• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to describe a radiofrequency (RF) coil design for in vivo sodium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for use in small animals. Accumulating evidence has indicated the importance and potential of sodium imaging with improved magnet strength (> 7T), faster gradient, better hardware, multi-nucleus imaging methods, and optimal coil design for patient and animal studies. Thus, we developed a saddle-shaped sodium volume coil with a diameter/length of 30/30 mm. To evaluate the efficiency of this coil, bench-level measurement was performed. Unloaded Q value, loaded Q value, and ratio of these two values were estimated to be 352.8, 211.18, and 1.67, respectively. Thereafter, in vivo acquisition of sodium images was performed using normal mice (12 weeks old; n = 5) with a two-dimensional gradient echo sequence and minimized echo time to increase spatial resolution of images. Sodium signal-to-noise ratio in mouse kidneys (renal cortex, medulla, and pelvis) was measured. We successfully acquired sodium MR images of the mouse kidney with high spatial resolution (approximately 0.625 mm) through a combination of sodium-proton coils.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.137-143
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• 2003

목적 : 자기공명영상(MRI)에서 두부영상촬영을 위하여 가장 많이 사용되는 birdcage RF (Radiofrequency) 코일의 RF B1 필드가 코일 중앙부에서 endring영역으로 갈수록 줄어드는 것을 볼 수 있다. Birdcage RF 코일에서 endcap 쉴드가 코일 중앙부에서 endring영역으로 갈수록 RF B1 필드 균질성에 얼마나 영향을 주는지에 대하여 분석하였다. 대상 및 방법 : Lowpass, highpass, hybrid birdcage RF 코일들에 대해 각각 FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) 모의실험으로 RF B1 자속밀도 분포를 비교하였다. 모의 실험결과 RF Bl 필드가 가장 높은 조건인 highpass birdcage RF코일을 선택하여 RF코일 endring 근처에 endcap 쉴드를 적용함으로써 RF B1 균질성에 얼마나 영향이 있는 지 조사하였다. 결과 : FDTD모의실험결과 highpass birdcage RF코일은 코일 내부에서 RF B1 필드가 lowpass나 hybrid 형태의 birdcage RF 코일들 보다 우수하나 코일 중앙부에서 endring 영역까지의 균질성은 떨어졌다. 그러나 highpass birdcage RF 코일에 endcap 쉴드를 적용하면 hybrid birdcage RF 코일의 RF B1 필드와 비슷한 수준이면서 sagittal 방향의 전체적인 RF B1 균질성은 우수하였다. 결론 : 본 논문에서 제안한 방법은 임상에서 MRI자장의 세기가 커질수록 RF코일 내부의 RF B1 균질성이 현저히 떨어지는 문제점이 있는데 이를 개선하는데 적용 할 수 있다고 사료된다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.103-114
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• 2012

목적: 7T 악관절 자기공명상의 개선을 위해 제안된 4 채널 스파이럴 코일과 그를 구동시키기 위한 회로는 자기장의 분포, 송신 전용필드, 신호 대 잡음 비, 그리고 악관절 영상에 대하여 일반적인 단일 루프 형태의 코일과 비교되었다. 대상과 방법: 단일 채널 그리고 4 채널 스파이럴 코일은 단일 루프 형태의 코일에 대해 전자기장 시뮬레이션으로 자기장의 분포 및 송신 전용 필드에 대해서 비교 되었고, 7T에서 이를 평가하고자 송신전용 필드와 더불어 자기장의 분포 역시 비교 평가되었다. 결과: 전자기장 시뮬레이션의 결과와 7T 자기공명영상에서 4 채널 스파이럴 코일은 기존에 사용되는 일반적인 구조인 단일 루프 코일에 비해 상대적으로 우수한 자기장의 분포 및 송신 전용 필드를 보였다. 결론: 7T에서는 코일의 구조에 비해 상대적으로 영상화되는 물질의 특성에 더욱더 의존적이나, 각각의 코일은 다른 필드 분포를 나타냄으로써 최적화된 코일은 악관절 영상과 같은 특정 용도로 사용될 수 있음을 확인하였다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.95-122
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• 2020

