• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2005

We have performed EEG current source imaging on the cortical surface using visual evoked potentials (VEPs) recorded inside a 3.0 T MRI magnet. In order to remove ballistocardiogram (BCG) artifacts in the VEPs, an improved BCG template subtraction technique is devised. Using the cortically constrained current source imaging technique and pattern-reversal visual stimulations, we have obtained current source maps from 10 subjects. To validate the EEG current source imaging inside the magnet, we have compared the current source maps to the ones obtained outside the magnet. The experimental results demonstrate that there is a strong correspondence between the current source maps, proving that current source imaging is feasible with the evoked potentials recorded inside a 3.0 T MRI magnet.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.1075-1078
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• 1999

In this study, a new algorithm for canceling MRI artifacts through the translational motion of image plane is presented. Bloating is often makes problems in a clinical diagnosis. Assuming that the head moves up and down due to breathing, rigid translational motions in only y(phase encoding axis) direction is treated. First, we notice that the x directional motion corresponds to a shift of the x directional spectrum of the MRI signal, and the non zero area of the spectrum just corresponds to x axis projected area of the density function. So the motion is estimated by tracing the edges of the spectrum, and the x directional motion is canceled by shifting the spectrum in inverse direction. Next, the y directional motion is canceled using a new constraint, with which the motion component and the true image component can be separated. Finally, the effectiveness of this algorithm is shown by using a phantom with simulated motions.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2002.07d
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• pp.2746-2748
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• 2002

MRI 스캔중 촬상 대상물의 화상평면내에서의 회전은 MRI 신호에 위상오차와 불균일 표본화를 일으킨다. 따라서, 아티팩트가 포함된 MR 화상의 화질열화를 개선하기 위하여 다음과 같은 방법들을 제안한다. 우선, 미리 주어진 회전파라메타로서 쌍일차 보간과 중첩특성을 이용해서 k공간 불균일 표본화 데이터를 수정하는 알고리즘과, 2차원 회전운동의 회전각은 이미 알려져 있고, 회전중심 위치가 미지인 경우에 대해 아티팩트를 보정하는 알고리즘을 제안한다. 이 때, 미지운동 파라메타를 예측하기 위해 촬상대상물의 경계바깥쪽에서 이상적인 MR 화상의 에너지는 최소가 되고, 촬상 대상물의 회전이 존재할 때 측정된 에너지가 증가한다는 성질을 이용했다. 이러한 성질을 이용해서 시뮬레이션 화상에 적용한 결과 제안한 방법에 대한 유효성을 확인하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2002.04b
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• pp.601-603
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• 2002

MRI 스캔중 촬상 대상물의 화강평면내에서의 회전은 MRI 신호에 위상오차와 불균일 표본화를 일으킨다. 따라서, 아티팩트가 포함된 MR 화상의 화질열화를 개선하기 위하여 다음과 같은 방법들을 제안한다. 우선, 미리 주어진 회전파라메타써 쌍일처 보간과 중첩 특성을 이용해서 k 공간 불균일 표본화 데이터를 수정하는 알고리즘과, 2차원 회전운동의 회전각은 이미 알려져 있고, 회전중심 위치가 미지인 경우에 대해 위상보정에 기초한 아티팩트를 보정하는 알고리즘 및 회전중심과 각도가 모두 미지인 2차원 회전운동에 대해 아티팩느를 보정하는 알고리즘을 제안한다. 이 때, 미지운동 파라메타를 예측하기 위해 찰상대상물의 경계바깥쪽에서 이상적인 MR 화상의 에너지는 최소가 되고, 활상 대상물의 회전이 존재할 때 측정된 에너지가 증가한다는 성질을 이용했다. 이러만 성질을 이용해서 시뮬레이션 화상에 적용한 결과 제안한 방법에 대한 유효성을 확인하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.155-158
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• 2005

MRI 스캔시 화상평면내에서 촬상대상물체의 회전은 MRI 신호에 위상오차와 불균일 표본화를 일으킨다. MRI 신호의 위상오차와 불균일 표본화에 대한 문제의 모델은 화상평면내 임의 중심과 원점에 관한 회전운동에 의해 열화된 MRI 신호들사이에 위상차가 존재함을 나타낸다. 이에 아티팩트가 포함된 MR 화상의 화질을 개선하기위해서 다음과 같은 방법을 제안한다. 우선, 2차원 회전운동의 회전각은 이미 알려져 있고, 회전중심의 위치가 미지인 경우에 대해 위상보정에 기초한 아티팩트를 보정하는 알고리즘과, 다음으로, 회전중심과 각도가 모두 미지인 2차원 회전운동에 대해 아티팩트를 보정하는 알고리즘을 제안한다. 이때, 미지 운동 파라메타를 예측하기위해 촬상대상물체의 경계바깥쪽에서 이상적인 MR 화상의 에너지는 최소가 되고, 촬상대상물체의 회전이 존재할 때 측정된 에너지는 증가한다는 성질을 이용한다. 이러한 성질을 이용해서 각 위상부호화 단계에서 미지의 회전각 크기를 추정하기위한 평가함수가 도입된다. 최종적으로 시뮬레이션 화상 및 실제화상에 적용해서 제안한 본 방법의 유효성을 확인한다.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.817-818
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• 2006

In Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI), the QRS complex of ECG is used as a trigger signal for MRI scan. But, gradient and RF(radio frequency) artifacts which are caused to static and dynamic field in MRI scanner cause interference in the ECG. Also, the signal shape of theses artifacts can be similar to the QRS-complex, causing possible misinterpretation during patient monitoring and false gating of the MRI. In case of using general FIR or IIR band-pass filters for minimizing the artifacts, artifact-reduction-ratio is not excellent. So, an adaptive real-time digital filter is proposed for reduction of noise by gradient and RF(radio frequency) artifacts. The proposed filter for MRI-Gating is based on the noise-canceller with NLMS(Normalized Least Mean Square) algorithm. The reference signals of the adaptive noise canceller are a combination of the noisy three channel ECG signals. In conclusions, the proposed method showed the acceptable quality of ECG signal with sufficient SNR for gating the MRI and possibility of real time implementation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.385-390
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• 2014

This research is conducted to identify whether an m-DIXON technique which is useful for an abdomen MRI examination compared with an existing e-THRIVE technique is a clinically useful or not. There was evaluated quantitative and qualitative to 84 subjects who had abdomen MRI exam due to their liver disease were conducted during a period from September in 2013 to February in 2014. First of all the quantitative evaluation, the m-DIXON technique's SNR was $90.42{\pm}16.90$ and the e-THRIVE technique was $60.42{\pm}11.54$ and the m-DIXON technique's CNR was $52.38{\pm}22.58$ and the e-THRIVE technique was $46.31{\pm}20.25$. Secondly in the qualitative evaluation, the m-DIXON technique's image quality was $4.06{\pm}0.34$, a artifact was $3.64{\pm}0.22$, and fat suppression was $4.16{\pm}0.15$, the e-THRIVE technique's image quality was $3.14{\pm}0.35$, a artifact was $3.06{\pm}0.38$, fat suppression was $3.14{\pm}0.30$. In conclusion, m-DIXON technique for abdomen MRI examination showed superiority over both SNR as a quantitative anaylsis, CNR and a qualitative analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2021

Recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can acquire images with good contrast without exposure to radiation, has been widely used for diagnosis. However, noise that reduces the accuracy of diagnosis is essentially generated when acquiring the MR images, and by adjusting the parameters, the noise problem can be solved to obtain an image with excellent characteristics. Among the parameters, the number of excitation (NEX) can acquire images with excellent characteristics without additional degradation of image characteristics. In contrast, appropriate NEX setting is required since the scan time increases and motion artifacts may occur. Therefore, in this study, after fixing all MRI parameters through the MRiLab simulation program, we tried to evaluate the tendency of image characteristics according to changing NEX through quantitative evaluation of brain T2 weighted images acquired by adjusting only NEX. To evaluate the noise level and similarity of the acquired image, signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR), root mean square error (RMSE) and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) were calculated. As a result, both noise level and similarity evaluation factors showed improved values as NEX increased, while the increasing width gradually decreased. In conclusion, we demonstrated that an appropriate NEX setting is important because an excessively large NEX does not affect image characteristics improvement and cause motion artifacts due to a long scan.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1144-1149
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• 2020

The magnetic valve of the breast tissue expander generates imaging artifacts during MRI examination, so MRI examination is limited. To evaluate the effect of imaging artifacts on the diagnosis area for patients with breast tissue expander who need MRI examination. Imaging artifacts were measured using self-made phantoms and actual clinical conditions. Imaging artifacts were measured differently depending on the environment of 1.5 Tesla and 3.0 Tesla, and the effects of imaging artifacts were less in the C-spine and L-spine tests. If MRI due to breast cancer metastasis is absolutely necessary, head & neck examination and L-spine can be examined mainly at 1.5 Tesla, but some sequences may cause distortion due to image artifacts. In terms of safety, MRI scans of patients with breast tissue expanders can be performed conditionally at 1.5T, avoiding 3.0T.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.367-373
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• 2016

This study conducted an analysis to compare the differences in the properties of the magnetic field and the generation of artifacts because of the difference in the magnetic field between 1.5 T equipment and 3.0 T equipment, centering around four types of pulse sequences, mainly applied to the abdominal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). With data on 500 persons transmitted to the PACS, this study analyzed the SNR value, quantitatively and carried out a qualitative evaluation, dividing MSA, CSA, and DA into three steps. As a result of the quantitative evaluation, the SNR value was significantly higher in the 1.5 T equipment; however, there was a factor deteriorating the image quality, too, as artifacts were generated in the images. The 1.5 T equipment generated fewer artifacts than the 3.0 T equipment did, so it could compensate the image quality for 3.0 T. In conclusion, based on these findings, this study could understand the differences in the properties of the magnetic field and the generation of artifacts occurring because of the difference in the magnetic field and could provide a measure for them. This study would be guidelines for MRI users who directly examine the patients in abdominal MRI using the two types of equipment in the clinical setting in the future.