• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.359-365
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• 2023

In order to satisfy the requirements of dynamic X-ray imaging with high frame rate and low image lag, minimizing parasitic capacitance in photodiode and overlapped electrodes in pixels is critically required. This study presents duoPIX^TM dynamic X-ray imaging sensor composing of readout thin film transistor, reset thin film transistor and photodiode in a pixel. Furthermore, dynamic X-ray detector using duoPIX^TM imaging sensor was manufactured and evaluated its X-ray imaging performances such as frame rate, sensitivity, noise, MTF and image lag. duoPIX^TM dynamic X-ray detector has 150 × 150 mm² imaging area, 73 um pixel pitch, 2048 × 2048 matrix resolution(4.2M pixels) and maximum 50 frames per second. By means of comparison with conventional dynamic X-ray detector, duoPIX^TM dynamic X-ray detector showed overall better performances than conventional dynamic X-ray detector as shown in the previous study.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.139-150
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• 2023

Despite various light detection and ranging (LiDAR) architectures, it is very difficult to achieve long-range detection and high resolution in both vertical and horizontal directions with a wide field of view (FOV). The scanning architecture is advantageous for high-performance LiDAR that can attain long-range detection and high resolution for vertical and horizontal directions. However, a large-area photodetector (PD), which is disadvantageous for detection speed, is essentially required to secure the wide FOV. Thus we propose a PD based on the static unitary detector (STUD) technique that can operate multiple small-area PDs as a single large-area PD at a high speed. The InP/InGaAs STUD PIN-PD proposed in this paper is fabricated in various types, ranging from 1,256 ㎛×949 ㎛ using 32 small-area PDs of 1,256 ㎛×19 ㎛. In addition, we measure and analyze the noise and signal characteristics of the LiDAR receiving board, as well as the performance and sensitivity of various types of STUD PDs. Finally, the LiDAR receiving board utilizing the STUD PD is applied to a 3D scanning LiDAR prototype that uses a 1.5-㎛ master oscillator power amplifier laser. This LiDAR precisely detects long-range objects over 50 m away, and acquires high-resolution 3D images of 320 pixels×240 pixels with a diagonal FOV of 32.6 degrees simultaneously.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1764-1776
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to validate a deep learning-based fully automatic calcium scoring (coronary artery calcium [CAC]_auto) system using previously published cardiac computed tomography (CT) cohort data with the manually segmented coronary calcium scoring (CAC_hand) system as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: We developed the CAC_auto system using 100 co-registered, non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT scans. For the validation of the CAC_auto system, three previously published CT cohorts (n = 2985) were chosen to represent different clinical scenarios (i.e., 2647 asymptomatic, 220 symptomatic, 118 valve disease) and four CT models. The performance of the CAC_auto system in detecting coronary calcium was determined. The reliability of the system in measuring the Agatston score as compared with CAC_hand was also evaluated per vessel and per patient using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman analysis. The agreement between CAC_auto and CAC_hand based on the cardiovascular risk stratification categories (Agatston score: 0, 1-10, 11-100, 101-400, > 400) was evaluated. Results: In 2985 patients, 6218 coronary calcium lesions were identified using CAC_hand. The per-lesion sensitivity and false-positive rate of the CAC_auto system in detecting coronary calcium were 93.3% (5800 of 6218) and 0.11 false-positive lesions per patient, respectively. The CAC_auto system, in measuring the Agatston score, yielded ICCs of 0.99 for all the vessels (left main 0.91, left anterior descending 0.99, left circumflex 0.96, right coronary 0.99). The limits of agreement between CAC_auto and CAC_hand were 1.6 ± 52.2. The linearly weighted kappa value for the Agatston score categorization was 0.94. The main causes of false-positive results were image noise (29.1%, 97/333 lesions), aortic wall calcification (25.5%, 85/333 lesions), and pericardial calcification (24.3%, 81/333 lesions). Conclusion: The atlas-based CAC_auto empowered by deep learning provided accurate calcium score measurement as compared with manual method and risk category classification, which could potentially streamline CAC imaging workflows.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.27-31
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• 2009

Now a days, the Medical X-ray equipments has become digitalized from analog type such as film, cassette to CR, DR. And many scientists are still researching and developing the Medical X-ray equipment. In this study, we used the Bismuth tri-iodide to conversion material for digital X-ray equipments and we couldn't get the satisfying result than previous study, but it opened new possibility to cover the disadvantage of a-Se is high voltage aplly and difficultness of make. In this paper, we use $BiI_3$ powder(99.99%) as x-ray conversion material and make films that have thickness of 200um and the film size is $3cm{\times}3cm$. Also, we deposited an ITO(Indium Tin Oxide) electrode as top electrode and bottom electrode using a Magnetron Sputtering System. To evaluate a characteristics of the produced films, an electrical and structural properties are performed. Through a SEM analysis, we confirmed a surface and component part. And to analyze the electrical properties, darkcurrent, sensitivity and SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) are measured. Darkcurrent is $1.6nA/cm^2$ and sensitivity is $0.629nC/cm^2$ and this study shows that the electrical properties of x-ray conversion material that made by screen printing method are similar to PVD method or better than that. This results suggest that $BiI_3$ is suitable for a replacement of a-Se because of the reduced manufacture processing and improved yield.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.223-228
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• 2008

