• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.21-30
• /
• 2009

Objectives : Being introduced in the 1980s, laser acupuncture studies have been steadily carried on such as its thermal effects on human body. However, the mechanisms of effect are not yet clearly explained. Generally, laser acupuncture could be favorable for pediatric patients or people under special conditions (hemophilia, needle-phobia, pathogen-carriers, etc.) because of lower risk of infection, bleeding, pain or fainting. But there are still problems for using laser acupuncture equivalently as the traditional metal needle. The goal of this study is to review the fundamentals, history and present trend of laser acupuncture study, and to suggest how to develop laser acupuncture as an oriental medical device. Method : We performed literature search using PubMed(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) and Scopus(http://www.scopus.com). Search conditions are laser acupuncture, laser needle, LLLT(as title or abstract) or Litscher G(as author). Main target studies are physical fundamentals, clinical trials, physiological results and device proposals. Results : Many research have shown the similarities of laser acupuncture and traditional metal acupuncture and have reported clinical and physiological effects of laser acupuncture. But, still laser acupuncture is not widely used in Korea due to high-cost of equipments and the lack of clear understanding of laser devices. Additionally, there are still challenges in standardization and device development. Conclusions : Frequencies, laser modes, waveguides, adaptor types, polarization and signal modulations are suggested as future study subjects on laser acupuncture. More various studies and efforts for device development have to be performed to provide oriental medical doctors with evidence based confidence about usage of laser acupuncture.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.151-158
• /
• 2007

The failure of injured axons to regenerate in the mature central nervous system (CNS) has devastating consequences for victims of spinal cord injury (SCI). Traditional strategies to treat spinal cord injured people by using drug therapy and assisting devices that can not help them to recover fully various vital functions of the spinal cord. Many researches have been focused on accomplishing re-growth and reconnection of the severed axons in the injured region. Using cell transplantation to promote neural survival or growth has had modest success in allowing injured neurons to re-grow through the area of the lesion. Strategies for successful regeneration will require tissue engineering approach. In order to persuade sufficient axons to regenerate across the lesion to bring back substantial neurological function, it is necessary to construct an efficient biocompatible bridge (cell-free or implanted with different cell lines as hybrid implant) through the injured area over which axons can grow. Therefore, in this paper, spinal cord and its injury, different strategies to help regeneration of an injured spinal cord are reviewed. In addition, different aspects of designing a biocompatible bridge and its applications and challenges surrounding these issues are also addressed. This knowledge is very important for the development and optimalization of therapies to repair the injured spinal cord.

• Informatization Policy
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.60-81
• /
• 2018

