• Title/Summary/Keyword: Image Region

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THE CURRENT STATUS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING IN THE USA

  • Webster, John G.
    • Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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    • v.1992 no.05
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    • pp.27-47
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    • 1992
  • Engineers have developed new instruments that aid in diagnosis and therapy Ultrasonic imaging has provided a nondamaging method of imaging internal organs. A complex transducer emits ultrasonic waves at many angles and reconstructs a map of internal anatomy and also velocities of blood in vessels. Fast computed tomography permits reconstruction of the 3-dimensional anatomy and perfusion of the heart at 20-Hz rates. Positron emission tomography uses certain isotopes that produce positrons that react with electrons to simultaneously emit two gamma rays in opposite directions. It locates the region of origin by using a ring of discrete scintillation detectors, each in electronic coincidence with an opposing detector. In magnetic resonance imaging, the patient is placed in a very strong magnetic field. The precessing of the hydrogen atoms is perturbed by an interrogating field to yield two-dimensional images of soft tissue having exceptional clarity. As an alternative to radiology image processing, film archiving, and retrieval, picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are being implemented. Images from computed radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasound are digitized, transmitted, and stored in computers for retrieval at distributed work stations. In electrical impedance tomography, electrodes are placed around the thorax. 50-kHz current is injected between two electrodes and voltages are measured on all other electrodes. A computer processes the data to yield an image of the resistivity of a 2-dimensional slice of the thorax. During fetal monitoring, a corkscrew electrode is screwed into the fetal scalp to measure the fetal electrocardiogram. Correlations with uterine contractions yield information on the status of the fetus during delivery To measure cardiac output by thermodilution, cold saline is injected into the right atrium. A thermistor in the right pulmonary artery yields temperature measurements, from which we can calculate cardiac output. In impedance cardiography, we measure the changes in electrical impedance as the heart ejects blood into the arteries. Motion artifacts are large, so signal averaging is useful during monitoring. An intraarterial blood gas monitoring system permits monitoring in real time. Light is sent down optical fibers inserted into the radial artery, where it is absorbed by dyes, which reemit the light at a different wavelength. The emitted light travels up optical fibers where an external instrument determines O2, CO2, and pH. Therapeutic devices include the electrosurgical unit. A high-frequency electric arc is drawn between the knife and the tissue. The arc cuts and the heat coagulates, thus preventing blood loss. Hyperthermia has demonstrated antitumor effects in patients in whom all conventional modes of therapy have failed. Methods of raising tumor temperature include focused ultrasound, radio-frequency power through needles, or microwaves. When the heart stops pumping, we use the defibrillator to restore normal pumping. A brief, high-current pulse through the heart synchronizes all cardiac fibers to restore normal rhythm. When the cardiac rhythm is too slow, we implant the cardiac pacemaker. An electrode within the heart stimulates the cardiac muscle to contract at the normal rate. When the cardiac valves are narrowed or leak, we implant an artificial valve. Silicone rubber and Teflon are used for biocompatibility. Artificial hearts powered by pneumatic hoses have been implanted in humans. However, the quality of life gradually degrades, and death ensues. When kidney stones develop, lithotripsy is used. A spark creates a pressure wave, which is focused on the stone and fragments it. The pieces pass out normally. When kidneys fail, the blood is cleansed during hemodialysis. Urea passes through a porous membrane to a dialysate bath to lower its concentration in the blood. The blind are able to read by scanning the Optacon with their fingertips. A camera scans letters and converts them to an array of vibrating pins. The deaf are able to hear using a cochlear implant. A microphone detects sound and divides it into frequency bands. 22 electrodes within the cochlea stimulate the acoustic the acoustic nerve to provide sound patterns. For those who have lost muscle function in the limbs, researchers are implanting electrodes to stimulate the muscle. Sensors in the legs and arms feed back signals to a computer that coordinates the stimulators to provide limb motion. For those with high spinal cord injury, a puff and sip switch can control a computer and permit the disabled person operate the computer and communicate with the outside world.

