• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.16-17
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• 2007

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the detection rate of hyperacute intracerebral hemorrhage in echo planar imaging (EPI) and other MR sequences. materials and Methods : Intracerebral hemorrhage was experimentally induced in ten rats. EPI, fast spin-echo (FSE) T2 weighted images, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), spin-echo (SE) T1 weighted images and gradient echo (GE) T1 weight ed images of rat's brains were obtained 2 hours after onset of intracerebral hemorrhage. EPI and FSE T2 images were additionally obtained 30 min and 1 hour after onset of hemorrhage in 3 and 6 rat, repeatedly, For objective visual assessment, discrimination between the lesion and normal brain parenchyma was evaluated on various MR sequences by three radiologists. For quantitative assessment, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated fro hemorrhage-normal brain parenchyma. Statistical analysis was performed usning the Wilcoxon-Ranks test. Results : EPI, FLAIR, and FSE T2 images showed high signal intensity lesions. The lesion discrimination was easier on EPI than on other sequences, and also EPI showed higher signal intensity for the subjective visual assessment. In quantitative evaluation, CNR of the hemorrhagic lesion versus normal brain parenchyma were higher on EPI and FLAIR images (p<0.01). There was no difference in CNR between EPI and FLAIR (p>0.10). On MR images obtained 30 minutes and 1 hour after the onset of intracerebral hemorrhage, the lesion detection was feasible on both EPI and FSE T2 images showing high signal intensity. Conclusion : EPI showed higher detection rate as compared with other MR sequences and could be useful in early detection and evaluation of intracerebral hemorrhage.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2003

Functional MRI (fMRI) provides an indirect mapping of cerebral activity, based on the detection of the local blood flow and oxygenation changes following neuronal activity (Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent). fMRI allows us to study noninvasively the normal and pathological aspects of functional cortical organization. Each fMRI study compares two different states of activity. Echo-Planar Imaging is the technique that makes it possible to study the whole brain at a rapid pace. Activation maps are calculated from a statistical analysis of the local signal changes. fMRI is now becoming an essential tool in the neurofunctional evaluation of normal volunteers and many neurological patients as well as the reference method to image normal or pathologic functional brain organization.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.108-116
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• 2006

Purpose : High-resolution spiral-scan imaging is performed at 3 Tesla MRI system. Since the gradient waveforms for the spiral-scan imaging have lower slopes than those for the Echo Planar Imaging (EPI), they can be implemented with the gradient systems having lower slew rates. The spiral-scan imaging also involves less eddy currents due to the smooth gradient waveforms. The spiral-scan imaging method does not suffer from high specific absorption rate (SAR), which is one of the main obstacles in high field imaging for rf echo-based fast imaging methods such as fast spin echo techniques. Thus, the spiral-scan imaging has a great potential for the high-speed imaging in high magnetic fields. In this paper, we presented various high-resolution images obtained by the spiral-scan methods at 3T MRI system for various applications. Materials and Methods : High-resolution spiral-scan imaging technique is implemented at 3T whole body MRI system. An efficient and fast higher-order shimming technique is developed to reduce the inhomogeneity, and the single-shot and interleaved spiral-scan imaging methods are developed. Spin-echo and gradient-echo based spiral-scan imaging methods are implemented, and image contrast and signal-tonoise ratio are controlled by the echo time, repetition time, and the rf flip angles. Results : Spiral-scan images having various resolutions are obtained at 3T MRI system. Since the absolute magnitude of the inhomogeneity is increasing in higher magnetic fields, higher order shimming to reduce the inhomogeneity becomes more important. A fast shimming technique in which axial, sagittal, and coronal sectional inhomogeneity maps are obtained in one scan is developed, and the shimming method based on the analysis of spherical harmonics of the inhomogeneity map is applied. For phantom and invivo head imaging, image matrix size of about $100{\times}100$ is obtained by a single-shot spiral-scan imaging, and a matrix size of $256{\times}256$ is obtained by the interleaved spiral-scan imaging with the number of interleaves of from 6 to 12. Conclusion : High field imaging becomes increasingly important due to the improved signal-to-noise ratio, larger spectral separation, and the higher BOLD-based contrast. The increasing SAR is, however, a limiting factor in high field imaging. Since the spiral-scan imaging has a very low SAR, and lower hardware requirements for the implementation of the technique compared to EPI, it is suitable for a rapid imaging in high fields. In this paper, the spiral-scan imaging with various resolutions from $100{\times}100$ to $256{\times}256$ by controlling the number of interleaves are developed for the high-speed imaging in high magnetic fields.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2012

