• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.134-140
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• 2009

The feasibility of electrochemical drilling and milling on stainless steel are investigated using tungsten microelectrode with $10{\mu}m$ in diameter. For the development of environmentally friendly and safe electrochemical process, citric acid solution is used as electrolyte. A few hundred nanoseconds duration pulses are applied between the microelectrode and work material for dissolution localization. Tool fracture by Joule heating, micro welding, capillary phenomenon, tool wandering by the generated bubbles are observed and their effects on micro ECM are discussed. Occasionally, complex textures including micro pitting corrosion marks appeared on the hole inner surface. Metal growth is also observed under the weak electric conditions and it hinders further dissolutions for workpiece penetration. By adjusting appropriate pulse and chemical conditions, micro holes of $37{\mu}m$ in diameter with $100{\mu}m$ in depth and 26Jim in diameter with $50{\mu}m$ in depth are drilled on stainless steel 304. Also, micro grooves with $18{\mu}m$ width and complex micro hand pattern are machined by electrochemical milling.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2005

Objective: Tremor, either essential tremor or Parkinsonian tremor, has been effectively and safely treated by lesioning the ventral intermediate(Vim) nucleus of the thalamus with or without mircroelectrode recording. The authors evaluate the treatment outcome of sixteen tremor patients who had been treated with thalamotomy without microelectrode. Methods: Between September, 2001, and December, 2003, sixteen tremor patients were treated with thalamotomy without microelectrode recording. Twelve patients suffered from Parkinsonian tremor and four patients were essential tremor patients. The male to female ratio was 1.6 to 1 with median age of 59.6 years (range; 39-74 years). Under local anesthesia, a 3mm hole was made using a hand-held twist drill, and the dura mater was penetrated with a 1.2mm sharp drill beat. Radiofrequency(RF) electrode was placed in the Vim nucleus of thalamus. With intraoperative macrostimulation, RF lesion was made. Postoperative CT scan and/or MR imaging was performed to confirm the localization of the target lesioned. Preoperative and postoperative tremor was evaluated with simple tremor severity scale and the development of complications related with the procedure was closely reviewed at the immediate postoperative period and the last follow-up. Results: It produces immediate relief in up to 98.4% of the patients. There were no development of complications related with procedure, all patients discharged one or two days after surgery. Conclusion: Vim thalamotomy without microelectrode recording is a safe and effective procedure to control the tremor with minimal morbidity. Intraoperative macroelectrode stimulation safely localizes the Vim nucleus target of the thalamus for the treatment of patients with tremor.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2011

Purpose : Localization using MRI is difficult due to susceptibility induced artifacts caused by metal electrodes. Here we took an advantage of the B0 pattern induced by the metal electrodes by using an oblique-view imaging method. Materials and Methods : Metal electrode models with various diameters and susceptibilities were simulated to understand the aspect of field distortion. We set localization criteria for a turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequence usingconventional ($90^{\circ}$ view) and $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view imaging method through simulation of images with various resolutions and validated the criteria usingphantom images acquired by a 3.0T clinical MRI system. For a gradient-refocused echo (GRE) sequence, which is relatively more sensitive to field inhomogeneity, we used phase images to find the center of electrode. Results : There was least field inhomogeneity along the $45^{\circ}$ line that penetrated the center of the electrode. Therefore, our criteria for the TSE sequence with $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view was coincided regardless of susceptibility. And with $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view angle images, pixel shifts were bidirectional so we can detect the location of electrodes even in low resolution. For the GRE sequence, the $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view anglemethod madethe lines where field polarity changes become coincident to the Cartesian grid so the localization of the center coordinates was more facilitated. Conclusion : We suggested the method for accurate localization of electrode using $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view angle imaging. It is expected to be a novelmethodto monitoring an electrophysiological brain study and brain neurosurgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2001