The most critical point in the medical use of radiation is to minimize the patient's entrance dose while maintaining the diagnostic function. Low-energy photons (long wave X-ray) among diagnostic X-rays are unnecessary because they are mostly absorbed and contribute the increase of patient's entrance dose. The most effective method to eliminate the low-energy photons is to use the filtering plate. The experiments were performed by observing the image quality. The skin entrance dose was 0.3 mmCu (copper) filter. A total of 80 images were prepared as two sets of 40 cuts. In the first set (of 40 cuts), 20 cuts were prepared for the non-filter set and another 20 cuts for the Cu filter of signal + noise image set. In the second set of 40 cuts, 20 cuts were prepared for the non-filter set and another 20 cuts for the Cu filter of non-signal image (noisy image) with random location of diameter 4 mm and 3 mm thickness of acryl disc for ROC signal at the chest phantom. P(S/s) and P(S/n) were calculated and the ROC curve was described in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Accuracy were evaluated after reading by five radiologists. The number of optically observable lesions was counted through ANSI chest phantom and contrast-detail phantom by recommendation of AAPM when non-filter or Cu filter was used, and the skin entrance dose was also measured for both conditions. As the result of the study, when the Cu filter was applied, favorable outcomes were observed on, the ROC Curve was located on the upper left area, sensitivity, accuracy and the number of CD phantom lesions were reasonable. Furthermore, if skin entrance dose was reduced, the use of additional filtration may be required to be considered in many other cases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.321-322
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• 2012

의료용 방사선 장비는 초기의 아날로그 방식의 필름 및 카세트에서 진보되어 현재는 디지털 방식의 DR (Digital Radiography)이 널리 사용되며 그에 관한 연구개발이 활발히 진행되고 있다. DR은 크게 간접방식과 직접방식의 두 분류로 나눌 수 있는데, 간접방식은 X선을 흡수하면 가시광선으로 전환하는 형광체(Scintillator)를 사용하여 X선을 가시광선으로 전환하고, 이를 Photodiode와 같은 광소자로 전기적 신호로 변환하여 방사선을 검출하는 방식을 말하며, 직접 방식은 X선을 흡수하면 전기적 신호를 발생 시키는 광도전체(Photoconductor)를 사용하여 광도전체 양단 전극에 고전압을 인가한 형태를 취하고 있는 가운데, X선이 조사되면 일차적으로 광도전체 내부에서 전자-전공쌍(Electron-hole pair)이 생성된다. 이들은 광도전체 양단의 인가되어 있는 전기장에 의해 전자는 +극으로, 전공은 -극으로 이동하여 아래에 위치한 Active matrix array을 통해 방사선을 검출하는 방식이다. 본 연구에서는 직접방식 X-ray 검출기에서 활용되는 a-Se을 ITO (Indium Thin oxide) glass 상단에 Thermal evaporation증착을 이용하여 두께 $50{\mu}m$, 33 넓이로 증착 시킨 다음, a-Se상단에 Sputtering증착을 이용하여 ITO를 11 cm, 22 cm, $2.7{\times}2.7cm$ 넓이로 증착시켜 상하부의 ITO를 Electrode로 이용하여 직접방식의 X-ray검출기 샘플을 제작하였다. 제작 과정 중 a-Se의 Thermal evaporation증착 시, 저진공 $310^{-3}_{Torr}$, 고진공 $2.210^{-5}_{Torr}$에서 보트의 가열 온도를 두 번의 스텝으로 나누어 증착 시켰다. 첫 번째 스텝 $250^{\circ}C$, 두 번째 스텝은 $260^{\circ}C$의 조건으로 증착하여 보트 내의 a-Se을 남기지 않고 전량을 소모할 수 있었으며, 스텝간의 온도차를 $10^{\circ}C$로 제어하여 균일한 박막을 형성 할 수 있었다. Sputtering증착 시, 저진공 $2.510^{-3}$, 고진공 $310^{-5}$에서 Ar, $O_2$를 사용하여 100 Sec간 플라즈마를 생성시켜 ITO를 증착하였다. 제작된 방사선 각각의 검출기 샘플 양단의 ITO에 500V의 전압을 인가하고, 진단 방사선 범위의 70 kVp, 100 mA, 0.03 sec 조건으로 X-ray를 조사시켜 ITO넓이에 따른 민감도(Sensitivity)와 암전류(Dark current)를 측정하였다. 측정결과 민감도(Sensitivity)는 X-ray샘플의 두께에 따른 $1V/{\mu}m$ 기준 시, 증착된 ITO의 넓이가 11 cm부터 22 cm, $2.7{\times}2.7cm$까지 각각 $7.610nC/cm^2$, $8.169nC/cm^2$, $6.769nC/cm^2$로 22 cm 넓이의 샘플이 가장 높은 민감도를 나타내었으나, 암전류(Dark current)는 $1.68nA/cm^2$, $3.132nA/cm^2$, $5.117nA/cm^2$로 11 cm 넓이의 샘플이 가장 낮은 값을 나타내었다. 이러한 데이터를 SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio)로 합산 하였을 시 104.359 ($1{\times}1$), 60.376($2{\times}2$), 30.621 ($2.7{\times}2.7$)로 11 cm 샘플이 신호 대 별 가장 우수한 효율을 나타냄을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 ITO박막의 면적이 클수록 민감도는 우수하나 그에 따른 암전류의 증가로 효율이 떨어짐을 검증 할 수 있었으며, 이는 ITO면적이 넓어짐에 따른 저항의 증가로 암전류에 영향을 끼침을 할 수 있었다. 본 연구를 통해 a-Se의 ITO 박막 면적에 따른 전기적 특성을 검증할 수 있었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.5-9
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• 2004

