• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.546-550
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• 2014

In this research, we report all the elements are placed in the space above the patient table as a transmit coil to give optimized B1+ field for the body object. Through the simulations, we compared upper-and-lower parts combined 8 channel Tx array to upper only 8 channel Tx array and showed the utilities of B1+ shimming in multi-channel Tx body imaging at 3T. Half-cylinder shaped upper array shows weak B1+ field area around back of patient without B1+ shimming. After B1+ shimming, highly induced SAR places occurred in the arm region due to the close distance to the both end elements which were driven by very high RF current to enhance B1+ in back area. The proposed upper and lower combined array provides an enhanced homogeneous B1+ field in large ROI imaging as a result of shimming over the body size phantom. Through this research we proved the usefulness of the proposed insertional upper and lower parts combined transmit array for 3T body imaging.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2005

Purpose : To develop a novel approach to calculate the sensitivity profiles of the phased array coil for use in non-uniform intensity correction. Materials and Methods : The proposed intensity correction method estimates the sensitivity profile of the coil to extract intensity variations that represent the scanned image. The sensitivity profile is estimated by fitting a non-linear curve to various angles of projections through the imaged object in order to eliminate the high-frequency image content. Filtered back projection is then used to compute the estimates of the sensitivity profile of each coil. The method was applied both to phantom and brain images from 8-channel phased-array coil and 4-channel phased-array coil, respectively. Results : Intensity-corrected images from the proposed method have more uniform intensity than those from the commonly used 'sum-of-squares' approach. By using the proposed correction method, the intensity variation was reduced to $6.1\%$ from $13.1\%$, acquired from the 'sum-of-squares'. Conclusion : The proposed method is more effective at correcting the intensity non-uniformity of the phased-array surface-coil images than the conventional 'sum-of-squares' method.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.95-95
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• 2002

목적： 기존의 척추용 코일은 phased array 코일을 주로 많이 사용하여 왔다. Phased array 코일은 여러개의 표면 코일로 구성되어 있어 RE 자기장의 영역이 표면코일과 비슷하다. 그래서, 척추 영상을 얻기 위해서는 다른 부위의 핵 스핀을 포화시키는 불편함이 있다. 기존의 표면 코일보다 RF penetration depth가 적은 theta coil을 이용하여, 척추에 적합한 코일을 개발했다. 대상 및 방법： theta coil을 길게 제작하여 척추에 적합하게 하였다. 코일의 길이는 약 35cm, 폭은 16cm이다. 수신 전용으로 하기 위해서, 다이오드를 이용하여 detune 회로를 포함하였다. 기존의 코일과 비교하기 위해 theta coil과 GE사의 척추용 코일로부터 각각 영상을 획득하였다.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2008

To improve $B_1$ homogeneity in high field MRI, the RF power is applied to the transmit array coil elements sequentially in the time-multiplexed way. Since only a single coil element is activated in a time-multiplexing slot, the global standing wave formation in the human body is greatly suppressed. The time-multiplexing slot width is on the order of micro seconds, hence, high-order-harmonic slices can be placed far from the transmit coil and simultaneous multiple slice selection can be avoided. The $B_1$ homogeneities of a birdcage coil and an eight-channel transmit array coil have been compared through finite difference time domain simulations. The simulation results indicate that the proposed technique can reduce the peak-to-peak $B_1$ inhomogeneity down to one fourth of the transmission with a birdcage coil on the central plane of the human head model at 3 T. The mimicking experiments at 3 T, eight separate experiments with a single coil element activated and image reconstruction by combining the eight images, also show promising results. It is expected that the proposed technique has some advantages over other $B_1$ improving methods in real practice since simple RF switching circuitries are only necessary and electromagnetic coupling between the coil elements is out of concern in its realization.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2013

