• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of the present study was to develop and optimize solenoid coil for animal- model in 3 T MRI system and investigate and compare with the birdcage coil concerning the image quality with the various parameters such as SNR and Q-factor. Materials and Methods : Solenoid coil for animal-model was made on the acryl structure (diameter 4 cm, length 10 cm) 3 times-winding cooper tape of width 2 cm, thickness 0.05 cm and length 10 cm with 2 cm interval between winded tapes. Capacitors from 2 pF to 100 pF were used, and the solenoid coil was designed for receiver only coil. Results : SNR of the developed solenoid was 985 in CuSO4 0.7 g/L and 995 in rat experiment. Q-factor was 84-89 in unloaded condition and 203-206 in loaded condition. Conclusion : The resolution of the image obtained from solenoid was relatively higher than that of the conventional birdcage coil. In addition, the homogeneity of RF field by coil simulation was significantly excellent. The present study demonstrated that the solenoid coil could be useful to obtain small animal images with better contrast, resolution, visibility than images from birdcage.

• IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing and Computing
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.311-317
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to develop a 3D registration algorithm for positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images acquired from independent PET/CT and MR imaging systems. Combined PET/CT images provide anatomic and functional information, and MR images have high resolution for soft tissue. With the registration technique, the strengths of each modality image can be combined to achieve higher performance in diagnosis and radiotherapy planning. The proposed method consists of two stages: normalized mutual information (NMI)-based global matching and independent component analysis (ICA)-based refinement. In global matching, the field of view of the CT and MR images are adjusted to the same size in the preprocessing step. Then, the target image is geometrically transformed, and the similarities between the two images are measured with NMI. The optimization step updates the transformation parameters to efficiently find the best matched parameter set. In the refinement stage, ICA planes from the windowed image slices are extracted and the similarity between the images is measured to determine the transformation parameters of the control points. B-spline. based freeform deformation is performed for the geometric transformation. The results show good agreement between PET/CT and MR images.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2001

Purpose : $T_2$-weighted half courier Echo Planar Imaging (T2HEPI) method is proposed to reduce measurement time of existing EPI by a factor of 2. In addition, high $T_2$ contrast is obtained for clinical applications. High resolution single-shot EPI images with $T_2$ contrast are obtained with $128{\times}128$ matrix size by the proposed method. Materials and methods : In order to reduce measurement time in EPI, half courier space is measured, and rest of half courier data is obtained by conjugate symmetric filling. Thus high resolution single shot EPI image with $128{\times}128$ matrix size is obtained with 64 echoes. By the arrangement of phase encoding gradients, high $T_2$ weighted images are obtained. The acquired data in k-space are shifted if there exists residual gradient field due to eddy current along phase encoding gradient, which results in a serious problem in the reconstructed image. The residual field is estimated by the correlation coefficient between the echo signal for dc and the corresponding reference data acquired during the pre-scan. Once the residual gradient field is properly estimated, it can be removed by the adjustment of initial phase encoding gradient field between $70^{\circ}$ and $180^{\circ}$ rf pulses. Results : The suggested T2EPl is implemented in a 1.0 Tela whole body MRI system. Experiments are done with the effective echo times of 72ms and 96ms with single shot acquisitions. High resolution($128{\times}128$) volunteer head images with high $T_2$ contrast are obtained in a single scan by the proposed method. Conclusion : Using the half courier technique, higher resolution EPI images are obtained with matrix size of $128{\times}128$ in a single scan. Furthermore $T_2$ contrast is controlled by the effective echo time. Since the suggested method can be implemented by software alone (pulse sequence and corresponding tuning and reconstruction algorithms) without addition of special hardware, it can be widely used in existing MRI systems.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2014