In this paper, we studied the OCT(Optical Coherence Tomography) system which it has been extensively studied because of having some advantages such as high resolution cross-sectional images, low cost, and small size configuration. A basic principle of OCT system is Michelson interferometer. The characteristics of light source determine the resolution and the transmission depth. As a results, the light source have a commercial SLD with a central wavelength of 1,285 nm and FWHM(Full Width at Half Maximum) of 35.3 nm. The optical delay line part is necessary to equal of the optical path length with scattered light or reflected light from sample. In order to equal the optical path length, the stage which is attached to reference mirror is moved linearly by step motor And the interferometer is configured with the Michelson interferometer using single mod fiber, the scanner can be focused of the sample by using the reference arm. Also, the 2-dimensional cross-sectional images were measured with scanning the transverse direction of the sample by using step motor. After detecting the internal signal of lateral direction at a paint of sample, scanner is moved to obtain the cross-sectional image of 2-demensional by using step motor. Photodiode has been used which has high detection sensitivity, excellent noise characteristic, and dynamic range from 800 nm to 1,700 nm. It is detected mixed small signal between noise and interference signal with high frequency After filtering and amplifying this signal, only envelope curve of interference signal is detected. And then, cross-sectional image is shown through converting this signal into digitalized signal using A／D converter. The resolution of the OCT system is about 30$\mu\textrm{m}$ which corresponds to the theoretical resolution. Also, the cross-sectional image of ping-pong ball is measured. The OCT system is configured with Michelson interferometer which has a low contrast because of reducing the power of feedback interference light. Such a problem is overcomed by using the improved inteferometer. Also, in order to obtain the cross-sectional image within a short time, it is necessary to reduce the measurement time for improving the optical delay line.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.223-235
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• 2002

Since weak Bones or geological lineaments are likely to be eroded, there may develop weak Bones beneath rivers, and a careful evaluation of ground condition is important to construct structures passing through a river. DC resistivity method, however, has seldomly applied to the investigation of water-covered area, possibly because of difficulties in data aquisition and interpretation. The data aquisition having high quality may be the most important factor, and is more difficult than that in land survey, due to the water layer overlying the underground structure to be imaged. Through the numerical modeling and the analysis of a case history, we studied the method of resistivity survey at the water-covered area, starting from the characteristics of measured data, via data acquisition method, to the interpretation method. We unfolded our discussion according to the installed locations of electrodes, ie., floating them on the water surface, and installing them at the water bottom, because the methods of data acquisition and interpretation vary depending on the electrode location. Through this study, we could confirm that the DC resistivity method can provide fairly reasonable subsurface images. It was also shown that installing electrodes at the water bottom can give the subsurface image with much higher resolution than floating them on the water surface. Since the data acquired at the water-covered area have much lower sensitivity to the underground structure than those at the land, and can be contaminated by the higher noise, such as streaming potential, it would be very important to select the acquisition method and electrode array being able to provide the higher signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) data as well as the high resolving power. Some of the modified electrode arrays can provide the data having reasonably high S/N ratio and need not to install remote electrode(s), and thus, they may be suitable to the resistivity survey at the water-covered area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 2023

