• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.321-330
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• 2001

In this paper, we propose a new synthetic aperture focusing scheme for improving the lateral resolution which is one of the most important factors determining the quality of ultrasound imaging. The proposed scheme enables full round-trip dynamic focusing with approximately limited property. This properties are obtained through transmitting plane waves of which the traveling angle varies with the receive subaperture position, as opposed to stepping the spherical wave source across an array in other synthetic aperture focusing schemes, and employing dynamic focusing in receive. In this paper, the properties of the proposed scheme is analyzed in which a hypothetical infinite line source is used to transmit the plane waves and verified through computer simulation results. Also, we show that the proposed scheme is realizable with an array transducer with a finite aperture size. In summary, it is shown through comparison between the field contours of the proposed scheme and the conventional scheme that the proposed scheme can improve greatly the lateral resolution of ultrasound imaging.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.135-142
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• 2024

Biomedical imaging technologies refer to imaging techniques used in biological research and medical technology that are essential for exploring biological processes, structures, and conditions. They also play a crucial role in the early diagnosis of diseases and the development of treatments. Optical imaging technologies, in particular, are the most widely used and actively researched in biological studies. The major obstacles to technological advancement are the limitations in resolution and light penetration depth. Recently, many technologies have been studied to overcome these limitations using metamaterials. These are materials that can freely manipulate the properties of light through the regular arrangement of nanostructures and have established themselves as innovative tools in the imaging field. This article aims to provide a detailed introduction to the working principles and key applications of these technologies.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.241-249
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• 2021

Recently, artificial intelligence for diagnosis system of obstetric diseases have been actively studied. Artificial intelligence diagnostic assist systems, which support medical diagnosis benefits of efficiency and accuracy, may experience problems of poor learning accuracy and reliability when inappropriate images are the model's input data. For this reason, before learning, We proposed an algorithm to exclude unread cervical imaging. 2,000 images of read cervical imaging and 257 images of unread cervical imaging were used for this study. Experiments were conducted based on the statistical method Radiomics to extract feature values of the entire images for classification of unread images from the entire images and to obtain a range of read threshold values. The degree to which brightness, blur, and cervical regions were photographed adequately in the image was determined as classification indicators. We compared the classification performance by learning read cervical imaging classified by the algorithm proposed in this paper and unread cervical imaging for deep learning classification model. We evaluate the classification accuracy for unread Cervical imaging of the algorithm by comparing the performance. Images for the algorithm showed higher accuracy of 91.6% on average. It is expected that the algorithm proposed in this paper will improve reliability by effectively excluding unread cervical imaging and ultimately reducing errors in artificial intelligence diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2012

Objectives : Although there have been studies that examine sex differences of the brain structures using magnetic resonance imaging, studies that specifically investigate cerebellar structural differences between men and women are scarce. The purpose of current study was to examine sex differences in structures of the cerebellum using cerebellar template and cerebellum analysis methods. Methods : Sixteen men and twenty women were included in the study. A MATLAB based program (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA), Statistical Parametric Mapping 5 (SPM5) using the spatially unbiased infra-tentorial atlas template (SUIT) as the cerebellum template, was used to analyze the brain imaging data. Results : There was no significant difference in age between men (mean age=28.1) and women (mean age=27.2). Men showed higher gray matter density than women in two left cerebellar areas including the clusters in the lobules IV and V (a cluster located across the lobules IV and V), and the lobule VIIIb (lobules IV and V, t=4.75, p<0.001 ; lobule VIIIb, t=3.08, p=0.004). Conclusions : The current study found differences in cerebellar gray matter density between men and women. The current study holds its significance for applying the template specifically developed for the analysis of cerebellum.

