• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2019

Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of a low-cost portable scanner (Scanify) for imaging facial casts compared to a previously validated portable digital stereophotogrammetry device (Vectra H1). This in vitro study was performed using 2 facial casts obtained by recording impressions of the authors, at King's College London Academic Centre of Reconstructive Science. Materials and Methods: The casts were marked with anthropometric landmarks, then digitised using Scanify and Vectra H1. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the same casts were performed to verify the validation of Vectra H1. The 3-dimensional (3D) images acquired with each device were compared using linear measurements and 3D surface analysis software. Results: Overall, 91% of the linear Scanify measurements were within 1 mm of the corresponding reference values. The mean overall surface difference between the Scanify and Vectra images was <0.3mm. Significant differences were detected in depth measurements. Merging multiple Scanify images produced significantly greater registration error. Conclusion: Scanify is a very low-cost device that could have clinical applications for facial imaging if imaging errors could be corrected by a future software update or hardware revision.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.179-201
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• 2019

Portable low-cost magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems have the potential to enable "point-of-care" and timely MRI diagnosis, and to make this imaging modality available to routine scans and to people in underdeveloped countries and areas. With simplicity, no maintenance, no power consumption, and low cost, permanent magnets/magnet arrays/magnet assemblies are attractive to be used as a source of static magnetic field to realize the portability and to lower the cost for an MRI scanner. However, when taking the canonical Fourier imaging approach and using linear gradient fields, homogeneous fields are required in a scanner, resulting in the facts that either a bulky magnet/magnet array is needed, or the imaging volume is too small to image an organ if the magnet/magnet array is scaled down to a portable size. Recently, with the progress on image reconstruction based on non-linear gradient field, static field patterns without spatial linearity can be used as spatial encoding magnetic fields (SEMs) to encode MRI signals for imaging. As a result, the requirements for the homogeneity of the static field can be relaxed, which allows permanent magnets/magnet arrays with reduced sizes, reduced weight to image a bigger volume covering organs such as a head. It offers opportunities of constructing a truly portable low-cost MRI scanner. For this exciting potential application, permanent magnets/magnet arrays have attracted increased attention recently. A magnet/magnet array is strongly associated with the imaging volume of an MRI scanner, image reconstruction methods, and RF excitation and RF coils, etc. through field patterns and field homogeneity. This paper offers a review of permanent magnets and magnet arrays of different kinds, especially those that can be used for spatial encoding towards the development of a portable and low-cost MRI system. It is aimed to familiarize the readers with relevant knowledge, literature, and the latest updates of the development on permanent magnets and magnet arrays for MRI. Perspectives on and challenges of using a permanent magnet/magnet array to supply a patterned static magnetic field, which does not have spatial linearity nor high field homogeneity, for image reconstruction in a portable setup are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2009

There are several reasons to take X-ray in case of inpatients. Some of them who cannot ambulate or have any risk if move are taken portable X-ray at their wards. Usually, in this case, many other people-patients unneeded X-ray test, family, hospital workers etc-are indirectly exposed to X-ray by scatter ray. For that reason I try to be aware of free space scatter dose accurately and make the point at issue of portable X-ray better in this study. kVp dose meter is used for efficiency management of portable X-ray equipment. Mobile X-ray equipment, ionization chamber, electrometer, solid water phantom are used for measuring of free space scatter dose. First of all the same surroundings condition is made as taken real portable X-ray, inquired amount of X-ray both chest AP and abdomen AP most frequently examined and measured scatter ray distribution of two tests individually changing distance. In the result of measuring horizontal distribution with condition of chest AP it is found that the mAs is decreased as law of distance reverse square but no showed mAs change according to direction. Vertical distribution showed the mAs slightly higher than horizontal distribution but it isnt found out statistical characteristic. In abdomen AP, compare with chest AP, free space scatter dose is as higher as five-hundred times and horizontal, vertical distribution are quite similar to chest AP in result. In portable X-ray test, in order to reduce the secondary exposure by free space scatter dose first, cut down unnecessary portable order the second, set up the specific area at individual ward for the test the third, when moving to a ward for the X-ray test prepare a portable shielding screen. The last, expose about 2m apart from patients if unable to do above three ways.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1264-1272
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• 2012

Three-dimensional volume rendering method which shows the inside of human body is widely used in medical imaging area. Existing medical imaging system using a volume rendering method already has provided a variety of three-dimensional results. Recently existing results in the medical imaging among physicians and patients to facilitate communication have been studied since smart device which has advantage of portability applied in the medical imaging. In this paper, we propose 3D volume visualization system for a relatively low spec portable smart devices by using 2D textures and we also implements 2D diagnostic images of portable medical imaging visualization system.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the absorbed dose and to calculate the effective dose for periapical radiography done by portable intraoral x-ray machines. Materials and Methods: 14 full mouth, upper posterior and lower posterior periapical radiographs were taken by wall-type 1 and portable type 3 intraoral x-ray machines. Thermoluminescent dosemeters were placed at 23 sites at the layers of the tissue-equivalent ART woman phantom for dosimetry. Average tissue absorbed dose and radiation weighted dose were calculated for each major anatomical site. Effective dose was calculated using 2005 ICRP tissue weighted factors. Results: On 14 full mouth periapical radiographs, the effective dose for wall-type x-ray machine was 30 Sv; for portable x-ray machines were 30 Sv, 22 Sv, 36 Sv. On upper posterior radiograph, the effective dose for wall-type x-ray machine was 4 Sv; for portable x-ray machines doses were 4 Sv, 3 Sv, 5 Sv. On lower posterior radiograph, the effective dose for wall type x-ray machine was 5 Sv; for portable x-ray machines doses were 4 Sv, 4 Sv, 5 Sv. Conclusion: Effective doses for periapical radiographs performed by portable intraoral x-ray machines were similar to doses for periapical radiographs taken by wall type intraoral x-ray machines.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2010

