• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics D
• /
• v.36D no.3
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 1999

It is now common practice to utilize the quadrature RF coils to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System. In addition, to make such an available SNR improvement, it is mandatory to use a well-designed quadrature coupler, which facilitates a perfect 3-dB coupling and quadrature-phase shift. However, the four ports matching condition has to be well considered during the RF excitation and the signal detection period. This work investigates the effects of such a mismatching condition (especially, due to patient) from the analysis, simulation, and real implementation and firstly proposes dynamic loading technique for a quadrature coupler and transmitting/receiving switch module to minimize a patient mismatching and enhance a system reliability. Also, we designed and implemented the quadrature coupler and transmitting/receiving switch module using microstrip. As a result, the SNR of our MRI system using the microstrip quadrature coupler and transmitting/receiving switch module with dynamic load increases 3 dB compared with the old one using USA quadrature switch. Also, the power capability of quadrature coupler and transmitting/receiving switch module is 5-kw peak power. Considering power loss and reduction of size, we used a RT/duroid 6010 substrate with high permittivity and for simulation we use Compact Software.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.62 no.5
• /
• pp.663-666
• /
• 2013

This paper demonstrates four different radio frequency (RF) resonators at 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. An approach based on microstrip transmission line to identical RF resonators except upper stripline structure is investigated. Electromagnetic simulation results are compared for RF resonators and discussed in detail at 3 T.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to observe the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast changes due to the reaction of human brain at a gustatory sense in response to a salty-taste stimulation. Materials and Methods : Twelve healthy, non-smoking, right-handed male subjects (mean age: 25.6, range: 23-28 years) participated in this salty-taste stimulus functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study. MRI scans were performed with 1.57 GE Signa, using a multi-slice GE-EPI sequence according to a blood-oxy-gen-level dependent (BOLD) experiment paradigm. Scan parameters included matrix size $128\times128$, FOV 250 mm, TR 5000 msec, TE 60 msec, TH/GAP 5/2 mm. Sequential data acquisitions were carried out for 42 measurements with a repetition time of 5 sec for each taste-stimulus experiments. Analysis of fMRI data was carried out using SPM99 implemented in Matlab. NaCl solution $(3\%)$ was used as a salty stimulus. The task paradigm consisted of alternating rest-stimulus cycles (30-second rest, 15-second stimulus) for 210 seconds. During the stimulus period, NaCl-solution was presented to the subject's mouth through plastic tubes as a bolus of delivered every 5 sec using -processor controlled auto-syringe pump. Results : Insula, frontal opercular taste cortex, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) were activated by a salty-taste stimulation $(NaCl,\;3\%)$ in the fMRI experiments. And dosolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was also significantly responded to salty-taste stimuli. Activation areas of the right side hemisphere were more superior to the left side hemisphere. Conclusion : The results of this study well correspond to the fact that both insula, amygdala, OFC, DLPFC areas are established as taste cortical areas by neuronal recordings in primates. Authors found that laboratory-developed auto-syringe pump is suitable for gustatory fMRI study. Further research in this field will accelerate to inquire into the mechanism of higher order gustatory process.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the FA value which can produce the best T2-weighted images by measuring the signal intensity and noise according to the FA value change in the brain image and the abdominal image of the mouse using micro-MRI. Brain imaging and abdominal imaging of BALB / C mice weighing 20g were performed using 4.7T (Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH) micro-MRI equipment, Turbo RARE-T2 (spin echo-T2) images were scanned at TR 3500 msec and TE 36 msec. The changes of the FA values were $60^{\circ}$, $80^{\circ}$, $100^{\circ}$, $120^{\circ}$, $140^{\circ}$, $160^{\circ}$ and $180^{\circ}$. We measured signal intensity according to FA values of ventricle and thalamus in brain imaging, The signal intensity of kidney and muscle around the kidney was measured in abdominal images. To obtain SNR and CNR, we measured the background signals of two different parts, not the tissue. In the brain (thalamus) image, the signal intensity of FA $100^{\circ}$ was 7,433 and SNR (6.49) was the highest. In the abdominal (kidney) image, the signal intensity was highest at 16,523 when FA was $120^{\circ}$, and the highest SNR was 8.54 when FA was $140^{\circ}$. The CNR value of the brain image was 1.38 at FA $60^{\circ}$ and gradually increased to 8.29 at FA $180^{\circ}$. The CNR value of the muscle adjacent to the kidney gradually increased from 2.36 when the FA value was $60^{\circ}$ and the highest value was 4,57 at the FA value $180^{\circ}$.