The substantial improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be achieved with small-size samples or low-field MRI system by high-temperature superconducting(HTS) RF coil. The typical HTS RF coil made of HTS thin film is expensive and is limited the coil geometry to planar surface coil. In this study, commercial Bi-2223 HTS tapes was used as RF coil for a 0.35T permanent MRI system. It has advantages of both much lower cost and easier fabrication over HTS thin film coil. SNR gain of the image obtained from the HTS RF coil over a conventional Cu RF coil at room temperature was about 2.4-fold and 1.9-fold using the spin echo pulse sequence and gradient echo pulse sequence respectively.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.267-268
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• 1998

In this paper, we analysis 3 types of magnetic resonance image for determining whether brain infarction period is hyperacute or not. If its peirod is hyperacute, we can predict brain infarction transition direction. We use EPI(Echo Planar Image) for prediction of brain infarction transition direction. EPI is a good image for detecting brain infarction because EPI can detect the moving of water in brain which play an important role in deciding method of medical treatment. We utilize characteristics of 3 type of MRI and their relation in brain infarction patient for determining brain infarction period. By this method, we obtain each period characteristics and predict brain infarction transition direction more accurately comparing past method.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 2002

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI) and quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps in the patients with spinal cord infarction. Materials and methods : We studied 6 patients presented symptoms with spinal cord infarction, retrospectively (3 men and 3 women). We obtained multi-shot echo planar-based, DWI using 1.5T MR scanner at 5.4 mean days after the onset of ischemic symptoms. In six patients, signal intensity was acquired at conventional b value $1000s/\textrm{mm}^2$). The ADC value for the normal spinal cord and for infarcted lesions was measured from the trace ADC maps by using regions of interest positioned over the spinal cord. We analyzed signal intensity of lesion on MRI and DWI, and compared with ADC values in infarcted lesions and normal site. Results : T1-weighted MR image showed isosignal intensity in four of six patients and low signal intensity in two of six. T2-weighted MR image demonstrated high signal intensity in all of six. All DWI were considered to be diagnostic. All of six depicted a bright signal intensity on DWI. ADC values of infarcted lesion were measured lower than that of normal spinal cord on ADC map. The differences in ADC values between infarcted and normal spinal cord were significantly different (p＜0.05). Conclusion : It is possible to obtain DWI and ADC map of the spinal cord and DWI may be useful in the early diagnosis and localization of lesion site in patients with spinal cord infarction.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.146-149
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• 2017

