62
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• 2011

This paper proposed a method which is the three types of magnet model for improving field inhomogeneity of superconducting magnet. The length of coil wire was compared for the optimized current pattern using minimum power methods and field inhomogeneity under the specific simulation condition in case of same magnet field strength about each magnet type field inhomogeneity. Length of wire and field inhomogeneity were compared under the same condition(18 target points, 20cm DSV). According to the simulation results, the smaller target points can reduce the wire length but it can not improve the field inhomogeneity. Length of wire and low field inhomogeneity can not improve in same time. However, small DSV and reducing target points can overcome the these problem. And to conclude, if it processes shimming as reducing target points in case of magnet model which is open to space, about the size of same imaging region it needs a lot of current values(or the length of wire) and decreases field homogeneity but it is useful to get small ROI.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2018

Purpose: The effect of global inhomogeneity on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) was investigated. A technique referred to as Simultaneous Unwrapping Phase with Error Recovery from inhomogeneity (SUPER) is suggested as a preprocessing to QSM to remove global field inhomogeneity-induced phase by polynomial fitting. Materials and Methods: The effect of global inhomogeneity on QSM was investigated by numerical simulations. Three types of global inhomogeneity were added to the tissue susceptibility phase, and the root mean square error (RMSE) in the susceptibility map was evaluated. In-vivo QSM imaging with volunteers was carried out for 3.0T and 7.0T MRI systems to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method. Results: The SUPER technique removed harmonic and non-harmonic global phases. Previously only the harmonic phase was removed by the background phase removal method. The global phase contained a non-harmonic phase due to various experimental and physiological causes, which degraded a susceptibility map. The RMSE in the susceptibility map increased under the influence of global inhomogeneity; while the error was consistent, irrespective of the global inhomogeneity, if the inhomogeneity was corrected by the SUPER technique. In-vivo QSM imaging with volunteers at 3.0T and 7.0T MRI systems showed better definition in small vascular structures and reduced fluctuation and non-uniformity in the frontal lobes, where field inhomogeneity was more severe. Conclusion: Correcting global inhomogeneity using the SUPER technique is an effective way to obtain an accurate susceptibility map on QSM method. Since the susceptibility variations are small quantities in the brain tissue, correction of the inhomogeneity is an essential element for obtaining an accurate QSM.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.341-342
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• 2007

3T MRI system에서 고해상도 영상을 얻기 위해서는 magnetic field를 균일하게 만들어야 한다. 특히 초고속 영상 기법인 Spiral scan 방식과 EPI scan 방식에서는 이미지 영역에서의 magnetic field의 inhomogeneity에 의해 영상의 왜곡이 심해진다. 본 논문에서는 magnetic field의 inhomogeneity를 단시간 내에 측정하기 위해 fast spin echo방식의 pulse sequence 제안하고, magnetic field를 분석하기 위한 field map의 구성과, field pattern의 효과적인 분석을 통하여, magnetic field를 균일하게 만드는 방법을 제안한다.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2017

To obtain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurement of membrane protein, an NMR magnet is required to generate high intensity, homogeneity, and stability of field. A High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnet is a promising alternative to a conventional Low-Temperature Superconducting (LTS) NMR magnet for high field, current density, and stability margin. Conventionally, an HTS coil has been wound by several winding techniques such as Single-Pancake (SP), Double-Pancake (DP), and layer-wound. The DP winding technique has been frequently used for a large magnet because long HTS wire is generally difficult to manufacture, and maintenance of magnet is convenient. However, magnetic field generated by the slanted turns and the splice leads to field inhomogeneity in Diameter of Spherical Volume (DSV). The field inhomogeneity degrades performance of NMR spectrometer and thus effect of the slanted turns and the splice should be analyzed. In this paper, field gradient of HTS double-pancake coils considering the slanted turns and the splice was calculated using Biot-Savart law and numerical integration. The calculation results showed that magnetic field produced by the slanted turns and the splice caused significant inhomogeneity of field.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2007

In molecular imaging studies via magnetic resonance imaging, in vivo cell tracking is an important issue for the observation of cell therapy or disease behavior. High resolution imaging and longitudinal study are necessary to track the cell movement. Since the field inhomogeneity extends over several voxels, we have performed the numerical analysis using the sub-voxel method dividing a voxel of MR image into several elements and the information about the field inhomogeneity distribution around the micro-beads. We imbedded ferrite-composite micro-beads with the size of $20-150{\mu}m$ in the subject substituted for cells to induce local field distortion. In the phantom imaging with the isotropic voxel size of $200{\mu}m^3$, we could confirm the feasibility of sub-voxel tracking in a 3.0 T MRI.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.307-308
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• 1998

In this paper, we describe a field measurement technique using multiple gradient echo method. For this purpose, 3 differential phase map is used between two images obtained in a single scan. The phase map is further processed to unfold phase folding (2n $\pi$). The inhomogeneity map is used to correct image distortion along readout gradient direction. Some experimental results obtained at 1.0 Tesla whole body MR system are shown with the proposed technique.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.260-268
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• 2009

In this study, we estimated inhomogeneity correction factor in small field. And, we evaluated accuracy of treatment planning and measurement data which applied inhomogeneity correction factor or not. We developed the Inhomogeneity Correction Phantom (ICP) for insertion of inhomogeneity materials. The inhomogeneity materials were 12 types in each different electron density. This phantom is able to adapt the EBT film and 0.125 cc ion chamber for measurement of dose distribution and point dose. We evaluated comparison of planning and measurement data using ICP. When we applied to inhomogeneity correction factor or not, the average difference was 1.63% and 10.05% in each plan and film measurement data. And, the average difference of dose distribution was 10.09% in each measurement film. And the average difference of point dose was 0.43% and 2.09% in each plan and measurement data. In conclusion, if we did not apply the inhomogeneity correction factor in small field, it shows more great difference in measurement data. The planning system using this study shows good result for correction of inhomogeneity materials. In radiosurgery using small field, we should be correct the inhomogeneity correction factor, more exactly.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2006

The effect of small-scale near surface inhomogeneity on Rayleigh wave propagation and dispersion has been investigated in this study using two-dimensional FEM elastic modeling. Various inhomogeneity models with a variety of geometrical shape and embedment depth which exist in homogeneous half-space and two-layered media are considered. Results show that any near surface inhomogeneity greater than one wavelength in terms of minimum wavelength of Rayleigh wave shows dispersion characteristics. Such dispersion effect become stronger as the dimensions of the inhomogeneity increase. The effect of horizontal dimension is more dominant factor governing the dispersion characteristics than vertical dimension. However, the dispersion effect can not be identifiable in seismogram if the horizontal dimension is not wide enough. Nonetheless, even in this case, the existence of inhomogeneity can be inferred by the reflection or transmission event of Rayleigh wave. The results can be expected to provide insights on the behavior of Rayleigh wave which may be helpful for designating field work or new processing scheme to detect near surface inhomogeneity by surface wave method.