Purpose : To determine whether high-resolution contrast-enhanced three dimensional imaging with spoiled gradient-recalled sequence (HR-CE 3D-SPGR) plays a meaningful role in the assessment of intracranial vertebral artery (ICVA) and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in lateral medullary infarction (LMI). Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients confirmed with LMI were retrospectively enrolled with approval by the IRB of our institute, and 3T MRI with HR-CE 3D-SPGR and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) were performed. Two radiologists who were blinded to clinical information and other brain MR images including diffusion weighted image independently evaluated arterial lesions in ICVA and PICA. The demographic characteristics, the area of LMI and cerebellar involvement were analyzed and compared between patients with arterial lesion in ICVA only and patients with arterial lesions in both ICVA and PICA on HR-CE 3D-SPGR. Results: Twenty-two of twenty-five LMI patients had arterial lesions in ICVA or PICA on HR-CE 3D SPGR. However twelve arterial lesions in PICA were not shown on CE-MRA. Concurrent cerebellar involvement appeared more in LMI patients with arterial lesion in ICVA and PICA than those with arterial lesion in ICVA alone (p = 0.069). Conclusion: HR-CE 3D-SPGR can help evaluate arterial lesions in ICVA and PICA for LMI patients.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2007

In molecular imaging studies via magnetic resonance imaging, in vivo cell tracking is an important issue for the observation of cell therapy or disease behavior. High resolution imaging and longitudinal study are necessary to track the cell movement. Since the field inhomogeneity extends over several voxels, we have performed the numerical analysis using the sub-voxel method dividing a voxel of MR image into several elements and the information about the field inhomogeneity distribution around the micro-beads. We imbedded ferrite-composite micro-beads with the size of $20-150{\mu}m$ in the subject substituted for cells to induce local field distortion. In the phantom imaging with the isotropic voxel size of $200{\mu}m^3$, we could confirm the feasibility of sub-voxel tracking in a 3.0 T MRI.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to design and build an optimized birdcage resonator configuration with a low pass filter, which would facilitate the acquisition of high-resolution 3D-image of small animals at 3T MRI system. Methods and Materials: The birdcage resonator with 12-element structures was built, in order to ensure B1 homogeneity over the image volume and maximum filling factor, and hence to maximize the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and resolution of the 3-dimensional images. The diameter and length of each element of a birdcage resonator were as follows: (1) diameter 13 cm, length 22 cm, (2) diameter 15 cm, length 22 cm, (3) diameter 17 cm, length 25 cm. Spin echo pulse sequence and fast spin echo pulse sequence were employed in obtaining MR images. The quality of the manufactured birdcage resonators wes evaluated on the basis of the return loss following matching and tuning process. Results: The experimental MR image of phantoms by the various manufactured birdcage resonators were obtained to compare the SNR in accordance with the size of objects. The size of an object to that of coil was identified by parameters that were estimated from the image of a phantom. First, the diameter of the birdcage resonator was 15cm, and the ratio of the tangerine to the birdcage resonator accounted for approximately 27%. The Q factor was 53.2 and the SNR was 150.7. Second, at the same birdcage resonator, the ratio of the orange was approximately 53%. The SNR and the Q parameter was 212.8 and 91.2, respectively. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that if birdcage resonators have the same forms, SNR could be different depending on the size of an object, especially when the size of an object to that of coil is approximately 40~80%, the former is bigger than the latter. Therefore, when the size of an object to be observed is smaller than that of coil, the coil should be manufactured in accordance with the size of an object in order to obtain much more excellent images.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2009

