• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.436-442
• /
• 2008

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography(MREIT) has been suggested to produce cross-sectional conductivity images of an electrically conducting object such as the human body. In most previous studies, recessed electrodes have been used to inject imaging currents into the object. An MRI scanner was used to capture induced magnetic flux density data inside the object and a conductivity image reconstruction algorithm was applied to the data. This paper reports the performance of a thin and flexible carbon-hydrogel electrode that replaces the bulky and rigid recessed electrode in previous studies. The new carbon-hydrogel electrode produces a negligible amount of artifacts in MR and conductivity images and significantly simplifies the experimental procedure. We can fabricate the electrode in different shapes and sizes. Adding a layer of conductive adhesive, we can easily attach the electrode on an irregular surface with an excellent contact. Using a pair of carbon-hydrogel electrodes with a large contact area, we may inject an imaging current with increased amplitude primarily due to a reduced average current density underneath the electrodes. Before we apply the new electrode to a human subject, we evaluated its performance by conducting MREIT imaging experiments of five swine legs. Reconstructed conductivity images of the swine legs show a good contrast among different muscles and bones. We suggest a future study of human experiments using the carbon-hydrogel electrode following the guideline proposed in this paper.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.2083-2090
• /
• 2010

This paper presents a 3-D visualization technique using stereo radioactive images to provide efficient inspection of fast moving cargo objects. The proposed technique can be used for such objects which CT or MRI cannot inspect due to restricted scan environment. Stereo radioactive images are acquired from a specially designed equipment which consists of a X-ray source, linear radioactive sensors, and a moving stage. Two radioactive sensors are installed so that rectified stereo X-ray images of objects are acquired. Using the stereo X-ray images, we run a matching algorithm to find the correspondences between the images and reconstruct 3-D shapes of real objects. The objects are put in a parallelepiped box to simulate cargo inspection. Three real objects are tested and reconstructed. Due to the inherent ambiguity in the stereo X-ray images, we reconstruct 3-D shapes of the edges of the objects. The experimental results show the proposed technique can provide efficient visualization for cargo inspection.

• Journal of Magnetics
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.145-152
• /
• 2012

Patients who underwent hip arthroplasty using the conventional fat suppression technique (CHESS) and a new technique (IDEAL) were compared quantitatively to assess the effectiveness and usefulness of the IDEAL technique. In 20 patients who underwent hip arthroplasty from March 2009 to December 2010, fat suppression T2 and T1 weighted images were obtained on a 3.0T MR scanner using the CHESS and IDEAL techniques. The level of distortion in the area of interest, the level of the development of susceptibility artifacts, and homogeneous fat suppression were analyzed from the acquired images. Quantitative analysis revealed the IDEAL technique to produce a lower level of image distortion caused by the development of susceptibility artifacts due to metal on the acquired images compared to the CHESS technique. Qualitative analysis of the anterior area revealed the IDEAL technique to generate fewer susceptibility artifacts than the CHESS technique but with homogeneous fat suppression. In the middle area, the IDEAL technique generated fewer susceptibility artifacts than the CHESS technique but with homogeneous fat suppression. In the posterior area, the IDEAL technique generated fewer susceptibility artifacts than the CHESS technique. Fat suppression was not statistically different, and the two techniques achieved homogeneous fat suppression. In conclusion, the IDEAL technique generated fewer susceptibility artifacts caused by metals and less image distortion than the CHESS technique. In addition, homogeneous fat suppression was feasible. In conclusion, the IDEAL technique generates high quality images, and can provide good information for diagnosis.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 1997

3-dimensional Neuronavigator, Viewing Wand(ISG Technologies, Toronto, Cannda) is the surgery aid equipment for real time image (CT or MRI) guided surgery. The assurance of spatial accuracy of this system is important for clinical application. In this study, we have designed the acrylic brain phantom and measured the spatial error with that phantom. The phantom has designed to have capability to simulate image guided surgery. The phantom has 22 vertical rods whose diameters are 5mm and each rods has different length. CT scans were performed by 2.0mm slice and reconstructed for 3-Dimensional analysis. End point of rods can be obtained using reconstructed 3- Dimensional images and they are compared to actual position data. Average deviation was less than 2mm for various situations. Spatial error of Viewing Wand is acceptable in the clinical points of view, while cosmetics of the software needs to be modified to more user friend. Better accuracy can be expected when we apply the mixed fiducial fit registration and surface fit registration method. And even better results can be obtained if registration points distributed even and symetric around the target.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.12 no.12
• /
• pp.63-70
• /
• 2012

