• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.368-373
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• 2009

A human tissue mimicking phantom is constructed to assess the performance of a medical ultrasound elasticity imaging system. In a human body, the tumor or cancer is stiffer than its surrounding normal tissue. A technique fur imaging the elasticity of such a tissue is referred to as elastography. Homogeneous elasticity phantoms with differing Young's moduli are constructed using a plastic hardener and softener to simulate the mechanical characteristics of a diseased human tissue. The Young's modulus of the fabricated homogeneous phantom materials were measured from 11.1 to 79.6 kPa depending on the mixing ratio of the amount of the hardener to that of the softener. An ultrasound lesion mimicking phantom was made of these materials, and ultrasound elasticity imaging was performed on it. It is confirmed in this paper that the fabricated plastic-based elasticity phantom is useful in representing the elastic characteristics of a human tissue.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

This study is to increase the accuracy of the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia by presenting a method that can accurately measure the residual urine amount of the bladder by using an ultrasound image. Agar powder, Propanol and distilled water were used as materials for making a phantom. In order to measure the volume, a $10m{\ell}$ cylinder, syringe and beaker were used. The image was obtained by scanning phantoms produced into six shapes. Each constant value was obtained by using the expression designed to measure the residual urine amount of the bladder and was compared and analyzed. The measuring method of Bladder volume was presented and a constant value for each shape was obtained and five observers measured it five times. According to the results of clinical application, the errors of Ellipse-beanbag, Shield-shield were 11.0%, 18.2%, respectively. Constant values depending on the shape of each phantom were presented in order to accurately measure the volume of the bladder in measuring the amount of residual urine for the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The accuracy of the volume using this was verified statistically(p > 0.05). Therefore, it is considered to be useful in diagnosing benign prostatic hyperplasia by using the ultrasound imaging measuring method presented.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2023

Purpose: The objective of this study was to propose a method for developing a clinical phantom to reproduce various diseases that are clinically prevalent in the field of dentistry. This could facilitate diverse clinical research without unnecessarily exposing patients to radiation. Materials and Methods: This study utilized a single dry skull, which was visually and radiographically examined to evaluate its condition. Existing lesions on the dry skull were preserved, and other relevant lesions were artificially created as necessary. These lesions were then documented using intraoral radiography and cone-beam computed tomography. Once all pre-existing and reproduced lesions were confirmed by the consensus of 2 oral and maxillofacial radiologists, the skull was embedded in a soft tissue substitute. To validate the process, cone-beam computed tomography scans and panoramic radiographs were obtained of the fabricated phantom. All acquired images were subsequently evaluated. Results: Most lesions could be identified on panoramic radiographs, although some sialoliths and cracked teeth were confirmed only through cone-beam computed tomographic images. A small gap was observed between the epoxy resin and the bone structures. However, 2 oral and maxillofacial radiologists agreed that this space did not meaningfully impact the interpretation process. Conclusion: The newly developed phantom has potential for use as a standardized phantom within the dental field. It may be utilized for a variety of imaging studies, not only for optimization purposes, but also for addressing other experimental issues related to both 2- and 3-dimensional diagnostic radiography.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.295-299
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• 2019

Purpose: This clinical pilot study was performed to determine the effectiveness of dual-energy cone-beam computed tomography (DE-CBCT) in measuring bone mineral density (BMD). Materials and Methods: The BMD values obtained using DE-CBCT were compared to those obtained using calibrated multislice computed tomography (MSCT). After BMD calibration with specially designed phantoms, both DE-CBCT and MSCT scanning were performed in 15 adult dental patients. Three-dimensional (3D) Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine data were imported into a dental software program, and the defined regions of interest (ROIs) on the 3-dimensional surface-rendered images were identified. The automatically-measured BMD values of the ROIs (g/㎤), the differences in the measured BMD values of the matched ROIs obtained by DE-CBCT and MSCT 3D images, and the correlation between the BMD values obtained by the 2 devices were statistically analyzed. Results: The mean BMD values of the ROIs for the 15 patients as assessed using DE-CBCT and MSCT were 1.09±0.07 g/㎤ and 1.13±0.08 g/㎤, respectively. The mean of the differences between the BMD values of the matched ROIs as assessed using DE-CBCT and calibrated MSCT images was 0.04±0.02 g/㎤. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the BMD values of DE-CBCT and MSCT images was 0.982 (r=0.982, P<0.001). Conclusion: The newly developed DE-CBCT technique could be used to measure jaw BMD in dentistry and may soon replace MSCT, which is expensive and requires special facilities.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2016

In this study, development of multichannel filter module and characteristic evaluation for bio imaging were studied. The filter module was fabricated in order to realize near infrared fluorescence imaging of 700 nm and 800 nm wavelength ranges, and contrast imaging analysis for characteristic evaluation of the filter module was studied through signal to back ground ratio (SBR), controlled by parameters such as magnification, exposure, gain. Furthermore, phantoms, which are biomimetic tissue with equal optical properties of kidney and liver, were fabricated to study characteristics of both filter module depending on thickness and exposure amount of light source for bio imaging analysis. The fabricated filter module has more than 4 of SBR difference despite changes of magnification, exposure, gain, and in the case of the kidney phantom and the liver phantom, contrast imaging of more than 4 of SBR was confirmed on 50 mA, 60 mA exposure amount of light source respectively.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2020