Magnetic Resonance Electrical Impedance Tomography (MREIT) is a new bio-imaging modality providing cross-sectional conductivity images from measurements of internal magnetic flux densities produced by externally injected currents. Recent MREIT studies demonstrated successful conductivity image reconstructions of postmortem and in vivo canine brain. However, the whole head imaging was not achieved due to technical issues related with electrodes and noise in measured magnetic flux density data. In this study, we used a new carbon-hydrogel electrode with a large contact area and injected 30 mA imaging current through a canine head. Using a 3T MREIT system, we performed a postmortem canine experiment and produced high-resolution conductivity images of the entire canine head. Collecting magnetic flux density data inside the head subject to multiple injection currents, we reconstructed cross-sectional conductivity images using the harmonic $B_z$ algorithm. The conductivity images of the canine head show a good contrast not only inside the brain region including white and gray matter but also outside the brain region including the skull, temporalis muscle, mandible, lingualis proprius muscle, and masseter muscle.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate MR image qualities we developed a new MRI phantom with the fixation structures necessary to position it into coil firmly. Materials and methods : We designed MRI phantom for eight evaluation items such as slice thickness accuracy, high contrast spatial resolution, low contrast object detectability, geometry accuracy, slice position accuracy, image intensity uniformity, percent signal ghosting and signal to noise ratio. For the positioning of phantom at coils, the fixation structures were set up on the surface of phantom. Six different MRI units were used for test the possibility for the clinical application and their image qualities were evaluated. Results : We acquired appropriate MR image qualities enough for the evaluation on all used MR units and confirmed that their evaluations were within reliable values compared to real ones for some items. The positioning of our phantom into head coils with fixation structures worked well for proper imaging. Conclusion : We found that our prototype of MRI phantom had the possibility of clinical application for MR image quality assessment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.405-409
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• 2016

Meningiomas are typically diagnosed by their characteristic appearance on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, detailed image findings regarding peri- and intra-tumoral anatomical structures, tumor consistency and vascularity are very important in pre-surgical planning and surgical outcomes. At the 7.0 T MRI achieving ultra-high resolution, it could be possible to obtain more useful information in surgical strategy. Four patients who were radiologically diagnosed with intracranial meningioma in 1.5 T MRI underwent a 7.0 T MRI. Three of them underwent surgery afterwards, and one received gamma knife radiosurgery. In our study, the advantages of 7.0 T MRI over 1.5 T MRI were a more detailed depiction of the peri- and intra-tumoral vasculature and a clear delineation of tumor-brain interface. In the safety issues, all patients received 7.0 T MRI without any adverse event. One disadvantage of 7.0 T MRI was the reduced image quality of skull base lesions. 7.0 T MRI in patients with meningiomas could provide useful information in surgical strategy, such as the peri-tumoral vasculature and the tumor-brain interface.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.94-102
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• 1997

Purpose: There have been some efforts to diagnose intracranial aneurysm through a non-invasive method using MRA, although the process may be difficult when the lesion is less than 3mm. The present study prospectively compares the results of high resolution, fast speed slice interpolation MRA and DSA thereby examing the potentiality of primary non-invasive screening test. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 cerebral aneurysm lesions from 14 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured aneurysm (RA) and 5 patients with unruptured aneurysm(UA). In all subjects, MRA was taken to confirm the vessel of origin, definition of aneurysm neck and the relationship of the aneurysm to nearby small vessels, and the results were compared with the results of DSA. The images were obtained with 1.5T superconductive machine (Vision, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) on 4 slabs of MRA using slice interpolation. The settings include TR/TE/FA=30/6.4/25, matrix $160{\times}512$, FOV $150{\times}200$, 7minutes 42 seconds of scan time, effective thickness of 0.7 mm and an entire thickness of 102. 2mm. The images included structures from foramen magnum to A3 portion of anterior cerebral artery. MIP was used for the image analysis, and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) technique was used in cases of intracranial aneurysm. Results: A total of 26 intracranial aneurysm lesions from 19 patients with 2 patients having 3 lesion, 3 patients having 2 lesions and the rest of 14 patients having 1 lesion each were examined. Among those, 14 were RA and 12 were UA. Eight lesions were less than 2mm in size, 9 lesions were 3-5mm, 7 were 6-9mm and 2 were larger than IOmm. On initial exams, 25 out of 26 aneurysm lesions were detected in either MRA or DSA showing 96% sensitivity. Specificity cannot be estimated since there was no true negative of false positive findings. When MRA and MPR were used concurrently for the confirmation of size and shape, the results were equivalent to those of DSA, while in the confirmation of aneurysm neck and parent vessels, the concurrent use of MRA and MPR was far superior to the sole use of either MRA or DSA. Conclusion: High resolution MRA using slice interpolation technique showed equal results as those of DSA for the detection of intracranial aneurysm, and may be used as a primary non-invasive screening test in the future.