In this article, we evaluated the performance of radiofrequency (RF) coils in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and homogeneity of magnetic resonance images when used for ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). High-quality MRI can be obtained when these two basic requirements are met. However, because of the dielectric effect, 7T magnetic resonance imaging still produces essentially a non-uniform magnetic flux (|B₁|) density distribution. In general, heterogeneous and homogeneous RF coils may be designed using electromagnetic (EM) modeling. Heterogeneous coils, which are surface coils, are used in consideration of scalability in the |B₁| region with a high S/N as multichannel loop coils rather than selecting a single loop. Loop coils are considered state of the art for their simplicity yet effective |B₁|-field distribution and intensity. In addition, combining multiple loop coils allows phase arrays (PA). PA coils have gained great interest for use in receiving signals because of parallel imaging (PI) techniques, such as sensitivity encoding (SENSE) and generalized autocalibrating partial parallel acquisition (GRAPPA), which drastically reduce the acquisition time. With the introduction of a parallel transmit coil (pTx) system, a form of transceiver loop arrays has also been proposed. In this article, we discussed the applications and proposed designs of loop coils. RF homogeneous coils for volume imaging include Alderman-Grant resonators, birdcage coils, saddle coils, traveling wave coils, transmission line arrays, composite right-/left-handed arrays, and fusion coils. In this article, we also discussed the basic operation, design, and applications of these coils.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.229-251
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• 2021

Arteriosclerosis is the leading cause of stroke, with a fatality rate surpassing that of ischemic heart disease. High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging is generally recognized as a non-invasive and panoramic method for the evaluation of arterial plaque; however, this method requires improved signal-to-noise ratio and scanning speed. Recent advances in high-density head and neck coil arrays are characterized by broad coverage, multiple channels, and closefitting designs. This review analyzes fast magnetic resonance imaging from the perspective of accelerated algorithms for vessel wall imaging and demonstrates the need for effective algorithms for signal acquisition using advanced radiofrequency system. We summarize different phased-array structures under various experimental objectives and equipment conditions, introduce current research results, and propose prospective research studies in the future.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.293-299
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• 2021

Purpose: To accelerate magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) by developing a flexible deep learning reconstruction method. Materials and Methods: Synthetic data were used to train a deep learning model. The trained model was then applied to MRF for different organs and diseases. Iterative reconstruction was performed outside the deep learning model, allowing a changeable encoding matrix, i.e., with flexibility of choice for image resolution, radiofrequency coil, k-space trajectory, and undersampling mask. In vivo experiments were performed on normal brain and prostate cancer volunteers to demonstrate the model performance and generalizability. Results: In 400-dynamics brain MRF, direct nonuniform Fourier transform caused a slight increase of random fluctuations on the T2 map. These fluctuations were reduced with the proposed method. In prostate MRF, the proposed method suppressed fluctuations on both T1 and T2 maps. Conclusion: The deep learning and iterative MRF reconstruction method described in this study was flexible with different acquisition settings such as radiofrequency coils. It is generalizable for different in vivo applications.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.26-36
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• 2018

Purpose: Children born with single ventricle physiology demonstrate poor growth rate and suffer from malnutrition, which lead to increased morbidity and mortality in this population. We assume that an anabolic steroid, oxandrolone, will promote growth in these infants by improving myocardial energy utilization. The purpose of this paper is to study the efficacy of oxandrolone on myocardial energy consumption in these infants. Materials and Methods: We modeled single ventricle physiology in a lamb by prenatally shunting the aorta to the pulmonary artery and then postnatally, we monitored cardiac energy utilization by quantitatively measuring the first order reaction rate constant, $k_f$ of the creatine-kinase reaction in the heart using magnetization transfer $^{31}P$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy, home built $^1H/^{31}P$ transmit/receive double tuned coil, and transmit/receive switch. We also performed cine MRI to study the structure and dynamic function of the myocardium and the left ventricular chamber. The spectroscopy data were processed using home-developed python software, while cine data were analyzed using Argus software. Results: We quantitatively measured both the first order reaction rate constant and ejection fraction in the control, shunted, and the oxandrolone-treated lambs. Both $k_f$ and ejection fraction were found to be more significantly reduced in the shunted lambs compared to the control lambs, and they are increased in oxandrolone-treated lambs. Conclusion: Some improvement was observed in both the first order reaction rate constant and ejection fraction for the lamb treated with oxandrolone in our preliminary study.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.155-160
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• 2014

