• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.229-251
• /
• 2021

Arteriosclerosis is the leading cause of stroke, with a fatality rate surpassing that of ischemic heart disease. High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging is generally recognized as a non-invasive and panoramic method for the evaluation of arterial plaque; however, this method requires improved signal-to-noise ratio and scanning speed. Recent advances in high-density head and neck coil arrays are characterized by broad coverage, multiple channels, and closefitting designs. This review analyzes fast magnetic resonance imaging from the perspective of accelerated algorithms for vessel wall imaging and demonstrates the need for effective algorithms for signal acquisition using advanced radiofrequency system. We summarize different phased-array structures under various experimental objectives and equipment conditions, introduce current research results, and propose prospective research studies in the future.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2015

Hypoxia has been shown in many tumors because of a reduced oxygen condition. A useful approach to detect hypoxia is to use molecular imaging. Positron emission tomography (PET), one of the biomedical molecular imaging tools, is the most common non-invasive technique for providing information about physiological and biological events such as diseases. In order to use the PET technique for healthcare, promising molecular probes such as PET tracers required. [$^{18}F$]Fluoromisonidazole ([$^{18}F$]FMISO) is the most widely used in PET tracers for hypoxia. In this review, major developments of the synthetic method of [$^{18}F$]FMISO are discussed.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.95-99
• /
• 2005

We have performed EEG current source imaging on the cortical surface using visual evoked potentials (VEPs) recorded inside a 3.0 T MRI magnet. In order to remove ballistocardiogram (BCG) artifacts in the VEPs, an improved BCG template subtraction technique is devised. Using the cortically constrained current source imaging technique and pattern-reversal visual stimulations, we have obtained current source maps from 10 subjects. To validate the EEG current source imaging inside the magnet, we have compared the current source maps to the ones obtained outside the magnet. The experimental results demonstrate that there is a strong correspondence between the current source maps, proving that current source imaging is feasible with the evoked potentials recorded inside a 3.0 T MRI magnet.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.02a
• /
• pp.359-360
• /
• 2006

Functional photoacoustic tomography is a new non-invasive imaging modality, and it is emerging as a very practical method for imaging biological tissue structures by means of laser-induced ultrasound. Structures with high optical absorption, such as blood vessels, can be imaged with the spatial resolution of ultrasound, which is not limited by the strong light scattering in biological tissues. By varying wavelengths of the laser light and acquiring photoacoustic images, optical absorption spectrum of each image pixel is found. Since the biochemical constituents of tissues determine the spectrum, useful functional information like oxygen saturation ($SO_2$) and total haemoglobin concentration (HbT) can be extracted. In this study, as a proof-of-principle experiment, hypoxic brain tumor vasculature and traumatic brain injury (TBI) of small animal brain are imaged with functional photoacoustic tomography. High resolution brain vasculature images of oxygen saturation and total hemoglobin concentration are provided to visualize hypoxic tumor vasculature, and hemorrhage on the cortex surface by the TBI.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.149-150
• /
• 2005

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.107-113
• /
• 2008

We introduce a rotating-gantry-based x-ray micro-tomography system to be used for small animal imaging studies. It has the zoom-in imaging capability for high resolution imaging of a local region inside the animal subject without any contrast anomalies arising from truncation of the projection data. With the sliding mechanism mounted on the rotating gantry holding the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, we can control the magnification ratio of the x-ray projection data. By combining the projection data from the large field of view (FOV) scan of the whole animal subject and the projection data from the small FOV scan of the region of interest, we can obtain artifact-free zoomed-in images of the region of interest. For the acquisition of x-ray projection data, we use a $1248{\times}1248$ flat-panel x-ray detector with the pixel pitch of 100 mm. It has been experimentally found that the developed system has the spatial resolution of up to 121p/mm when the highest magnification ratio of 5:1 is applied to the zoom-in imaging. We present some in vivo rat femur images to demonstrate utility of the developed system for small animal imaging.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2009

Many types of small animal imaging modalities, like micro-CT, micro-PET, and micro-SPECT, have been recently developed worldwide. Small animal imaging systems are now recognized as indispensable tools to validate efficacy and safety of new drugs or new therapeutic methods using the animal disease models. With increasing demands for small animal imaging in biomedical research, multimodal small animal imaging systems, like micro-PET/CT or micro PET/MRI, are now also being developed. Small animal imaging with spatial resolution and sensitivity comparable to human imaging is quite challenging since laboratory small animals are much smaller than human beings. Research activities in Korea on small animal imaging systems are reviewed in this paper. In the field of micro-CT and micro-PET, many world-class technologies have been developed successfully in Korea. It is expected that the developed animal imaging system technologies can be used in the development of clinical imaging systems in Korea in the near future.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.202-207
• /
• 2015

As a feasibility study on development of a gamma imaging probe, we developed a scintillating film-based gamma imaging detector that can obtain scintillation images with information of gamma-ray distribution. The scintillating film-based gamma imaging detector was composed of a sensing probe, an image intensifier, and a beam profiler. To detect and transmit scintillation image, the sensing probe was fabricated by coupling a scintillating film, a fiber-optic image conduit, and a fiber-optic taper, consecutively. First, the optical images of USAF 1951 resolution target were obtained and then, modulation transfer function values were calculated to test the image quality of the sensing probe. Second, we measured the scintillation images according to the activity of the 137Cs and the distance between the surface of 137Cs and the distal-end of sensing probe. Finally, the intensities of scintillating light as functions of the activity and the distance were evaluated from the region of interest in the scintillation image. From the results of this study, it is expected that a fiber-optic gamma imaging detector can be developed to detect gamma-rays emitted from radiopharmaceuticals during radioimmunoguided surgery.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.87-106
• /
• 2014

Purpose : To describe how a robust implementation of a radial 3D gradient-echo sequence with stack-of-stars sampling can be achieved, to review the imaging properties of radial acquisitions, and to share the experience from more than 5000 clinical patient scans. Materials and Methods: A radial stack-of-stars sequence was implemented and installed on 9 clinical MR systems operating at 1.5 and 3 Tesla. Protocols were designed for various applications in which motion artifacts frequently pose a problem with conventional Cartesian techniques. Radial scans were added to routine examinations without selection of specific patient cohorts. Results: Radial acquisitions show significantly lower sensitivity to motion and allow examinations during free breathing. Elimination of breath-holding reduces failure rates for non-compliant patients and enables imaging at higher resolution. Residual artifacts appear as streaks, which are easy to identify and rarely obscure diagnostic information. The improved robustness comes at the expense of longer scan durations, the requirement for fat suppression, and the nonexistence of a time-to-center value. Care needs to be taken during the configuration of receive coils. Conclusion: Routine clinical use of radial stack-of-stars sequences is feasible with current MR systems and may serve as substitute for conventional fat-suppressed T1-weighted protocols in applications where motion is likely to degrade the image quality.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.3E
• /
• pp.107-110
• /
• 2010

In this paper, the rationale and contents of the special issue of the Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea regarding comprehensive reviews on past, present and future of biomedical ultrasound are described. Brief descriptions of invited articles are given, and efforts by all contributing authors are gratefully acknowledged.