Separate and layered transmitting and receiving spiral coil arrays had been used for the optimized individual applications of magnetostrictive type long-range ultrasonic testing. In this study, it was demonstrated that when taking advantages of the spiral coils with the leg width reduced to be half of the previous one and of the empty spaces due to the decrease of leg width, the transmitting and receiving coil array can be arranged to form a single layer structure allowing more easy use and fabrication. Because of the number of turns of the receiving coils that is proportional to their leg width, the sensitivity of the single layer coil array was about half that of the corresponding double layer coil array while it allowed the receiving amplifier to get faster recovery from a saturation due to the main bang echo. It was also found that the two types of coil arrays have almost the same performances in the view points of signal-to-noise ratio and directivity control.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2012

Purpose : In an attempt to further improve the radiofrequency (RF) magnetic ($B_1$) field strength in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) imaging, a 4-channel spiral-loop coil array with RF circuitry was designed and compared with a 4-channel single-loop coil array in terms of $B_1$ field, RF transmit (${B_1}^+$), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and applicability to TMJ imaging in 7T MRI. Materials and Methods: The single- and 4-channel spiral-loop coil arrays were constructed based on the electromagnetic (EM) simulation for the investigation of $B_1$ field. To evaluate the computer simulation results, the $B_1$ field and ${B_1}^+$ maps were measured in 7T. Results: In the EM simulation result and MRI study at 7T, the 4-channel spiral-loop coil array found a superior $B_1$ performance and a higher ${B_1}^+$ profile inside the human head as well as a slightly better SNR than the 4-channel single-loop coil array. Conclusion: Although $B_1$ fields are produced under the influence of the dielectric properties of the subject rather than the coil configuration alone at 7T, each RF coil exhibited not only special but also specific characteristics that could make it suited for specific application such as TMJ imaging.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.16-16
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• 2003

Purpose： Recently, a major interesting method of fast MR imaging is sensitivity encoding (SENSE) using arrays of multiple receiver coils. In this study, we have designed and implemented a 4-channel head array coil and optimized the structure and arrangement of the coil to improve the performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.551-554
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• 2005

This study uses a characteristic function to explain correlations between the objective function and design variables. Analysis of means and table of orthogonal array were carried out. The change of shape of diaphragm, thickness of diaphragm and voice coil weight based on the table of orthogonal array is made. Therefore this study carried to decide shape of diaphragm, voice coil weight and thickness of diaphragm for minimizing 1st natural frequency and maximizing 2nd natural frequency of diaphragm using design of experiments and characteristic function with constraints. we showed improved design factors that minimized 1st natural frequency and maximized 2nd natural frequency of diaphragm.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2009

Purpose : To compare 12 and 32-element surface coil arrays for highly accelerated coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using parallel imaging. Materials and Methods : Steady state free precession coronary MRA was performed in 5 healthy volunteers at 1.5 T whole body MR scanner using both 12 and 32-element surface coil arrays. Left anterior descending and right coronary artery data sets were acquired for each volunteer. Data sets were sub-sampled for parallel imaging using reduction factors from 1 to 6. Mean geometry factor (g-factor), maximum g-factor, and artifact level were calculated for each of the two coil arrays. Results : Over all reduction factors, the mean and maximum g-factors and artifact level were significantly reduced using the 32-element array compared to the 12element array (P << 0.1). The mean g-factor was sensitive to the imaging orientations of coronary arteries while the maximum g-factor and artifact level were independent of orientation. Conclusion : The 32-element surface coil array significantly improves artifact and noise suppression for highly accelerated coronary MRA using parallel imaging. The increased acceleration factors made feasible with the 32-element array offer the potential to enhance spatial resolution or increase volumetric coverage for 3D coronary MRA.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.70-71
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• 2003

산소-요오드 화학레이저(Chemical Oxygen iodine Laser： COIL)는 화학반응에 의해 발생되는 막대한 에너지를 변환시켜 레이저발진을 일으키는 기술로서 화학반응물의 양에 비례하여 출력을 높일 수 있어서 MW급 이상의 고출력이 가능한 레이저이다. 화학반응에 의해 레이저빔이 발생되는 COIL은 화학반응량에 비례하여 높은 화학에너지를 발생시키게 되며, 빛 에너지로 변환되어 고출력레이저가 가능해 진다. (중략)