In this study, we compared the standardized value of each signal intensity, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) that digitizes the diffusion of water molecules, and the signal to noise ratio (SNR) using b value 0 400, 1400 ($s/mm^2$). From March 2013 to December 2013, patients with suspicion of simple compound fracture and metastatic spine cancer were included in the MR readout. We used a 1.5 Tesla Achieva MRI system and a Syn-Spine Coil. Sequence is a DWI SE-EPI sagittal (diffusion weighted imaging spin echo-echo planar imaging sagittal) image with b-factor ($s/mm^2$) 0, 400, 1400 were used. Data analysis showed ROI (Region of Interest) in diseased area with high SI (signal intensity) in diffusion-weighted image b value 0 ($s/mm^2$) Using the MRIcro program, each SI was calculated with images of b-value 0, 400, and 1400 ($s/mm^2$), ADC map was obtained using Metlab Software with each image of b-value, The ADC is obtained by applying the ROI to the same position. The standardized values ($SI_{400}/SI_0$, $SI_{400}/SI_0$) of simple compression fractures were $0.47{\pm}0.04$ and $0.23{\pm}0.03$ and the standardized values ($SI_{400}/SI_0$, $SI_{400}/SI_0$) of the metastatic spine were $0.57{\pm}0.07$ and $0.32{\pm}0.08$ And the standardized values of the two diseases were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The ADC ($mm^2/s$) for b value 400 ($s/mm^2$) and 1400 ($s/mm^2$) of the simple compression fracture disease site were $1.70{\pm}0.16$ and $0.93{\pm}0.28$ and $1.24{\pm}0.21$ and $0.80{\pm}0.15$ for the metastatic spine. The ADC ($mm^2/s$) for b value 400($s/mm^2$) was statistically significant (p < 0.05) but the ADC ($mm^2/s$) for b value 1400 (p > 0.05). In conclusion, multi - b value recognition of signal changes in diffusion - weighted imaging is very important for the diagnosis of various spinal diseases.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of cerebral blood flow measurement applied to perfusion weighted image with short-scan time single shot gradient echo-planar technique in measuring cerebral blood volume(rCBV) of normal rabbits. Materials and methods : With 2.1-3.6 kg weighted rabbits, image is acquired when they are in supine position in children positioner. Perfusion weighted image is acquired to 44 seconds per 1 second successively. After 4 seconds later, Gd-DTPA 2ml are injected into int. jugular vein with 2 ml per second and normal saline is also injected after that. Same technique is applied 2 times per 30 minites in same rabbit. After Image is obtained in two part of cerebral cortex at vertex, convexity, in one of basal ganglia with choosing about $3-5{\textrm{mm}^2}$ areas. Curve of signal intensity changes in time sequence is drawn. After this images are transmitted by PC and software IDL, regional cerebral blood volume is measured with imaging processing program made by us. Results : With 22 of 24 rabbits, satisfactory 1-2 signal intensity versus time curve is made. Cerebral blood capacity and contrast media stay time (ST) is measured in two cerebral cortex and basal ganglia refering in parietal cerebral cortex. Mean focal cerebral blood flow capacity ratio in cortex was $0.97{\pm}0.35$ and in basal ganglia, $0.99{\pm}0.37$, mean contrast media stay time in cortex was $9.83{\pm}1.63$ sec and in basal gaiglia, $9.42{\pm}1.14$ sec, but there was no statistically significant difference between two areas ($\rho$=0.05). Conclusion : In cerebral cortex and basal ganglia, there is no difference in mean focal blood volume and mean contrast stay time. Therefore, PWI is useful in cerebral blood flow and early diagnosis, prognosis of cerebral ischemic disease. Hereafter, it is helpful in analysing cerebral blood flow changes with comparison difference in rCBV between normal tissue and ischemic tissue, and that with DWI finding in infarcted patient.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.11-18
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• 2016

Magnetic resonance image (MRI) is widely used in brain research field and medical image. Especially, non-invasive brain activation acquired image technique, which is functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) is used in brain study. In this study, we investigate brain activation occurred by LED light stimulation. For investigate of brain activation in experimental small animal, we used high magnetic field 9.4T MRI. Experimental small animal is Balb/c mouse, method of fMRI is using echo planar image (EPI). EPI method spend more less time than any other MRI method. For this reason, however, EPI data has low contrast. Due to the low contrast, image pre-processing is very hard and inaccuracy. In this study, we planned the study protocol, which is called block design in fMRI research field. The block designed has 8 LED light stimulation session and 8 rest session. All block is consist of 6 EPI images and acquired 1 slice of EPI image is 16 second. During the light session, we occurred LED light stimulation for 1 minutes 36 seconds. During the rest session, we do not occurred light stimulation and remain the light off state for 1 minutes 36 seconds. This session repeat the all over the EPI scan time, so the total spend time of EPI scan has almost 26 minutes. After acquired EPI data, we performed the analysis of this image data. In this study, we analysis of EPI data using statistical parametric map (SPM) software and performed image pre-processing such as realignment, co-registration, normalization, smoothing of EPI data. The pre-processing of fMRI data have to segmented using this software. However this method has 3 different method which is Gaussian nonparametric, warped modulate, and tissue probability map. In this study we performed the this 3 different method and compared how they can change the result of fMRI analysis results. The result of this study show that LED light stimulation was activate superior colliculus region in mouse brain. And the most higher activated value of segmentation method was using tissue probability map. this study may help to improve brain activation study using EPI and SPM analysis.