Healthcare is on the verge of a paradigm shift towards an emphasis on wellbeing, integrative health, and prevention of disease, while the traditional medical model focuses solely on end-point treatment. The development of digital technologies has played a major role in this change as digital technology and health have converged. Therefore, many developed countries promote the digital healthcare industry as a new economic growth engine, and Korea is no exception. To promote the digital healthcare industry, the Korean government provides institutional support by improving the legal and regulatory system for medical devices and health data. However, Korea still has an underdeveloped legal and regulatory framework for digital healthcare compared with other countries. In this study, we review the relevant regulatory systems in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. We then explore newspaper articles and conduct expert interviews to analyze the regulatory situation in Korea and the problems the digital healthcare industry faces. In conclusion, we discuss a regulatory reform plan for development of the digital healthcare industry in Korea.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to propose the utilization plan of Ryodoraku in the U-health care systems. Methods : Computerized literature searches were performed for Ryodoraku related articles using the following databases: KISS, RISS, DBPIA, NDSL from 1990 to Oct 2010. Search terms were '양도락' or 'Ryodoraku' or 'U-health'. Due to Ryodoraku coming from Japan, additional literature review(articles published by 2008) on Japanese journal of Ryodoraku medicine was done for compensation. Results : 1. Introduction of U-health : As rapid progress of population aging and strong interest in health, the demand for the traditional Korean medical service is increasing. Until now healthcare service has provided post treatment by face-to-face manner. But according to related researches, proactive treatment is resulted to be more effective for preventing diseases. Particularly, the existing healthcare services have limitations in preventing and managing chronic geriatric degenrative diseases such as metabolic syndrome, CVA, coronary heart diseases, parkinson's diseases, degenerative joint disease, spondylosis, etc., because the cause of the above is complex and even related to life habit. As the advent of ubiquitous technology, patients with the chronic geriatric degenrative diseases can improve life habit such as poor eating habits and physical inactivity without the constraints of time and space through u-healthcare service. Therefor, lots of researches for u-healthcare service focus on providing the personalized healthcare service for preventing and managing that. To cope with this situations, The concept of u-healthcare service should be adopted in the traditional korean medicine and diagnostic devices suitable for it should be also devised and developed based on traditonal korean medine. 2. Review of existing Ryodoraku related articles for applying to U-health : articles investigating feasibility applying Ryodoraku to meridian diagnosis and raising problems of it, articles providing recent research trends of Ryodoraku, Ryodoraku related articles considering usefulness for U-health, and articles confirming the repeatability and reproducity of Ryodoraku were included. Based on the review of the above Ryodoraku related articles, several application of Ryodoraku in the U-health care system. Conclusions : To make preparations for the increasing need of traditional Korean medicine due to rising morbidity rate of chronic geriatric degenerative diseases, it is necessary to appropriately apply Ryodoraku to the U-health care system. The application of Ryodoraku is as follows. 1. To use Ryodoraku additionally to the established diagnostic device of metabolic syndrome, CVA, coronary heart diseases, parkinson's diseases, degenerative joint disease, spondylosis. 2. To apply Ryodoraku to the symptoms or diseases having a tendency to be diagnosed by correlation between the affected meridian and the lesion such as headache, nuchal pain, shoulder pain, low back pain, sciatica, HNP, etc. 3. To secure the repeatability and reproducity of Ryodoraku. 4. To devise and develop Ryodoraku appliance in order to overcome the known drawbacks and to improve error of measurement.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.487-501
• /
• 2017

A machine vision system (MVS) is a computer system that utilizes one or more image-capturing devices to provide image data for analysis and interpretation. Recently there have been a number of industrial- and medical-device applications where control charts have been proposed for use with image data. The use of image-based control charting is somewhat different from traditional control charting applications, and these differences can be attributed to several factors, such as the type of data monitored and how the control charts are applied. In this paper, we investigate the adjustment effect of image size and region of interest (ROI) size, when we use control charts to monitor grayscale image data in industry.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.77-89
• /
• 2013

Objectives Tongue diagnosis is an important diagnostic method in traditional Eastern medicine, and it has a high potential to be used in the future healthcare because of easy, quick, and non-contact measuring features. Recently, research and development efforts on computerized tongue diagnosis systems (CTDS) have been active that led to the technical advancements in the field of photographing techniques, image extraction and classification algorithms. In this study, we analyzed the trends in the CTDS patents. Using the WIPS search engine (www.wipsglobal.com), quantitative and qualitative patent analyses were performed through Korea, China, Japan, U.S.A and Europe. Methods For a systematic search and data analysis, we defined patent categories based on the application area and technical details. By applying thus-obtained categorical key words, we obtained 360 relevant patents on photographing techniques, image extraction and classification algorithms for the purpose of diagnosis or security. Results As a result, companies related to image acquisition, medical imaging and mobile devices and research groups of universities in East Asia were major patent applicants. In all the five countries, the number of patents have been increasing since 1980. In particular, technology related to color correction and image segmentation were most actively patented categories, and expected to continue a high application rate.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2023

The advent of deep learning technologies has led to the development of various medical applications, making healthcare services more convenient and effective. Among these applications, heart rate estimation is considered a vital method for assessing an individual's health. Traditional methods, such as photoplethysmography through smart watches, have been widely used but are invasive and require additional hardware. Recent advancements allow for contactless heart rate estimation through facial image analysis, providing a more hygienic and convenient approach. In this paper, we propose a lightweight methodology capable of accurately estimating heart rate in mobile environments, using a specialized 2-channel network structure based on 2D convolution. Our method considers both subtle facial movements and color changes resulting from blood flow and muscle contractions. The approach comprises two major components: an Encoder for analyzing image features and a regression layer for evaluating Blood Volume Pulse. By incorporating both features simultaneously our methodology delivers more accurate results even in computing environments with limited resources. The proposed approach is expected to offer a more efficient way to monitor heart rate without invasive technology, particularly well-suited for mobile devices.