The heating produced by the absorption of radiofrequency (RF) has been considered a secondary undesirable effect during MRI procedures. In this work, we have measured the power absorbed by distilled water, glycerol and egg-albumin during NMR and non-NMR experiments. The samples are dielectric and examples of different biological materials. The samples were irradiated using the same RF pulse sequence, whilst the magnetic field strength was the variable to be changed in the experiments. The measurements show a smooth increase of the thermal power as the magnetic field grows due to the magnetoresistive effect in the copper antenna, a coil around the probe, which is directly heating the sample. However, in the cases when the magnetic field was the adequate for the NMR to take place, some anomalies in the expected thermal powers were observed: the thermal power was higher in the cases of water and glycerol, and lower in the case of albumin. An ANOVA test demonstrated that the observed differences between the measured power and the expected power are significant.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2017

Purpose: To optimize the saturation time and maximizing the pH-weighted difference between the normal and ischemic brain regions, on 3-tesla amide proton transfer (APT) imaging using an in vivo rat model. Materials and Methods: Three male Wistar rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion, and were examined in a 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. APT imaging acquisition was performed with 3-dimensional turbo spin-echo imaging, using a 32-channel head coil and 2-channel parallel radiofrequency transmission. An off-resonance radiofrequency pulse was applied with a Sinc-Gauss pulse at a $B_{1,rms}$ amplitude of $1.2{\mu}T$ using a 2-channel parallel transmission. Saturation times of 3, 4, or 5 s were tested. The APT effect was quantified using the magnetization-transfer-ratio asymmetry at 3.5 ppm with respect to the water resonance (APT-weighted signal), and compared with the normal and ischemic regions. The result was then applied to an acute stroke patient to evaluate feasibility. Results: Visual detection of ischemic regions was achieved with the 3-, 4-, and 5-s protocols. Among the different saturation times at $1.2{\mu}T$ power, 4 s showed the maximum difference between the ischemic and normal regions (-0.95%, P = 0.029). The APTw signal difference for 3 and 5 s was -0.9% and -0.7%, respectively. The 4-s saturation time protocol also successfully depicted the pH-weighted differences in an acute stroke patient. Conclusion: For 3-tesla turbo spin-echo APT imaging, the maximal pH-weighted difference achieved when using the $1.2{\mu}T$ power, was with the 4 s saturation time. This protocol will be helpful to depict pH-weighted difference in stroke patients in clinical settings.

• 대한기계학회논문집B
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• 제35권12호
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• pp.1301-1307
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• 2011

슬관절 소작용 완드(Electrosurgical Knee Wand, EKW)는 고주파 소작법으로 슬관절 인대, 조직 등의 응고, 삭마, 절제, 등에 적용된다. EKW와 radiofrequency를 이용한 조직응고, 삭마 등의 슬관절 수술에서 수술안전성, 편의성 및 성공률을 극대화하기 위해서는 병변에 매우 정확하고 안전하게 EKW가 선택적 접근을 할 수 있도록 유도하는 탁월한 방향조종제어능이 핵심기술이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 대퇴경골부 제한적인 공간에서 가장 적합한 수술용 의료기기 액추에이터로 판단되는 형상기억합금(SMA) 와이어를 이용하여 형상기억효과를 극대화 할 수 있는 SMA 인장스프링 모델을 제작하여 실험을 수행하였다. 또한 SMA의 열전기적 특성 및 전류변화에 따른 온도특성에 대한 연구를 수행하고 SMA 인장스프링의 설계조건에 따른 회복력 및 행정거리의 관계를 평가하였다. 그 결과, SMA 인장스프링의 직경이 작아질수록 최대온도는 증가하였다. 전류인가 15초의 경우는 전류량 증가와 힘의 증가가 비례한 반면, 전류인가 30초는 매우 불안정한 결과가 나타났다. 반면, 전류량 증가와 행정거리(TS) 증가 관계는 전류인가 15초일 때가 전류인가 30초일 때보다 더 안정적인 결과가 나타났다.