• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to demonstrate the presence of dental caries through a photoacoustic imaging system with visible and near-infrared wavelengths, highlighting the differences between the 2 spectral regions. The depth at which carious tissue could be detected was also verified. Materials and Methods: Fifteen permanent molars were selected and classified as being sound or having incipient or advanced caries by visual inspection, radiography, and optical coherence tomography analysis prior to photoacoustic scanning. A photoacoustic imaging system operating with a nanosecond pulsed laser as the light excitation source at either 532 nm or 1064 nm and an acoustic transducer at 5 MHz was developed, characterized, and used. En-face and lateral(depth) photoacoustic signals were detected. Results: The results confirmed the potential of the photoacoustic method to detect caries. At both wavelengths, photoacoustic imaging effectively detected incipient and advanced caries. The reconstructed photoacoustic images confirmed that a higher intensity of the photoacoustic signal could be observed in regions with lesions, while sound surfaces showed much less photoacoustic signal. Photoacoustic signals at depths up to 4 mm at both 532 nm and 1064 nm were measured. Conclusion: The results presented here are promising and corroborate that photoacoustic imaging can be applied as a diagnostic tool in caries research. New studies should focus on developing a clinical model of photoacoustic imaging applications in dentistry, including soft tissues. The use of inexpensive light-emitting diodes together with a miniaturized detector will make photoacoustic imaging systems more flexible, user-friendly, and technologically viable.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 2014

Although various ophthalmic imaging methods, including fundus photography and optical coherence tomography, have been applied for effective diagnosis of ocular diseases with high spatial resolution, most of them are limited by shallow imaging penetration depth and a narrow field of view. Also, many of those imaging modalities are optimized to provide microscopic anatomical information, while functional or cellular information is lacking. Compared to other ocular imaging modalities, photoacoustic imaging can achieve relatively deep penetration depth and provide more detailed functional and cellular data based on photoacoustic signal generation from endogenous contrast agents such as hemoglobin and melanin. In this paper, array-based ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging was demonstrated to visualize pigmentation in the eye as well as overall ocular structure. Fresh porcine eyes were visualized using a real-time ultrasound micro-imaging system and an imaging probe supporting laser pulse delivery. In addition, limited photoacoustic imaging field of view was improved by an imaging probe tilting method, enabling visualization of most regions of the retina covered in the ultrasound imaging.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.83-89
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• 2010

Purpose: The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility for the early diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis by the reconstruction of three-dimensional photoacoustic imaging with a tissue phantom. Methods: Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (l = 532 nm) was applied to a tissue phantom to generate photoacoustic waves, and the acquired photoacoustic signals at different positions around the sample were used to recombine the distribution of the optical absorption and the images were subsequently generated through a reconstruction algorithm. Results: From the acquired photoacoustic signals, the surface andinner core of the phantom was clearly distinguished. Furthermore, the back-projection algorithm was able to reconstruct two-dimensional and three-dimensional photoacoustic images that contained the optical absorption property information of the tissue phantom. Conclusion: The results indicate that the photoacoustic imaging technique has many advantages such as high optical contrast and high acoustic resolution. The acquired images can be used for the early diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis by the structural information obtained from the region of interest.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2012

The photophone, Alexander Graham Bell's device for transmitting sound through light was patented in 1880. It included the transmitter modulating and reflecting strong light like sunlight to a distant receiver which produced sound. In this working of the photophone, the discovery of the sound-emitting effect under illumination was very essential. Longing for being famous in the scientific community, Bell focused on presenting various methods for producing sounds and for maximizing the loudness by performing intensive research on the photoacoustic effect. Bell's scientific research on photoacoustics was successful in establishing himself as a scientist and laid a foundation of photoacoustic analysis. And his invention became a basis for other researchers' subsequent technologies like fiber-optic communication.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.804-812
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• 2003

This paper introduces optical methods for in-situ measurement of surface temperature and pressure transient in thermal processes having nanosecond time scales. In the temperature measurement, a p -Si thin film whose refractive index is calibrated as a function of temperature is embedded beneath the sample surface and the photothermal reflectance is monitored for estimating the surface temperature. The pressure transients are measured using the photoacoustic optical deflection method. The experimental technique is used to analyze the nanosecond laser induced vaporization process that is central to numerous engineering and bio-medical applications. Based on the experimental results, discussions are made on the experimental technique and the physical mechanisms of laser-driven explosive vaporization phenomena.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2024

