• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.10
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• pp.1727-1730
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• 2016

Magnetic resonance imaging has a potential to produce clear anatomical as well as functional images of human body. However, the ability to diagnose is limited by signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the resolution of current medical systems. To remove the challenges prevalent due to the use of high field scanners, dedicated radio frequency coils are used. Transverse electromagnetic coils have an advantage of providing homogeneous magnetic field throughout the region but with low signal to noise ratio while surface coils have an advantage of providing higher signal to noise ratio but with low homogeneity. This research combines both the advantage into one by utilizing transmit only transverse electromagnetic radio frequency coils (8 channel) along with receive only surface coils (by varying the number) for better imaging of brain. A 7 Tesla 32-channel close fitting helmet shaped phased-array surface coils along with the combination of 8 channel transmit only transverse electromagnetic coils provided good homogeneity as well as significant SNR improvements throughout the human brain.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.320-323
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• 2013

Spinal cord infarction is becoming recognized as an important cause of acute myelopathy in cats. Although the definitive diagnosis is confirmed through postmortem histopathologic examination, MR imaging features provide valuable informations for the diagnosis of spinal cord infarction. The aim of this report is to describe MR findings of acute spinal cord infarction in two cats and to evaluate usefulness of low field MRI (0.3Tesla) as a potential diagnostic tool of acute spinal cord infarction. A cat (unknown age, neutered male mixed breed cat) was referred one day after the acute onset of non-ambulatory spastic tetraparesis and the other cat (a 9-year-old, neutered female domestic short hair cat) was presented due to the acute onset of non-ambulatory paraparesis and one day later paraplegia. The lesions of the MR images were shown on the spinal cord parenchyma over C2 to C6 in case 1 and L2 to L5 in case 2. The MR images in these two cases were characterized by focal intramedullary lesions, mainly involving grey matter which were hyperintense T2 weighted and FLAIR images and hyperintense on DWI and hypointense on ADC map. The MR findings in both cases were highly suggestive of acute spinal cord infarctions, based upon previous reported small animal cases and human cases. In conclusion, based on MR features, together with the history and clinical examination findings, MRI modality can be used as an antemortem tool for the diagnosis of acute spinal cord infarction in cats.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2018

In this research, 15 patients were diagnosed with 1.5T and 3.0T MRI instruments (Philips, Medical System, Achieva) to minize Ferromagnetic artifact and find the optimized Tesla. Based on the theory that the 3.0T, when compared to 1.5T, show relatively high signal-to-ratio(SNR), Scan time can be shortened or adjust the image resolution. However, when using the 3.0T MRI instruments, various artifact due to the magnetic field difference can degrade the diagnostic information. For the analysis condition, area of interest is set at the background of the T1, T2 sagittal image followed by evaluation of L3, L4, L5 SNR, length of 3 parts with Ferromagnetic artifact, and Histogram. The validity evaluation was performed by using the independent t test. As a result, for the SNR evaluation, mere difference in value was observed for L3 between 1.5T and 3.0T, while big differences were observed for both L4, and L5(p<0.05). Shorter length was observed for the 1.5T when observing 3 parts with Ferromagnetic artifact, thus we can conclude that 3.0T can provide more information on about peripheral tissue diagnostic information(p<0.05). Finally, 1.5T showed higher counts values for the Histogram evaluation(p<0.05). As a result, when we have compared the 1.5T and 3.0T with SNR, length of Ferromagnetic artifact, Histogram, we believe that using a Low Tesla for Spine MRI test can achieve the optimal image information for patients with disk operation like PLIF, etc. in the past.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Cognitive Science Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.151-153
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• 2005

We investigated the brain substrate of repetition priming on the implicit memory taskusing low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) with high-density 128 channel EEG and individual MRI as a realistic head model. Thirteen right-handed, healthy subjects performed a word/nonword discrimination task, in which the words and nonwords were presented visually,and some of the words appeared twice with a lag of one or five items. All of the subjects exhibited repetition priming with respect to the behavioral data, in which a faster reaction time was observed to the repeated word (old word) than to the first presentation of the word (new word). The old words elicited more positive-going potentials than the new words, beginning at 200 ms and lasting until 500 ms post-stimulus. We conducted source reconstruction using LORETA at a latency of 400 ms with the peak mean global field potentials and used statistical parametric mapping for the statistical analysis. We found that the source elicited by the old words exhibited a statistically significant current density reduction in the left inferior frontal gyrus. This is the first study to investigate the generators of repetition priming using voxel-by-voxel statistical mapping of the current density with individual MRI and high-density EEG.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Next Generation Computing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.40-50
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• 2019

In recent years, it is important to visualize an accurate human body model for the low-end system in the medical imaging field where augmented reality technology and virtual reality technology are used. Decreasing the geometry of a model causes a difference from the original shape and considers the difference as an error. So, the error should be minimized while reducing geometry. In this study, the organ areas of a human body in the tomographic images such as CT or MRI is segmented and 3D geometric model is generated, thereby implementing the reconstruction method of multiple resolution level-of-detail model. In the experiment, a virtual reality platform was constructed to verify the shape of the reconstructed model, targeting the spine area. The 3D human body model and patient information can be verified using the virtual reality platform.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1497-1513
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• 2021