This experimental study is carried out one of the General Hospital in Kyungbok providence. Abdomen Phantom being located Anterior-posterior(AP) position on portable bed, and the portable X-ray generating device was placed the phantom at $-90^{\circ}$ direction. The experiment were set 65 kVp, 10 mAs, $10{\times}10\;cm^2$, 100 cm(FOD) for the measurement. Digital proportional counting tube survey meter was used for measuring the space scatter dose. Measurement points of horizontal distribution was set up at $30^{\circ}$ interval by increasing 50 cm radius of upside, downside, left and right. Vertical distribution of measurement points were set up for the vertical plane with a radius of at $30^{\circ}$ intervals with 50cm increments. It is concluded that longer distance from the soure of X-ray significantly decrease radiation dose to the patient and use of the radiation protection device should be applied in clinical practice to reduce dose to the patient.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Computer Information Conference
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• 2017.01a
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• pp.235-238
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• 2017

This study was to develop a portable digital radiography (PDR) system with a function measuring the X-ray source-with-detector angle (SDA) and to evaluate the imaging performance for the diagnosis of chest imaging. The SDA device consisted of an Arduino, an accelerometer and gyro sensor, and a Bluetooth module. According to different angle degrees, five anatomical landmarks on chest images were assessed using a 5-point scale. Mean signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio were 182.47 and 141.43. Spatial resolution (10% MTF) and entrance surface dose were 3.17 lp/mm ($157{\mu}m$) and 0.266mGy. The angle values of SDA device were not significant difference as compared to those of the digital angle meter. In chest imaging, SNR and CNR values were not significantly different according to different angle degrees (repeated-measures ANOVA, p>0.05). The visibility scores of the border of heart, 5th rib and scapula showed significant differences according to different angles (rmANOVA, p<0.05), whereas the scores of the clavicle and 1st rib were not significant. It is noticeable that the increase in SDA degree was consistent with the increase of visibility score. Our PDR with SDA device would be useful to be applicable to clinical radiography setting according to the standard radiography guideline at various fields.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.483-488
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• 2016

Ultrasound imaging by using piezoelectric materials, such as lead zirconium titanate (PZT) has been one of the most preferred modes of imaging in the medical field due to its simple, low cost and non-ionizing radiation in comparison to other imaging techniques. Recently, the market demand for portable ultrasound is becoming larger with applications in developing countries, disaster area, military, and emergency purposes. However, most of ultrasound probes used is bulky and high power consumable, so unsuitable for such applications. In this study, the 3 layered ceramic specimen consisted of 128 pitches of $420{\mu}m$ in width and $450{\mu}m$ in thickness were prepared by using the Ti-rich PZT compositions co-fired at $1,050^{\circ}C$. Their electrical and ultrasound pulse-echo properties were investigated and compared to the single layer specimen. The 3 layered ultrasound probe showed 1.584 V of Vp-p, which is 3.2 times higher than single layered one, implying that it would allow effectively such a portable ultrasound probe system. The result were discussed in terms of higher capacitance, lower impedance and higher dielectric coefficient of the 3 layered ultrasound probe.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2017

The study was performed to investigate the bacteriological contamination of portable digital radiography system and their detectors in a university hospital. CNS and VRE were detected in the samples collected from vinyl cover on detectors used for the infection control patients. On the other hand, no bacteria was detected in the samples collected from detectors with vinyl cover removed. In the series of imaging of patients from general wards, no bacteria was detected from the patient 1. However, CNS was detected from the patients 2 and 3, CNS and Enterococcus faecalis detected from the patient 4, CNS and Enterococcus casseliflavus detected from the patient 5, and CNS, Enterococcus casseliflavus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae all detected from the patient 6. CNS and Enterococcus faecium were detected in the controller handle of collimator. Also, CNS was detected from the handle of detector and exposure switch. In the treatment gloves of the radiological technologist after the imaging, CNS, Enterococcus gallinarum, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were detected. Therefore, it is recommended for DR portable to take images after sterilizing the detector after taking each image and to use disposable vinyl covers on detectors to remove after imaging. And treatment gloves must be changed after each imaging. Also, hospital infection via portables must be prevented by complete sterilization of the controller handles of collimator which are in frequent contact during imaging and infection education of employees.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.410-410
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• 2001