• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.583-589
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• 2000

본 논문에서는 핵자기공명영상의 고해상도를 이루고, 영상의 신뢰성을 높이기 위해서 선형성이 증가된 경사자기장 코일의 설계와 제작에 목적을 두었다. Maxwell pair를 이용하여 Z-경사자계의 선형성을 증강시키기 위해 코일의 기하학적인 형태의 이론적인 계산과 몇 가지 형태의 코일로부터 예상되는 자기장 및 경사자기장의 분포를 구현했다. 즉, 코일 축 방향의 자기장을 구면좌표계에서 전개하는 방법으로 Maxwell pair의 크기와 위치를 계산하고, 유한요소법을 이용하여 자기장 및 경사자기장의 2차원 분포를 그렸다. 더불어 이론적인 계산 결과와 함께 자기장의 2차원 분포를 토대로 실제 경사자기장 코일을 제작하였고 이를 0.15 Τ 핵자기공명영상기에 적용하여, 영상을 획득하였다. 기존의 방법에 따른 Maxwell pair 형태를 이용한 경우에 코일지름의 40% DSV(diameter spherical volume)내에서 DSV의 5% 이내의 뒤틀림(distortion)을 갖는 선형성이 유지되었고, 새롭게 시도된 방법에 의한 경사자기장 코일의 경우는 코일지름의 70% DSV 내에서 DSV의 5% 이내의 뒤틀림을 갖는 선형성을 유지하였으며, 설계 제작된 경사자기장 코일과 RF-코일을 이용하여 이를 확인하였다. 본 연구에서 제작된 경사자기장 코일의 선형성은 Maxwell pair 코일보다 향상된 결과를 보았으며, 본 논문에서 제시하는 방법은 자기공명영상의 해상도 향상에 기여할 것으로 판단된다.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1994 no.12
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• pp.43-46
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• 1994

A new spatial localization technique using high-order surface gradient coil (SGC) is proposed. Although the Spatial Selection with High-Order gradient (SHOT) can provide a 2-D selection with only one selective RF pulse, the high-order gradient produced by cylindrical-shape coils has not been clinically useful for clinical systems due to the large minimum selection size caused by the limited radial gradient intensity. However, by using the proposed high-order SGCs located near the imaging region, the size of volume selection can be reduced to a clinically useful 1-4 cm in diameter by applying stronger radial gradient with much less gradient driving power. A 40 cm-by-40 cm $r^{2}$ SGC has been designed and constructed, and phantom and volunteer studies have been performed. Experimental results using spatially localized MRI show good agreement to the theoretically predicted behavior.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2014

High-flow vertebral arteriovenous fistulas (VAVF) are rare complications of cervical spine surgery and characterized by iatrogenic direct-communication of the extracranial vertebral artery (VA) to the surrounding venous plexuses. The authors describe two patients with VAVF presenting with ischemic presentation after C1 pedicle screw insertion for a treatment of C2 fracture and nontraumatic atlatoaxial subluxation. The first patient presented with drowsy consciousness with blurred vision. The diffusion MRI showed an acute infarction on bilateral cerebellum and occipital lobes. The second patient presented with pulsatile tinnitus, dysarthria and a subjective weakness and numbness of extremities. In both cases, digital subtraction angiography demonstrated high-flow direct VAVFs adjacent to C1 screws. The VAVF of the second case occurred near the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery originated from the persistent first intersegmental artery of the left VA. Both cases were successfully treated by complete occlusion of the fistulous portion and the involved segment of the left VA using endovascular coil embolization. The authors reviewed the VAVFs after the upper-cervical spine surgery including C1 screw insertion and the feasibility with the attention notes of its endovascular treatment.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2014

The heating produced by the absorption of radiofrequency (RF) has been considered a secondary undesirable effect during MRI procedures. In this work, we have measured the power absorbed by distilled water, glycerol and egg-albumin during NMR and non-NMR experiments. The samples are dielectric and examples of different biological materials. The samples were irradiated using the same RF pulse sequence, whilst the magnetic field strength was the variable to be changed in the experiments. The measurements show a smooth increase of the thermal power as the magnetic field grows due to the magnetoresistive effect in the copper antenna, a coil around the probe, which is directly heating the sample. However, in the cases when the magnetic field was the adequate for the NMR to take place, some anomalies in the expected thermal powers were observed: the thermal power was higher in the cases of water and glycerol, and lower in the case of albumin. An ANOVA test demonstrated that the observed differences between the measured power and the expected power are significant.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 1997

Magnetic field sensors made from superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) are the most sensitive low-frequency sensors available, enabling measurements of extremely weak magnetic fields from the brain. Neuromagnetic measurements allow superior spatial resolution, compared with the present electric measurements, and superior temporal resolution, compared with the fMRl and PET, providing useful informations for the functional diagnoses of the brain. We developed a 4-channel SQUID system for neuromagnetic applications. The main features of the system are its simple readout electronics and compact pickup coil structure. A magnetically shielded room has been constructed for the reduction of environmental magnetic noises. The developed SQUID system has noise level lower than the magnetic noise from the brain. Magnetic field signals of the spontaneous r-rhythm activity and auditory evoked magnetic fields have been measured.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2021

