• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.134-138
• /
• 2007

The current PET/CT system with high quality CT images not only increases diagnostic value by providing anatomic localization, but also shortens the acquisition time for attenuation correction than primary PET system. All commercially available PET/CT system uses the CT scan for attenuation correction instead of the transmission scan using radioactive source such as $^{137}Cs,\;^{68}Ge$. However the CT scan may substantially increase the patient dose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate quality of PET images reconstructed by CT attenuation map using various tube currents. in this study, images were acquired for 3D Hoffman brain phantom and cylindrical phantom using GE DSTe PET/CT system. The emission data were acquired for 10 min using phantoms after injecting 44.03 MBq of $^{18}F-FDG$. The CT images for attenuation map were acquired by changing tube current from 10 mA to 95 mA with fixed exposure time of 8 sec and fixed tube voltage of 140 kVp. The PET images were reconstructed using these CT attenuation maps. Image quality of CT images was evaluated by measuring SD (standard deviation) of cylindrical phantom which was filled with water and $^{18}F-FDG$ solution. The PET images were evaluated by measuring the activity ratio between gray matter and white matter in Hoffman phantom images. SDs of CT images decrease by increasing tube current. When PET images were reconstructed using CT attenuation maps with various tube currents, the activity ratios between gray matter and white matter of PET images were almost same. These results indicated that the quality of the PET images using low dose CT data were comparable to the PET images using general dose CT data. Therefore, the use of low dose CT is recommended than the use of general dose CT, when the diagnostic high quality CT is not required. Further studies may need to be performed for other system, since this study is limited to the GE DSTe system used in this study.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.72-78
• /
• 2011

The aim of this study is to evaluate the patient's setup errors in TomoTherapy (Hi-Art II, TomoTherapy, USA) Bodyfix system (Medical Intelligence, Ele-kta, Schwabmuchen, Germany) pressure in the vacuum compression, depending on and were evaluated. Bodyfix immobilization system and vacuum pressure was compression applied to the patients who received Tomotherapy thoracic and abdominal area, 21 patients were selected and TomoTehpay treatment total 477 of MVCT images were obtained. The translational (medial-lateral: ML, anterior-posterior: AP, superior-inferior: SI directions) and rolling were recorded and analyzed statistically. Using Pearson's product-moment coefficient and One-way ANOVA, the degree of correlation depending on the different vacuum pressure levels were statistically analyzed for setup errors from five groups (p<0.05). The largest average and standard deviation of systematic errors were 6.00, 5.95 mm in the AP and SI directions, respectively. The largest average of random errors were 4.72 mm in the SI directions. The correlation coefficients were 0.485, 0.244, and 0.637 for the ML-Roll, AP-Vector, and SI-Vector, respectively. SI-Vector direction showed the best relationship. In the results of the different degree of vacuum pressure in five groups (Pressure range: 30~70 mbar), the setup errors between the ML, SI in both directions and Roll p=0.00 (p<0.05) were shown significant differences. The average errors of SI direction in the vacuum pressure of 40 mbar and 70 mbar group were 4.78 mm and -0.74 mm, respectively. In this study, the correlation between the vacuum pressure and the setup-errors were statistically analyzed. The fact that setup-errors in SI direction is dependent in vacuum pressure considerly setup-errors and movement of interal organs was identified. Finally, setup-errors, and it, based on the movement of internal organs in Bodyfix system we should apply more than 50 mbar vacuum pressure. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that accuracy of the vacuum pressure and the quantitative analysis of movement of internal organs and the tumor should be studied.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2018