• Journal of the Korea Knowledge Information Technology Society
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.273-286
• /
• 2018

Korean government has taken various population policy so far According to demographic results, The aging population is rapidly aging and it is expected to deepen in the future. However, many senior citizens are also exposed to poor economic conditions and inconsistent health care risks Most seniors suffer from mental illness and chronic diseases. seniors in traditional cities feel very alienated as they change from large family to small family. As the number of elderly people living alone grows, social problems increase. At present, the health care for the elderly who live alone is not being taken properly, and they are under a very poor management system, both physically and mentally. Every human being has to be old, and we aim to spend our old age processes physically and mentally healthy. As the basic age of the elderly increases, it is necessary to consider various aspects of the welfare policies and medical policies that are followed. In this study, 100 elderly people over the age of 65 were surveyed for economic situations and physical and mental health conditions, and specially performed study on utility of 'urban senior multi care zone' to prove the necessity of introducing the latest digital devices to resolve these problems more effectively by analyzing serious feelings of alienation, loneliness, and emotional situations. Lastly, We conducted this research to find ways to help the elderly through customized health care.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.451-461
• /
• 2015

In megavoltage (MV) radiotherapy, delivering the dose to the target volume is important while protecting the surrounding normal tissue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the modulation transfer function (MTF), the noise power spectrum (NPS), and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) using an edge block in megavoltage X-ray imaging (MVI). We used an edge block, which consists of tungsten with dimensions of 19 (thickness) ${\times}$ 10 (length) ${\times}$ 1 (width) $cm^3$ and measured the pre-sampling MTF at 6 MV energy. Various radiation therapy (RT) devices such as TrueBeam$^{TM}$ (Varian), BEAMVIEW$^{PLUS}$ (Siemens), iViewGT (Elekta) and Clinac$^{(R)}$iX (Varian) were used. As for MTF results, TrueBeam$^{TM}$(Varian) flattening filter free(FFF) showed the highest values of $0.46mm^{-1}$ and $1.40mm^{-1}$ for MTF 0.5 and 0.1. In NPS, iViewGT (Elekta) showed the lowest noise distribution. In DQE, iViewGT (Elekta) showed the best efficiency at a peak DQE and $1mm^{-1}DQE$ of 0.0026 and 0.00014, respectively. This study could be used not only for traditional QA imaging but also for quantitative MTF, NPS, and DQE measurement for development of an electronic portal imaging device (EPID).

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.67-101
• /
• 2023

The utilization of generative AI in the medical field is also being rapidly researched. Access to vast data sets reduces the time and energy spent in selecting information. However, as the effort put into content creation decreases, there is a greater likelihood of associated issues arising. For example, with generative AI, users must discern the accuracy of results themselves, as these AIs learn from data within a set period and generate outcomes. While the answers may appear plausible, their sources are often unclear, making it challenging to determine their veracity. Additionally, the possibility of presenting results from a biased or distorted perspective cannot be discounted at present on ethical grounds. Despite these concerns, the field of generative AI is continually advancing, with an increasing number of users leveraging it in various sectors, including biomedical and life sciences. This raises important legal considerations regarding who bears responsibility and to what extent for any damages caused by these high-performance AI algorithms. A general overview of issues with generative AI includes those discussed above, but another perspective arises from its fundamental nature as a large-scale language model ('LLM') AI. There is a civil law concern regarding "the memorization of training data within artificial neural networks and its subsequent reproduction". Medical data, by nature, often reflects personal characteristics of patients, potentially leading to issues such as the regeneration of personal information. The extensive application of generative AI in scenarios beyond traditional AI brings forth the possibility of legal challenges that cannot be ignored. Upon examining the technical characteristics of generative AI and focusing on legal issues, especially concerning the protection of personal information, it's evident that current laws regarding personal information protection, particularly in the context of health and medical data utilization, are inadequate. These laws provide processes for anonymizing and de-identification, specific personal information but fall short when generative AI is applied as software in medical devices. To address the functionalities of generative AI in clinical software, a reevaluation and adjustment of existing laws for the protection of personal information are imperative.