• 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.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.321-325
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• 1998

This paper presents a simple, practical, and efficient method for estimating the speed of sound in reflection mode in ultrasound medical imaging. Its accurate determination is indispensable in order to obtain both good resolution and correct geometrical and volumetric information about human organs such as heart and kidney. Up to now, there have been several methods available, but they all suffer from either poor performance or high complexity. The proposed method finds out an optimum focusing delay profile in such a way that the brightness in a region of interest is maximized using continuous dynamic focusing in receive under fixed transmit focusing. Experiments carried out on a real ultrasound medical phantom reveals that the method a quite simple and effective in providing good speed of sound estimation, hence improved resolution and images, adding to dignostic utility.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.206-209
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• 1997

The stereostatic surgery becomes a important part of neurosurgery. The conventional style of stereostatic system uses a input method of film digitizing. It is time consuming and laborious. In this paper, we presented a system that can manage digital images from medical imaging machine to surgery assisting program. CT images were transferred in DICOM format to a surgery assisting computer in a operation room through PACS. The streotatic surgery assisting program processed the digital images and calculated the parameters that were required in steostatic surgery. The assisting program were developed that can detect the reference points automatically, transform CT coordinate to frame coordinate and calculate the RM (Riechert-Mundinger) frame. This system were applied to clinical cases in Seoul National Univ. Hospital. The two advantages of this system were revealed. The processing time from imaging to surgery parameters were much aster than conventional system. The surgery accuracy were more mininute as the digitizing error were reduced. This system were a good application of connecting imaging machines to clinical treatment system through PACS.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.148-152
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• 2007

In this paper, we have synthesized $Gd_2O_3:Eu^{3+}$ nano phosphor particle using a low temperature solution-combustion method. We have investigated the structure and the luminescent characteristic as the sintering temperature and europium concentration. From XRD(X-ray diffraction) and SEM(scanning electron microscope) results, we have verified that the phosphor particle was fabricated a spherical shape with $30{\sim}40nm$ particle size. From the photoluminescence results, the strong peak exhibits at 611 um and the luminescent intensity depends on europium concentration. $Gd_2O_3:Eu$ fine phosphor particle has shown excellent luminescent efficiency at 5 wt% of europium concentration. The phosphors calcinated at $500^{\circ}C$ have possessed the x-ray peaks corresponding to the cubic phase of $Gd_2O_3$. As calcinations temperature increased to $700^{\circ}C$, the new monoclinic phase has identified except cubic patterns. From the luminescent decay time measurements, mean lifetimes were $2.3{\sim}2.6ms$ relatively higher than conventional bulk phosphors. These results indicate that $Gd_2O_3:Eu$ nano phosphor is possible for the operation at the low x-ray dose, therefore, the application as medical imaging detector.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.195-198
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• 2007

In this paper, we introduce a digital cross-polarization and fluorescent color imaging system for quantitative evaluation of skin lesions. We describe the characterization of the imaging systems and the quantitative image analysis methods to show the feasibility for quantitative evaluation of skin lesions. The polarization color image was used to compute erythema and melanin index image which are useful for quantitative evaluation of pigmentation and vascular skin lesions, respectively. The fluorescent color image was used to quantitatively evaluate "sebum" and "vitiligo". In quantitative evaluation of various skin lesions, we confirmed the clinical efficacy of the imaging systems for dermatological applications. Finally, we sure that the imaging systems can be utilized as important assistant tools for the evaluation of skin lesions by providing reproducible quantitative result for widely distributed skin lesions.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.185-191
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• 2005

In this paper, we proposed a downscaled 3D object technique using medical images for telediagnostic use. The proposed system consisted of downscaling/thresholding processes for building a downscaled 3D object and a process for obtaining 2D images at specific angles for diagnosis support. We used 80 slices of Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine(DICOM) CT images as sample images and the platform-independent Java language for the experiment. We confirmed that the total image set size and transmission time of the original DICOM image set using a down-scaled 3D object decreased approximately $99\%\;and\;98.41\%,$ respectively. With additional studies, the proposed technique obtained from these results will become useful in supporting diagnosis for home and hospital care.