Purpose: To accelerate magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) by developing a flexible deep learning reconstruction method. Materials and Methods: Synthetic data were used to train a deep learning model. The trained model was then applied to MRF for different organs and diseases. Iterative reconstruction was performed outside the deep learning model, allowing a changeable encoding matrix, i.e., with flexibility of choice for image resolution, radiofrequency coil, k-space trajectory, and undersampling mask. In vivo experiments were performed on normal brain and prostate cancer volunteers to demonstrate the model performance and generalizability. Results: In 400-dynamics brain MRF, direct nonuniform Fourier transform caused a slight increase of random fluctuations on the T2 map. These fluctuations were reduced with the proposed method. In prostate MRF, the proposed method suppressed fluctuations on both T1 and T2 maps. Conclusion: The deep learning and iterative MRF reconstruction method described in this study was flexible with different acquisition settings such as radiofrequency coils. It is generalizable for different in vivo applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.79 no.5
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• pp.254-258
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• 2018

Purpose: Establishment of an appropriate protocol for breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the study of image quality standards to enhance the effectiveness of medical image information exchange, which is part of the construction and activation of clinical information exchange for healthcare informatization. Materials and Methods: The recommended protocols of breast and MRI scans were reviewed and the questionnaire was prepared by a responsible researcher. Then, a panel of 9 breast dedicated radiologists was set up in Korea. The expert panel conducted a total of three Delphi agreements to draw up a consensus on the breast MRI protocol. Results: The agreed breast MRI recommendation protocol is a 1.5 Tesla or higher device that acquires images with prone position using a breast dedicated coil and includes T2-weighted and pre-contrast T1-weighted images. Contrast enhancement images are acquired at least two times, and include 60-120 seconds between images and after 4 minutes. The contrast enhancement T1-weighted image should be less than 3 mm in thickness, less than 120 seconds in temporal resolution, and less than $1.5mm^2$ in-plane pixel resolution. Conclusion: The Delphi agreement of the domestic breast imaging specialist group has established the recommendation protocol of the effective breast MRI.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5299-5304
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• 2012

MRI signals are significantly reduced by the magnetic field inhomogenity result from human body itself being consisted of various materials like air, fat, muscle, bone and blood vessels. In this study we used silicon which is tissue equivalent to compensate wound body shapes. Objects were eight adults who do not have any special symptoms. Feet were scanned because of their complicated structures and consequently signal reduction occurs a lot. Thirty images were acquired from the middle of arcus pedis longitudinalis including five distal phalanges parallel to the line connecting metatarsal bone and phalanges. SNR data from bones and soft tissues were compared before and after sticking silion between toes and paired t test was performed. It was came out that SNR data from bone and soft tissue were both significantly higher after applying silicon on both T1 and T2 weighted images and it was statistically meaningful having positive corelation. As a result, this study dramatically increases SNR without affecting object by increasing the object volume inside the surface coil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.975-982
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect on the phantom for magnetic resonance imaging located nearby by partially shielding RF with a mesh made thinner than hair composed of copper, black metal, and polyester using metallic materials of titanium, which are commonly used for esophageal stents and implants in the body. Magnetic resonance images according to field of view (FOV) were analyzed in the Spin Echo T1 weighted images of TR 500 ms, TE 20 ms, NEX 1, and slice thickness 5mm using a Cardiac coil of 3T Achieva X-series. Aliasing artifact did not occur in FOV 304 mm × 304 mm, but it occurred in 250 mm × 250 mm and 170 mm × 170 mm. In FOV 170 mm × 170 mm, when a mesh was not used, the SNR was measured with 78.23, and when separated by standing a mesh in the middle, it was 215.05, and when completely shielded with a mesh, the SNR was 366.44. In addition, when completely shielded with a mesh, the aliasing artifact was also removed, and signal intensities on the left, middle and right of the image were also able to obtain homogeneous images compared to the previous two cases. In conclusion, if RF is partially shielded with a mesh, aliasing artifact can be removed, and magnetic resonance images with excellent image resolution and homogeneity can be obtained using a small FOV.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.999-1005
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• 2021

The object of this research is CS, which increases resolution while shortening inspection time, is applied to MRA to compare the quality of images for SENSE and CS techniques and to evaluate SNR and CNR to find out the optimal techniques and to provide them as clinical basic data based on this information. Data were analyzed on 32 patients who performed TOF MRA tests at a university hospital in Chung cheong-do (15 males, 17 females), ICA stenosis:10, M1 Aneurysm:10, and average age 53 ± 4.15). In the inspection, the inspection equipment was Ingenia CX 3.0T, Archieva 3.0T, and 32 channel head coil and 3D gradient echo as a method for equipment data. SNR and CNR of each image were measured by quantitative analysis, and the quality of the image was evaluated by dividing the observer's observation into 5 grades for qualitative evaluation. Imaging evaluation is described as being significant when the p-value is 0.05 or less when the paired T-test and Wilcoxon test are performed. Quantitative analysis of SNR and CNR in TOF MRA images Compared to the SENSE method, the CS method is a method measurement method (p <0.05). As an observer's evaluation, the sharpness of blood vessels: CS (4.45 ± 0.41), overall image quality: CS (4.77 ± 0.18), background suppression of images: CS (4.57 ± 0.18) all resulted in high CS technique (p = 0.000). In conclusion, the Compressed SENSE TOF MRA technique shows superior results when comparing and evaluating the SENSE and Compressed SENSE techniques in increased flow rate magnetic resonance angiography. The results are thought to be the clinical basis material in the 3D TOF MRA examination for brain disease.