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Flip Angle of the Optimal T1 Effect Using FLASH Pulse Sequence at 3T Abdominal MRI (FLASH를 이용한 3T 복부검사에 있어서 최적의 T1효과를 위한 적정 Flip Angle)

  • Han, Jae-Bok;Choi, Nam-Gil
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.101-106
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    • 2009
  • Purpose of this study is to compare the signal intensity (SI) and CNR with T1 weighted image using FLASH at 3T abdominal MRI by varying flip angle (FA). Totally 20 patients (male : 12, female : 8, Age : $28{\sim}63$ years with mean : 51) were examined by 3 Tesla MR scanner (Magnetom Tim Trio, SIEMENS, Germany) with 8 channel body array coil between september and October 2008. Imaging parameters were as follows : FLASH sequence, TR : 120 ms, TE : minimum, FOV (field of view) : $360{\times}300\;mm$, Matrix : $256{\times}224$, slice : 6 mm, scan time : 15 sec and Breath-hold technique. Abdominal image, with a 50 ml syringe filled with water placed in the FOV measuring the water signal, were acquired with varying FA through $10^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$ with $10^{\circ}$ interval. SI's were measured three times at liver parenchyme, water, spleen and background and averaged. The CNR's were measured between the ROIs (region of interest). Statistic analysis was performed with ANOVA test using SPSS software (version 17.0). Less than FA $30^{\circ}$, abdominal images were severely inhomogeneity. Especially, T1 effect of water signal was weak. As the flip angle increased, the signal intensity decreased at all the regions. Especially, flip angle of the highest signal intensity was observed with $40^{\circ}$ at the liver parenchyme, $20^{\circ}$ at water, $30^{\circ}$ at the spleen, respectively. The CNR between liver and water was -60.92 at FA $10^{\circ}$ and 15.16 at FA $80^{\circ}$. The CNR between liver and spleen was -3.18 at FA $10^{\circ}$ and 9.65 at $80^{\circ}$. In conclusion, FA $80^{\circ}$ is optimal for T1 weighted effect using FLASH pulse sequence at 3.0 T abdominal MRI.

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A Study on the Reduction of Kidney Uptake of 18F-FDG due to the Water Intake at the Time of Additional Examination in the PET/CT scan (PET/CT 검사에서 추가 검사 시 수분섭취에 따른 18F-FDG의 신장 섭취 감소에 대한 고찰)

  • Lee, Yi Lang;Kim, Sang Gyu;Ham, Jun Chul;Nam-Koong, Hyuk;Lim, Han Sang;Kim, Jae Sam
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.47-51
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    • 2016
  • Purpose By ingestion of 18F-FDG of kidney of PET/CT during the inspection, if additional examination is required, depending on whether you want to water intake, we want to confirm a change in the rate of decrease of F-18 FDG of the kidney. Materials and Methods The 80 patients without kidney disease were performed PET/CT examination. Device was analyzed after setting the kidney to a three-dimensional region of interest. In patients require additional examination, and inspection after 30 minutes, a PET/CT torso examination after the water of the 500 cc ingested at a time. After the addition of both water intake group and no hydration group of kidney of SUV, it was compared with PET/CT torso scan. Results High and low of the kidney SUV did not show a significant difference in the rate of decrease. Reduction rates of background (BKG) of additional examination was 2.8% and reduction rates of SUV was 49.7% (Hydration) : -6.8% (No hydration), so did show a significant difference. In the image blind test, the average point score of hydration and no hydration was 34.25 : 17.25. Conclusion An undercurrent of 18F-FDG in the kidney at the time of torso examination, it was confirmed that the reduction rate after the addition of water intake is high. It is considered that can be expected to improve the quality of an image due to a decrease in elongation through the kidneys examination with additional fluid intake as needed intake.

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Comparative Studies on Absorbed Dose by Geant4-based Simulation Using DICOM File and Gafchromic EBT2 Film (DICOM 파일을 사용한 Geant4 시뮬레이션과 Gafchromic EBT2 필름에 의한 인체 내 흡수선량 비교 연구)