The soldering property of Pb-containing solder(Sn-Pb) and Pb-free solders(Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu and Sn-1.0Ag-0.7Cu-1.6Bi-0.2In) for solar combiner box module was compared. The solar combiner box module was composed of voltage and current detecting modules, diode modules, and other modules. In this study, solder paste printability, printing shape inspection, solder joint property, X-ray inspection, and shear force measurements were conducted. For optimization of Pb-free soldering process, step 1 and 2 were divided. In the step 1 process, the printability of Pb-containing and Pb-free solder alloys were estimated by using printing inspector. Then, the relationship between void percentages and shear force has been estimated. Overall, the property of Pb-containing solder was better than two Pb-free solders. In the step 2 process, the property of reflow soldering for the Pb-free solders was evaluated with different reflow peak temperatures. As the peak temperature of the reflow process gradually increased, the void percentage decreased by 2 to 4%, but the shear force did not significantly depend on the reflow peak temperature by a deviation of about 0.5 kgf. Among different surface finishes on PCB, ENIG surface finish was better than OSP and Pb-free solder surface finishes in terms of shear force. In the thermal shock reliability test of the solar combiner box module with a Pb-free solder and OSP surface finish, the change rate of electrical property of the module was almost unchanged within a 0.3% range and the module had a relatively good electrical property after 500 thermal shock cycles.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.28-35
• /
• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of an iterative reconstruction algorithm and an automatic exposure control (AEC) technique on image quality and radiation dose through phantom experiments with coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography protocols. We scanned the AAPM CT performance phantom using 320 multi-detector-row CT. At the tube voltages of 80, 100, and 120 kVp, the scanning was repeated with two settings of the AEC technique, i.e., with the target standard deviations (SD) values of 33 (the higher tube current) and 44 (the lower tube current). The scanned projection data were reconstructed also in two ways, with the filtered back projection (FBP) and with the iterative reconstruction technique (AIDR-3D). The image quality was evaluated quantitatively with the noise standard deviation, modulation transfer function, and the contrast to noise ratio (CNR). More specifically, we analyzed the influences of selection of a tube voltage and a reconstruction algorithm on tube current modulation and consequently on radiation dose. Reduction of image noise by the iterative reconstruction algorithm compared with the FBP was revealed eminently, especially with the lower tube current protocols, i.e., it was decreased by 46% and 38%, when the AEC was established with the lower dose (the target SD=44) and the higher dose (the target SD=33), respectively. As a side effect of iterative reconstruction, the spatial resolution was decreased by a degree that could not mar the remarkable gains in terms of noise reduction. Consequently, if coronary CT angiogprahy is scanned and reconstructed using both the automatic exposure control and iterative reconstruction techniques, it is anticipated that, in comparison with a conventional acquisition method, image noise can be reduced significantly with slight decrease in spatial resolution, implying clinical advantages of radiation dose reduction, still being faithful to the ALARA principle.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.123-129
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The way check the movement of the fiducial marker insertion in the treatment of patients with prostate cancer. However the existing methods of fiducial marker verification process difficult to identify the specific location of the marker behind the femur and pelvic bone. So to study the evaluation of maker match with using kilo voltage (KV) X-ray by On-board imager to both oblique verification method. Materials and Methods: Five patients were selected for rectal ballooning and inserted fiducial marker. Compare the position of the fiducial marker of reference plan 2D/2D Anterior/Posterior verification method and 2D/2D both oblique verification method. So to measurement the shift score of X, Y, Z (axis) and measure exposure dose given to patients and compare matching time. Results: 2 dimensional OBI KV X-ray imaging using two-dimensional matching image are orthogonal, so locating fiducial marker matching clear and useful DRR (digital reconstruction radiography) OBI souce angle ($45^{\circ}/315^{\circ}$) matching most useful. 2D/2D both oblique verification method was able to see clearly marker behind the pelvic bone. Also matching time can be reduced accordingly. According to the method of each matching results for each patient in each treatment fraction, X, Y, and Z axis the Mean $value{\pm}SD$ (standard deviation) is X axis (AP/LAT: $0.4{\pm}1.67$, OBLIQUE: $0.4{\pm}1.82$) mm, Y axis (AP/LAT: $0.7{\pm}1.73$, OBLIQUE: $0.2{\pm}1.77$) mm, Z axis (AP/LAT: $0.8{\pm}1.94$, OBLIQUE:$1.5{\pm}2.8$) mm. In addition, the KV X-ray source dose radiation exposure given to the patient taking average when AP/LAT matching is (0.1/2.1) cGY, when $315^{\circ}/45^{\circ}$ matching is (0.27/0.26) cGY. Conclusion: In conclusion for inserted fiducial marker of prostate cancer patients 2D/2D both oblique matching method is more accurate verification than 2D/2D AP/LAT matching method. Also the matching time less than the 2D/2D AP/LAT matching method. Taken as the amount of radiation exposure to patients less than was possible. Suggest would improve the treatment quality of care patients more useful to establish a protocol such as case.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.160-167
• /
• 2015

Radiation exposure from medical diagnostic imaging procedures to patients is one of the most significant interests in diagnostic x-ray system. A miniature x-ray intraoral tube was developed for the first time in the world which can be inserted into the mouth for imaging. Dose evaluation should be carried out in order to utilize such an imaging device for clinical use. In this study, dose evaluation of the new x-ray unit was performed by 1) using a custom made in vivo Pig phantom, 2) determining exposure condition for the clinical use, and 3) measuring patient dose of the new system. On the basis of DRLs (Diagnostic Reference Level) recommended by KDFA (Korea Food & Drug Administration), the ESD (Entrance Skin Dose) and DAP (Dose Area Product) measurements for the new x-ray imaging device were designed and measured. The maximum voltage and current of the x-ray tubes used in this study were 55 kVp, and 300 mA. The active area of the detector was $72{\times}72mm$ with pixel size of $48{\mu}m$. To obtain the operating condition of the new system, pig jaw phantom images showing major tooth-associated tissues, such as clown, pulp cavity were acquired at 1 frame/sec. Changing the beam currents 20 to $80{\mu}A$, x-ray images of 50 frames were obtained for one beam current with optimum x-ray exposure setting. Pig jaw phantom images were acquired from two commercial x-ray imaging units and compared to the new x-ray device: CS 2100, Carestream Dental LLC and EXARO, HIOSSEN, Inc. Their exposure conditions were 60 kV, 7 mA, and 60 kV, 2 mA, respectively. Comparing the new x-ray device and conventional x-ray imaging units, images of the new x-ray device around teeth and their neighboring tissues turn out to be better in spite of its small x-ray field size. ESD of the new x-ray device was measured 1.369 mGy on the beam condition for the best image quality, 0.051 mAs, which is much less than DRLs recommended by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and KDFA, both. Its dose distribution in the x-ray field size was observed to be uniform with standard deviation of 5~10 %. DAP of the new x-ray device was $82.4mGy*cm^2$ less than DRL established by KDFA even though its x-ray field size was small. This study shows that the new x-ray imaging device offers better in image quality and lower radiation dose compared to the conventional intraoral units. In additions, methods and know-how for studies in x-ray features could be accumulated from this work.