The diagnostic and treatment methods of multiple myeloma (MM) have been rapidly evolving owing to advances in imaging techniques and new therapeutic agents. Imaging has begun to play an important role in the management of MM, and international guidelines are frequently updated. Since the publication of 2015 International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria for the diagnosis of MM, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or low-dose whole-body computed tomography (CT) and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT have entered the mainstream as diagnostic and treatment response assessment tools. The 2019 IMWG guidelines also provide imaging recommendations for various clinical settings. Accordingly, radiologists have become a key component of MM management. In this review, we provide an overview of updates in the MM field with an emphasis on imaging modalities.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.44-48
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• 2014

A liquid nitrogen-cooled prepolarization ($B_p$) coil made for ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging (ULF-MR) designed to generate 7 mT/A was fabricated. However, with suspected internal insulation failure, the coil was investigated in order to find out the source of the failure. This paper reports detailed build of the failed $B_p$ coil and a number of analysis methods utilized to figure out the source and the mode of failure. The analysis revealed that pyrolytic graphite sheet linings put on either sides of the coil for better thermal conduction acted as an electrical bridge between inner and outer layers of the coil to short out the coil whenever a moderately high voltage was applied across the coil. A simple model circuit simulation corroborated the analysis and further revealed that the failed insulation acted effectively as a damping resistor of $R_{d,eff}=6{\Omega}$ across the coil. This damping resistance produced a 50 ms-long voltage tail after the coil current was ramped down, making the coil not suitable for use in ULF-MR, which requires complete removal of magnetic field from $B_p$ coil within milliseconds.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.124-131
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• 2015

Hyperpolarization methods are the most emerging techniques in the field of magnetic resonance (MR) researches since they make a contribution to overcoming sensitivity limitation of MR spectroscopy and imaging, leading to new fields of researches, real-time in vivo metabolic/molecular imaging and MR analysis of chemical/biological reactions in non-equilibrium conditions. Make use of enormous signal enrichments, it becomes feasible to investigate various chemical and biochemical systems with low ${\gamma}$ nuclei in real-time. This review deals with the theoretical principals of common hyperpolarization methods and their experimental features. In addition, more detailed theories, mechanisms, and applications of dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP) are discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.47-47
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• 2003

Abstract: RF Birdcage Resonator는 높은 자장 균질성과 신호 대 잡음비의 특성이 좋음으로 인해 MRI와 MRS 연구에 보편적으로 사용되고 있다. 본 연구는 인체를 비롯한 동물실험을 위한 다양한 실험대상에 따라 코일의 크기를 예측하여 Birdcage Resonator를 개발하였다. Unloaded와 Loaded 상태에서의 전기적인 성향을 Lumped Element Circuit Theory를 따라 일반적인 분석을 하였을 뿐 아니라 실제적인 실험을 통한 분석도 하였다. Introduction: Birdcage Resonator 는 자장 균일성이 뛰어나고 신호대잡음비가 좋아 Magnetic Resonance Imaging과 Spectroscopy에 유용하게 사용되어지고 있다. 이 연구에서는 실험대상에 따른 여러 가지의 Birdcage Resonator를 개발하기 위해 Lumped Element Circuit Theory를 사용한 일반적인 이론적 방법론을 이용하여 코일을 분석하였을 뿐 아니라 실제 제작한 후 실험을 통한 실질적인 영상분석도 병행하여 진행하였다. Method: 실질적인 개발에 앞서 Lumped Element Circuit Theory를 통해 이론적인 분석으로부터 나온 여러 parameter들을 정리하였다. 제작 후 실험적인 분석은 Network Analyzer (HP 4195A, 미국)를 통한 1차적인 분석을 한 후 최종적으로 3T MRI 장비 (메디너스, 한국)에서 수행하였다. 제작된 Birdcage Resonator의 종류는 기본적으로 Low-Pass Filter를 적용한 12-column 구조이다. 각각의 직경과 element의 길이는 다음과 같다. 1) 직경 13cm, element의 길이 22cm, 2) 직경 15cm, element의 길이 22cm, 3) 직경 17 cm, element의 길이 25cm. Result and Discussion: 여러 parameter들을 이론적으로 계산하여 실제 Birdcage Resonator를 제작하여 실험적인 분석을 한 결과 많은 차이가 있음을 알 수 있었다. 그 이유는 이론적인 계산에서는 생각되지 않았던 요인들이 실제 제작에 있어서는 많은 영향을 미쳤기 때문인 것이다. Network Analyzer를 통한 1차적인 분석 후에도 실제의 Magnet Field내에서 또 다시 차이가 나는 것 또한 같은 이유에서이다. 그러므로 Birdcage Resonator 제작에 있어서 이러한 여러 요인들을 충분히 고려하여야 할 것이다. Acknowledgement: 본 연구는 2002 년도 한국과학재단 목적기초연구사업 (과제번호 : R0l-2002-000-00294-0 (2002) 지원아래 수행되었다.