  • Mo, Eun-Hui;Lee, Sang-Ho;Ahn, Sung-Hwan;Kim, Chong-Yeal
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.48-53
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    • 2013
  • Monte Carlo method has been known as the most accurate method for calculating absorbed dose in the human body, and an anthropomorphic phantom has been mainly used as a method of simulating internal organs for using such a calculation method. However, various efforts are made to extract data on several internal organs in the human body directly from CT DICOM files in recent Monte Carlo calculation using Geant4 code and to use by converting them into the geometry necessary for simulation. Such a function makes it possible to calculate the internal absorbed dose accurately while duplicating the actual human anatomical structure. Thus, this study calculated the absorbed dose in the human body by using Geant4 associating with DICOM files, and aimed to confirm the usefulness by compare the result with the measured dose using a Gafchromic EBT2 film. This study compared the dose calculated using simulation and the measured dose in beam central axis using the EBT2 film. The results showed that the range of difference was an average of 3.75% except for a build-up region, in which the dose rapidly changed from skin surface to the depth of maximum dose. In addition, this study made it easy to confirm the target absorbed dose by internal organ and organ through the output of the calculated value of dose by CT slice and the dose value of each voxel in each slice. Thus, the method that outputs dose value by slice and voxel through the use of CT DICOM, which is actual image data of human body, instead of the anthropomorphic phantom enables accurate dose calculations of various regions. Therefore, it is considered that it will be useful for dose calculation of radiotherapy planning system in the future. Moreover, it is applicable for currently-used several energy ranges in current use, so it is considered that it will be effectively used in order to check the radiation absorbed dose in the human body.

The evaluation of custo-made EWHA Breast Device(EBD) (EWHA Breast Device(EBD)의 제작 및 유용성 평가)

  • Byun Young-Sik;Oh Tae-Sung;Park Chong-Yil;Shin Hyun-Kyoh
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.33-40
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    • 2005
  • Purpose : We recently perform the latest radiotheraphy (3D conformal, IMRT,etc.) with the development of 3D CT planning technology. However, in case patients with breast cancer, it is difficult to acquire the CT image with the limitation of CT hole size and tilting of breast immobilization device. The Ewha Breast Device(EBD) was constructed to improve the problem in the treatment of patients with breast cancer and we are intend to introduce the procedure of the EBD construction in this study and compare the EBD with conventional breast device in the view point of usefulness. Materials and Methods : We have constructed the EBD with acryl, analyze the skull size with CT data, consider the skin folder in SCL field and evaluated the EBD usefulness from the view point of set-up reproducibility, dose distribution, skin reaction in comparison with conventional breast device. Results : In the case of patients set-up error analysis, the EBD is superior to conventional device in portal film repetition($\%$) check (80pt.), equal to that in simulation & CT image coincidence check(5pt.). There is no difference between the two systems in dose distribution and skin reaction in SCL field is better the EBD than conventional device. Conclusions : The construction of the EBD enable us to perform the latest radiotheraphy in breast treatments, relieve the pains in simulation, and reduce, the skin reaction. In the future, we expect that modification of the EBD is useful in treating for patients with breast cancer.

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A Study on Image Reconstruction for Seed Localization for Permanent Prostate Brachytherapy (전립선암 근접치료 시 방사성선원 위치확인을 위한 영상 재구성에 관한 연구)

  • Hong, Ju-Young;Rah, Jeong-Eun;Suh, Tae-Suk
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.125-133
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    • 2007
  • [ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: This study was to design and fabricate a phantom for prostate cancer brachytherapy to validate a developed program applying a 3-film technique, and to compare it with the conventional 2-film technique for determining the location of an implanted seed. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: The images were obtained from overlapped seeds by randomly placing a maximum of 63 seeds in the anterior-posterior (AP) position and at $-30^{\circ} to $30^{\circ} at $15^{\circ} intervals. Images obtained by use of the phantom were applied to the image processing procedure, and were then processed into the development program for seed localization. In this study, cases were set where one seed overlapped, where two seeds overlapped and where none of the three views resolved all seeds. The distance between the centers of each seed to the reference seed was calculated in a prescribed region. This distance determined the location of each seed in a given band. The location of the overlapped seeds was compared with that of the 2-film technique. $\underline{Results}$: With this program, the detection rate was 92.2% (at ${\pm}15^{\circ}), 94.1% (at ${\pm}30^{\circ}) and 70.6% (compared to the use of the 2-film technique). The overlaps were caused by one or more than two seeds that overlapped; the developed program can identify the location of each seed perfectly. However, for the third case the program was not able to resolve the overlap of the seeds. $\underline{Conclusion}$: This program can be used to improve treatment outcome for the brachytherapy of prostate cancer by reducing the number of errors in the process of reconstructing the locations of perfectly overlapped seeds.