This study aims to suggest the partition ratio (Q-factor) of healthy Koreans and the comparison results of breath alcohol concentration (BAC) measurements using two methods (photoacoustic and electrochemical methods) for developing breath alcohol ignition interlock devices (BAIIDs). Given the relationship between BACs and BrACs and the Q-factor, the alcohol metabolism of healthy Koreans (96 males and 91 females) is revealed for understanding the digestion of alcohol and surveying the fundamental data of alcohol-related problems, CO₂ concentrations vs. alcohol concentrations, and the performance of alcohol sensors in the marketplace. The average Q-factor of healthy Korean males and females are 1,913 (95% confidence interval from 1,889-1,937) and 1,991 (95% confidence interval from 1,945-2,036). Photoacoustic measurements could be applied to predict the BACs of drinkers, which is confirmed by the Bland-Altman plots presented in this study. The biases based on the partition ratios (Q=1,913 and Q=1,991) in the Bland-Altman plots were -0.0004% (95% CI from -0.0011 to +0.0003% for males) and -0.0017% (95% CI from -0.020 to +0.017% for females).

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2021

Background Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat lymphedema. Volumetric measurements and quality-of-life assessments are often performed to assess the effectiveness of LVA, but there is no method that provides information regarding postoperative morphological changes in lymphatic vessels and veins after LVA. Photoacoustic lymphangiography (PAL) is an optical imaging technique that visualizes the distribution of light-absorbing molecules, such as hemoglobin or indocyanine green (ICG), and provides three-dimensional images of superficial lymphatic vessels and the venous system simultaneously. In this study, we performed PAL in lymphedema patients before and after LVA and compared the images to evaluate the effect of LVA. Methods PAL was performed using the PAI-05 system in three patients (one man, two women) with lymphedema, including one primary case and two secondary cases, before LVA. ICG fluorescence lymphography was performed in all cases before PAL. Follow-up PAL was performed between 5 days and 5 months after LVA. Results PAL enabled the simultaneous visualization of clear lymphatic vessels that could not be accurately seen with ICG fluorescence lymphography and veins. We were also able to observe and analyze morphological changes such as the width and the number of lymphatic vessels and veins during the follow-up PAL after LVA. Conclusions By comparing preoperative and postoperative PAL images, it was possible to analyze the morphological changes in lymphatic vessels and veins that occurred after LVA. Our study suggests that PAL would be useful when assessing the effect of LVA surgery.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.441-451
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• 2023

Ultrasound transducers are an essential component of combined photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging systems and play an important role in image evaluation. However, ultrasound transducers are opaque; therefore, light must bypass the ultrasound transducer to reach the target point to produce a photoacoustic image. Providing different paths for the optical and acoustic signals results in a complicated system design, increasing the system volume. To overcome these problems, an optically Transparent Ultrasound Transducer (TUT) was developed. Unlike conventional opaque ultrasound transducers, optically TUT can be fabricated by a variety of manufacturing methods and they are suitable for use with specific piezoelectric elements and serve various purposes. In this study, a comparative analysis of the results of using Lithium Niobate (LNO), Lead Magnesium Niobate-Lead Titanate (PMN-PT), and Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF), which are materials used in piezoelectric element-based TUT. LNO is a piezoelectric element widely used in TUT, and PMN-PT has been actively studied recently with a higher transmission and reception rate than LNO. Existing TUT have lower ultrasound resolution than photoacoustic resolution, but they have recently been manufacturing focused TUT with high ultrasound resolution using PVDF. A comparative analysis of the production results of these TUT was performed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.155-159
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• 1997

We investigated the effect of mechanical backside damage in Czochralski silicon wafer. The intensity of mechanical damage were evaluated by minority carrier recombination lifetime by a laser excitation/microwave reflection photoconductance decay method, photo-acoustic displacement method, X-ray section topography, and wet oxidation/preferential etch methods. The data indicate that the higher the mechanical damage intensity, the lower the minority carrier lifetime, and the photoacoustic displacement values are also increased proportionally.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.114-127
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• 2012

Recent technical advancement allows noninvasive measurement of blood glucose. In this literature, we reviewed various noninvasive techniques for measuring glucose concentration. Optical or electrical methods have been investigated. Optical techniques include near-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, optical coherence technique, polarization, fluorescence, occlusion spectroscopy, and photoacoustic spectroscopy. Electrical methods include reverse iontophoresis, impedance spectroscopy, and electromagnetic sensing. Ultrasound, detection from breath, or fluid harvesting technique can be used to measure blood glucose level. Combination of various methods is also promising. Although there are many interesting and promising technologies and devices, there need further researches until a commercially available non-invasive glucometer is popular.