In medical image processing field, object recognition is usually processed based on region segmentation algorithm. Region segmentation in the computing field is carried out by computerized processing of various input information such as brightness, shape, and pattern analysis. If the information mentioned does not make sense, however, many limitations could occur with region segmentation during computer processing. Therefore, this paper suggests effective region segmentation method based on R2-map information within the magnetic resonance (MR) theory. In this study, the experiment had been conducted using images including the liver region and by setting up feature points of R2-map as seed points for 2D region growing and final boundary correction to enable region segmentation even when the border line was not clear. As a result, an average area difference of 7.5%, which was higher than the accuracy of conventional exist region segmentation algorithm, was obtained.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.123-131
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Joint label fusion (JLF) is a popular multi-atlas-based segmentation algorithm, which compensates for dependent errors that may exist between atlases. However, in order to get good segmentation results, it is very important to set the several free parameters of the algorithm to optimal values. In this study, we first investigate the feasibility of a JLF algorithm for prostate segmentation in MR images, and then suggest the optimal set of parameters for the automatic prostate segmentation by validating the results of each parameter combination. Materials and Methods: We acquired T2-weighted prostate MR images from 20 normal heathy volunteers and did a series of cross validations for every set of parameters of JLF. In each case, the atlases were rigidly registered for the target image. Then, we calculated their voting weights for label fusion from each combination of JLF's parameters (r_pxy, r_pz, r_sxy, r_sz, β). We evaluated the segmentation performances by five validation metrics of the Prostate MR Image Segmentation challenge. Results: As the number of voxels participating in the voting weight calculation and the number of referenced atlases is increased, the overall segmentation performance is gradually improved. The JLF algorithm showed the best results for dice similarity coefficient, 0.8495 ± 0.0392; relative volume difference, 15.2353 ± 17.2350; absolute relative volume difference, 18.8710 ± 13.1546; 95% Hausdorff distance, 7.2366 ± 1.8502; and average boundary distance, 2.2107 ± 0.4972; in parameters of r_pxy = 10, r_pz = 1, r_sxy = 3, r_sz = 1, and β = 3. Conclusion: The evaluated results showed the feasibility of the JLF algorithm for automatic segmentation of prostate MRI. This empirical analysis of segmentation results by label fusion allows for the appropriate setting of parameters.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.138-145
• /
• 2009

Custom medical treatment is being widely adapted to lots of medical applications. A technology for 3D modeling is strongly required to fabricate medical implants for individual patient. Needs on true 3D CAD data of a patient is strongly required for tissue engineering and human body simulations. Medical imaging devices show human inner section and 3D volume rendering images of human organs. CT or MRI is one of the popular imaging devices for that use. However, those image data is not sufficient to use for medical fabrication or simulation. This paper mainly deals how to generate 3D geometry data from those medical images. A new image processing technology is introduced to reconstruct 3D geometry of a human body vacancy from the medical images. Then a surface geometry data is reconstructed by using Marching cube algorithm. Resulting CAD data is a custom 3D geometry data of human vacancy. This paper introduces a novel 3D reconstruction process and shows some typical examples with implemented software.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.445-448
• /
• 2014

A 7-year-old, male Alaskan malamute was referred for a routine dental management. On the physical examination, the right hindlimb ataxia with a mild delay in proprioception was noted. On magnetic resonance images, an extradural ventral cystic structure compressing the spinal cord was found at the level between the first and second lumbar vertebra. The cyst showed hypointense on a T1-weighted image with rim enhancement and hyperintense on a T2-weighted image. The cystic lesion was removed through right-side hemilaminectomy. In the histopathological examination, evenly distributed fibroblasts and collagenous stroma with several cartilaginous materials were seen. The neurological signs of the right hindlimb were successfully recovered within a week in follow-up neurological examination and showed normal gait at 6 months after surgery.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
• /
• v.10B no.5
• /
• pp.509-514
• /
• 2003

The virtual bronchoscopy was implemented using chest CT images to visualize inside of tracheo-bronchial wall. The optical endoscopy procedures are invasive, uncomfortable for patients and sedation or anesthesia may be required. Also, they have serious side effects such as perforation, infection and hemorrhage. In order to determine the navigation path, we segmented the tracheo-bronchial wall from the chest CT image. We used the coordinates as a navigation path for virtual camera that were calculated from medial axis transformation. We used the perspective projection and marching cube algorithm to render the surface from volumetric CT image data. The tracheobronchial disease was classified into tracheobronchial stenosis causing from inflammation or lung cancer, bronchiectasis and bronchial cancer. The virtual bronchoscopy is highly recommended as a diagnosis tool with which the specific place of tracheobronchial disease can be identified and the degree of tracheobronchial disease can be measured qualitatively, Also, the virtual bronchoscopy can be used as an education and training tool for endoscopist and radiologist.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.151-155
• /
• 2010

Primary hepatic lymphoma is extremely rare, representing less than 1% of all extranodal lymphomas. We report MR imaging features and pathologic correlation of a case of primary hepatic lymphoma. MR images showed a large lobulated mass with gradual contrast enhancement, resembling intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. However, both hepatobiliary phase image obtained 20 minutes after injection of hepatocyte specific contrast agent and diffusion-weighted image demonstrated characteristic three layered pattern representing viable lymphoma in the outer layer, tumor necrosis in the middle layer and necrotic hepatic parenchyma in the center.