$^{99m}Tc$-Glucarate Uptake in Ischemic Tissue of Experimental Models of Cerebral Ischemia (실험적 뇌허혈증 모델에서 허혈 조직의 $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate 섭취)

  • Jeong, Jae-Min;Kim, Young-Ju;Choi, Seok-Rye;Kim, Chae-Kyun;Mar, Woong-Chun;Chung, June-Key;Lee, Myung-Chul;Koh, Chang-Soon;Lee, Dong-Soo
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.484-492
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    • 1996
  • To detect ischemic tissue in experimental model of cerebral ischemia made by middle cerebral artery(MCA)-occlusion, we acquired triple image of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate, [$^{18}F$]fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG), and 2,3,5- triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) staining. We made cerebral infarction either with reperfusion (after occlusion of 2 hours) or without reperfusion in 10 Sprague-Dawley rats by inserting thread to MCA through internal carotid artery. After 22 hours, we injected 740 MBq of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate and 55.5 MBq of [$^{18}F$]FDG through tail vein. Each 1 mm slice of rat brains was frozen and exposed to imaging plate for 20 minutes in freezer to get an [$^{18}F$]FDG image. After 20 hours enough to fade radioactivity of [$^{18}F$]FDG, the slices were again imaged by BAS1500 for $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate uptake. Finally, these brain tissues were stained with TTC. Semi-quantitative visual analysis was done by grading 0 to 3 points according to the degree of uptakes($^{99m}Tc$-glucarate) and decreased uptakes([$^{18}F$]FDG and TTC). Ten rats survived with neurologic symptoms. TTC staining confirmed the development of infarction. The size of the infarction was relatively larger in the group without reperfusion. [$^{18}F$]FDG images were similar to TTC-stained images. However, we found regions with intermediate uptake which were not stained with TTC. We found regions with intermediate [$^{18}F$]FDG uptake where TTC staining was normal. $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate uptake was round only in TTC non-stained region. In the TTC stained regions, there were no uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate. We could not find clear relation between $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate uptake with [$^{18}F$]FDG uptake. This was partly because percent uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate was so small (less than 1 percent of injected dose) and because there were quite heterogeneity of patterns of [$^{18}F$]FDG uptake and TTC. With these findings, we could conclude that $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate were taken up only in part of ischemic tissues which were proven to be nonviable. The establishment of MCA-occluded rat model with or without reperfusion and triple imaging for $^{99m}Tc,\;^{18}F$ and TTC helped the characterization of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate uptakes. Further work is needed to clarify the meaning or diversities or [$^{18}F$]FDG and TTC and their relation with $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate.

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The Discriminating Nature of Dopamine Transporter Image in Parkinsonism: The Competency of Dopaminergic Transporter Imaging in Differential Diagnosis of Parkinsonism: $^{123}I-FP-CIT$ SPECT Study (도파민운반체 영상의 파킨슨증 감별진단 성능: $^{123}I-FP-CIT$ SPECT 연구)

  • Kim, Bom-Sahn;Jang, Sung-June;Eo, Jae-Seon;Park, Eun-Kyung;Kim, Yu-Kyeong;Kim, Jong-Min;Lee, Won-Woo;Kim, Sang-Eun
    • Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.272-279
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    • 2007
  • Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the discriminating nature of $^{123}I-FP-CIT$ SPECT in patients with parkinsonism. Methods: $^{123}I-FP-CIT$ SPECT images acquired from the 18 normal controls; NC ($60.4{\pm}10.0$ yr) and 237 patients with parkinsonism ($65.9{\pm}9.2$ yr) were analyzed. From spatialIy normalized images, regional counts of the caudate, putamen, and occipital lobe were obtained using region of interest method. Binding potential (BP) was calculated with the ratio of specific to nonspecific binding activity at equilibrium. Additionally, the BP ratio of putamen to caudate (PCR) and asymmetric Index (ASI) were measured. Results: BPs of NC $3.37{\pm}0.57,\; 3.10{\pm}0.41,\; 3.23{\pm}0.48$ for caudate, putamen, whole striatum, respectively) had no significant difference with those of essential tremor; ET ($3.31{\pm}0.64,\; 3.06{\pm}0.61,\; 3.14{\pm}0.63$) and Alzheimer's disease; AD (3.33 $\pm$0.60, 3.29$\pm$0.79, 3.31$\pm$0.70), but were higher than those of Parkinson's disease; PD (1.92$\pm$0.74, 1.39$\pm$0.68, 1.64$\pm$0.68), multiple system atrophy; MSA (2.36$\pm$1.07, 2.16$\pm$0.91, 2.26$\pm$0.96), and dementia with Lewy body; DLB (1.95$\pm$0.72, 1.64$\pm$0.65, 1.79$\pm$0.66)(p<0.005). PD had statisticalIy lower values of PER and higher values of ASI than those of NC (p<0.005). And PD had significantIy lower value of PCR, higher ASI and lower BP in the putamen and whole striatum than MSA (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dopamine transporter image of $^{123}I-FP-CIT$ SPECT was a good value in differential diagnosis of parkinsonism.