Pediatric Computed Tomography (CT) examinations can often result in exam failures or the need for frequent retests due to the difficulty of cooperation from young patients. Deep Learning Image Reconstruction (DLIR) methods offer the potential to obtain diagnostically valuable images while reducing the retest rate in CT examinations of pediatric patients with high radiation sensitivity. In this study, we investigated the possibility of applying DLIR to reduce artifacts caused by respiration or motion and obtain clinically useful images in pediatric chest CT examinations. Retrospective analysis was conducted on chest CT examination data of 43 children under the age of 7 from P Hospital in Gyeongsangnam-do. The images reconstructed using Filtered Back Projection (FBP), Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASIR-50), and the deep learning algorithm TrueFidelity-Middle (TF-M) were compared. Regions of interest (ROI) were drawn on the right ascending aorta (AA) and back muscle (BM) in contrast-enhanced chest images, and noise (standard deviation, SD) was measured using Hounsfield units (HU) in each image. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (ver. 22.0), analyzing the mean values of the three measurements with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the SD values for AA were FBP=25.65±3.75, ASIR-50=19.08±3.93, and TF-M=17.05±4.45 (F=66.72, p=0.00), while the SD values for BM were FBP=26.64±3.81, ASIR-50=19.19±3.37, and TF-M=19.87±4.25 (F=49.54, p=0.00). Post-hoc tests revealed significant differences among the three groups. DLIR using TF-M demonstrated significantly lower noise values compared to conventional reconstruction methods. Therefore, the application of the deep learning algorithm TrueFidelity-Middle (TF-M) is expected to be clinically valuable in pediatric chest CT examinations by reducing the degradation of image quality caused by respiration or motion.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.102-109
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• 2009

Purpose: Flash 3D (pixon(R) method; 3D OSEM) was developed as a software program to shorten exam time and improve image quality through reconstruction, it is an image processing method that usefully be applied to nuclear medicine tomography. If perfoming brain diamox perfusion scan by reconstructing subtracted images by Flash 3D with shortened image acquisition time, there was a problem that SNR of subtracted image is lower than basal image. To increase SNR of subtracted image, we use LEAP collimators, and we emphasized on sensitivity of vessel dilatation than resolution of brain vessel. In this study, our purpose is to confirm possibility of application of LEAP collimators at brain diamox perfusion tomography, identify proper reconstruction factors by using Flash 3D. Materials and methods: (1) The evaluation of phantom: We used Hoffman 3D Brain Phantom with $^{99m}Tc$. We obtained images by LEAP and LEHR collimators (diamox image) and after 6 hours (the half life of $^{99m}Tc$: 6 hours), we use obtained second image (basal image) by same method. Also, we acquired SNR and ratio of white matters/gray matters of each basal image and subtracted image. (2) The evaluation of patient's image: We quantitatively analyzed patients who were examined by LEAP collimators then was classified as a normal group and who were examined by LEHR collimators then was classified as a normal group from 2008. 05 to 2009. 01. We evaluate the results from phantom by substituting factors. We used one-day protocol and injected $^{99m}Tc$-ECD 925 MBq at both basal image acquisition and diamox image acquisition. Results: (1) The evaluation of phantom: After measuring counts from each detector, at basal image 41~46 kcount, stress image 79~90 kcount, subtraction image 40~47 kcount were detected. LEAP was about 102~113 kcount at basal image, 188~210 kcount at stress image and 94~103 at subtraction image kcount were detected. The SNR of LEHR subtraction image was decreased than LEHR basal image about 37%, the SNR of LEAP subtraction image was decreased than LEAP basal image about 17%. The ratio of gray matter versus white matter is 2.2:1 at LEHR basal image and 1.9:1 at subtraction, and at LEAP basal image was 2.4:1 and subtraction image was 2:1. (2) The evaluation of patient's image: the counts acquired by LEHR collimators are about 40~60 kcounts at basal image, and 80~100 kcount at stress image. It was proper to set FWHM as 7 mm at basal and stress image and 11mm at subtraction image. LEAP was about 80~100 kcount at basal image and 180~200 kcount at stress image. LEAP images could reduce blurring by setting FWHM as 5 mm at basal and stress images and 7 mm at subtraction image. At basal and stress image, LEHR image was superior than LEAP image. But in case of subtraction image like a phantom experiment, it showed rough image because SNR of LEHR image was decreased. On the other hand, in case of subtraction LEAP image was better than LEHR image in SNR and sensitivity. In all LEHR and LEAP collimator images, proper subset and iteration frequency was 8 times. Conclusions: We could archive more clear and high SNR subtraction image by using proper filter with LEAP collimator. In case of applying one day protocol and reconstructing by Flash 3D, we could consider application of LEAP collimator to acquire better subtraction image.