In High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, effective localization of HIFU focus is important for developing a safe treatment plan. While Magnetic Resonance Imaging guided HIFU (MRIgHIFU) can visualize the ultrasound path during the treatment for localizing HIFU focus, it is challenging in ultrasound imaging guided HIFU (USIgHIFU). In the present study, a real-time ultrasound beam visualization technique capable of localizing HIFU focus is presented for USIgHIFU. In the proposed method, a short pulse, with the same center frequency of an imaging ultrasound transducer below the regulated acoustic intensity (i.e., Ispta < 720 mW/㎠), was transmitted through a HIFU transducer whereupon backscattered signals were received by the imaging transducer. To visualize the HIFU beam path, the backscattered signals underwent dynamic receive focusing and subsequent echo processing. From in vitro experiments with bovine serum albumin gel phantoms, the HIFU beam path was clearly depicted with low acoustic intensity (i.e., Ispta of 94.8 mW/㎠) and the HIFU focus was successfully localized before any damages were produced. This result indicates that the proposed ultrasound beam path visualization method can be used for localizing the HIFU focus in real time while minimizing unwanted tissue damage in USIgHIFU treatment.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2000

Purpose : To assess the distortion of MRI with the Leksell stereotactic radiosurgery system in variable pulse sequence and imaging plane through phantom study, to find most adequate imaging plane and pulse sequence for stereotactic radiosurgery system. Materials and methods : We made the phantoms for MRI and get images in variable conditions and analyzed the image distortion using image analysis program, and statistically using paired student t-test. Results : The transeverse plane images had acceptable error ranges bless than 1.5mm) in all pulse sequence in both the analysis of fiducial marker in stereotactic G-frame and the phantom study. The coronal plane images had unacceptable large errors (more than 1.7mm) in the analysis of fiducial marker in the stereotactic G-frame, but had corrected small errors (less than 1.5mm) in the phantom study. Conclusion : We find from the phantom study that the present MR machines are adequate for stereotactic surgery system in frequently used pulse sequences, and imaging planes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.793-799
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• 2018

As interest in artificial intelligence has increased, artificial intelligence has been actively studied in the medical field. In Korea, artificial intelligence has been applied to medical imaging devices such as X-ray imaging, Computer Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging and artificial intelligence capable of acquiring radiation images of patients without radiologists in the future Medical devices are expected to be invented. This study was an initial study on the automation of patient positioning in X - ray imaging. We used x-ray equipment and human phantoms to evaluate the positioning. The program used Visual Studio 2010 MFC and the image was in the size $1450{\times}1814$. The pixel values were converted to contrasts with values of 0 to 255 that can be visually recognized and output to the monitor. We developed a procedure algorithm program that predicts the angle of the output image through three pixel coordinate values and induces the patient to perform correct positioning according to the voice guidance according to the angle. In the next study, we will study the artificial intelligence to grasp the structure itself and calculate the angle, rather than conveying the reference of coordinates to artificial intelligence. In the future, it is expected that it will be helpful in the study of artificial intelligence from shooting to positioning through the automation of positioning.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.70-80
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• 2006

Spin echo gradient moment nulling pulse sequences were designed and implemented on a clinical magnetic resonance imaging system. A new technique was introduced for flow compensation that minimized echo time and effectively suppresses unwanted echoes on the slice selection gradient axis in spin echo sequences. A unified gradient shape was used in all orders of flow compensation up to the third order. A dual-purpose gradient was applied for flow compensation and to reduce unwanted artifacts. The sequences were used to generate images of phantoms and/or human brains. This technique was especially good at reducing eddy currents and artifacts related to imperfection of the refocusing pulse. The developed sequences were found to have shorter echo times and better flow compensation in through-plane flow than those of the previous models that were used by other investigators.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was designed to compare the effective doses from low-dose and standard-dose multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanning protocols and evaluate the image quality and the spatial resolution of the low-dose MDCT protocols for clinical use. Materials and Methods : 6-channel MDCT scanner (Siemens Medical System, Forschheim, Germany), was used for this study. Protocol of the standard-dose MDCT for the orthodontic analysis was 130 kV, 35 mAs, 1.25 mm slice width, 0.8 pitch. Those of the low-dose MDCT for orthodontic analysis and orthodontic surgery were 110 kV, 30 mAs, 1.25 mm slice width, 0.85 pitch and 110 kV, 45 mAs, 2.5 mm slice width, 0.85 pitch. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were placed at 31 sites throughout the levels of adult female ART head and neck phantom. Effective doses were calculated according to ICRP 1990 and 2007 recommendations. A formalin-fixed cadaver and AAPM CT performance phantom were scanned for the evaluation of subjective image quality and spatial resolution. Results : Effective doses in ${\mu}Sv$ ($E_{2007}$) were 699.1, 429.4 and 603.1 for standard-dose CT of orthodontic treatment, low-dose CT of orthodontic analysis, and low-dose CT of orthodontic surgery, respectively. The image quality from the low-dose protocol were not worse than those from the standard-dose protocol. The spatial resolutions of both standard-dose and low-dose CT images were acceptable. Conclusion : From the above results, it can be concluded that the low-dose MDCT protocol is preferable in obtaining CT images for orthodontic analysis and orthodontic surgery.