Cold Tolerance of Ground Cover Plants for Use as Green Roofs and Walls (옥상 및 벽면녹화용 지피식물의 내한성 비교)

  • Ryu, Ju Hyun;Lee, Hyo Beom;Kim, Cheol Min;Jung, Hyun Hwan;Kim, Ki Sun
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.32 no.5
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    • pp.590-599
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    • 2014
  • This study was conducted to compare the cold tolerance of seven ground cover species, Orostachys japonica, Sedum oryzifolium, S. kamtschaticum 'SG1', S. reflexum, S. rupestre 'Blue Spruce', S. spurium 'Green Mental', and S. takesimense, which have been used for green roof and wall systems in Korea. Plants were grown in 10-cm pots and 1 g of tissues at stem-end and crown of each species were kept under either light or dark condition, respectively. For cold tolerance tests, plants were initially left at $4^{\circ}C$ and linearly cooled to 0, -4, -8, -12, -16, and $-20^{\circ}C$ at $-2^{\circ}C{\cdot}h^{-1}$ rate. Low temperature injury and regrowth rates were visually evaluated and assessed by image analysis, respectively. The lethal temperature ($LT_{50}$) of plant species was determined using electrolyte leakage measurements. S. reflexum was the most cold tolerant, showing the most survival at $-16^{\circ}C$, whereas S. oryzifolium and S. takesimense showed low temperature injury at $-8^{\circ}C$. Similar results were found with electrolyte leakage measurements at the stem end. For each species, the crown (Mean $LT_{50}:\;-12.15^{\circ}C$) was more cold tolerant than the stem end (Mean $LT_{50}:\;-10.47^{\circ}C$). In conclusion, S. reflexum and S. rupestre 'Blue Spruce' are recommended for planting in the central region of Korea during late fall and early winter, as they were more cold tolerant and showed more vigorous regrowth than the other tested plant species.

An Interpretation of Symbols in Water Gardens of Old Palaces - Based on the Archetype Theory of Jung - (융(Jung)의 원형론의 관점에서 본 궁궐 수공간의 상징성 - 공간구조와 디테일에 나타난 상징의미를 중심으로 -)

  • Yoon, Mi-Bang;Kim, Han-Bai
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.60-71
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this paper is to provide a unified examination of apparently quite different gardens in terms of Carl Jung's psychological concepts such as Archetypes, Individualization, and a natural tendency towards balance or wholeness. In Jung's psychological framework, Archetypes are innate, universal prototypes for ideas and function as the first original models upon which all other similar persons, objects or concepts are derived, copied or patterned. Jung proposes that Individualization be achieved through a natural tendency towards balance, especially the balance between the conscious and the unconscious. This paper deals with three gardens, each of which represents a distinct cultural region: Bu-Yong Ji(芙蓉池) at the Changdeok Palace(Oriental), the Patio of the Lions at the Alhambra(Islamic), and the Fountain of Apollo at the Versailles Palace(Western). It is argued that all of three have in common a natural tendency towards balance and symbolize mandala, the archetype of wholeness. Bu-Yong Ji is in the form of quadrangle which embodies Yin and Yang. In the Patio of the Lions, the basin at the center and the four channels, which symbolize the waterway of the Garden of Eden and the four rivers in Paradise respectively, are constructed in the form of a quadripartite composition. The overlapped circle and rectangular shaped pond of the Fountain of Apollo also represents mandala. Symbols representing the same archetype can vary from culture to culture. This explains the differences among the three gardens with respect to specific aspects of external forms. In other words, an archetypal image can give rise to various forms in different cultures, and thus quite different mediums of design or design details may be developed. In conclusion, the three gardens give us a good example as to how an archetypal image can be expressed in different ways from culture to culture and how seemingly different design details can be analyzed in a unified way.