Objective : The exact position of the lesion during the pallidotomy is critical to obtain the clinical improvement of parkinson's disease without damage to surrounding structure. Ventriculogrphy, CT(computed tomograpy) or MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) have been used to determine the initial coordinates of stereotactic target for pallidotomy. The goal of this study was to determine whether microelectrode recording significantly improves the neurophysiologic localization of the target obtained from MRI. Methods : Twenty patients were studied. They underwent a unilateral pallidotomy. Leksell frame was applied and T1 axial images parallel to the AC-PC(anterior commissure-posterior commissure) plane using a 1.5 Tesla MRI with 3mm slice thickness were obtained. Anteroposterior coordinate of target was chosen at 2mm in front of the midcommissural point and lateral coordinate between 19 and 22mm from the midline. The vertical coordinate was calculated on coronal slice using a fast spin echo inversion recovery sequence(FSEIR) related to the position of the choroidal fissure and ranged over 4-5mm below the AC-PC plane. Confirmation of the anatomical target was done on axial slices using the same FSEIR sequence . Microrecording was done at the pallidum contralateral to the symptomatic side using an electrode with a tip diameter of $1{{\mu}m}$ diameter tip and 1.1-1.4 mOhm impedance at 1000Hz. Electrophysiologic localization of the target was also confirmed intraoperatively by macrostimulation. Results : Microrecording techniques were reliable to define the transition from the base of the pallidum which was characterized by the disappearance of spike activity and by the change of the audible background activity. Signals from high amplitude neurons firing at 200-400Hz were recorded in the pallidal base. X, Y and Z coordinates of target obtained from the MRI were within 1mm from the X, Y, Z coordinates obtained with microrecording in 16 patients (80%), 15 patients(75%), 10 patients(50%) respectively. The difference of Y coordinate between on MRI and on microrecording was 4mm in only one patient. Conclusion : The MRI was accurate to localize the target within 1mm of the error from microrecording target in 70% of the patients. 4mm discrepancy was observed only once. We conclude that MRI alone can be used to determine the target for pallidotomy in most patients. However, microrecording technique can still be extremely valuable in patents with aberrant anatomy or unusual MRI coordinates. We also consider physiologic confirmation of the target using macrostimulation to be mandatory in all cases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.985-994
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• 2000

Objective : There are some advantages of trigeminal evoked potential(TEP) recording compared to other somatosensory evoked potential(SSEP) recordings. The trigeminal sensory pathway has a pure sensory nerve branch, a broader receptive field in cerebral cortex, and a shorter pathway. Despite these advantages, there is little agreement as to what constitutes a normal response and what wave forms truly characterize the intraoperative TEP. This study presents the normative data of TEP recorded on the epidural surface of the rat with a platinum ball electrode. Materials & Methods : Under general anesthesia with urethane, the adult Sprague-Dawley male rats(300-350g) were given electrical stimulation with two stainless steel electrodes which were inserted into the subcutaneous layer of the area around whiskers. A reference electrode was positioned in the temporalis muscle ipsilateral to the recording site. Results : TEPs were recorded in the Par I area of somatosensory cortex and recorded most apparently on the point of 2mm posterior from the bregma and 6mm lateral from the midline. The typical wave form consisted of 5 peaks (N1-P1-N2-P2-N3 according to emerging order, upward negativity). Each latency to corresponding peaks was not influenced by the different intensities of stimulation, especially from 1 to 5mA. Average latencies of 5 peaks were in the following order ; 7.7, 11.1, 15, 22.3, 29.4ms. There was also no significant difference between latencies before and after administration of muscle relaxant(pancuronium). For the electrophysiological localization of recorded waves, the action potential of a single unit was recorded with glass microelectrode(filled with 2M NaCl, $3-5M{\Omega}$) in the thalamus of rat. A sharp wave was recorded in the VPM nucleus, in which the latency was shorter than that of N1. This suggests that all 5 peaks were generated by neural activities in the suprathalamic pathway. Conclusion : In terms of recording near-field potentials, our data also suggests that TEP in the rat may be superior to other SSEPs. In overall, these results may afford normative data for the studies of supratentorial lesions such as hydrocephalus or cerebral ischemia which can have an influence on near-field potentials.