• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2021

The evolution of X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been based on the discovery of X-rays, the inception of the Radon transform, and the development of X-ray digital data acquisition systems and computer technology. Unlike conventional X-ray imaging (general radiography), CT reconstructs cross-sectional anatomical images of the internal structures according to X-ray attenuation coefficients (approximate tissue density) for almost every region in the body. This article reviews the essential physical principles and technical aspects of the CT scanner, including several notable evolutions in CT technology that resulted in the emergence of helical, multidetector, cone beam, portable, dual-energy, and phase-contrast CT, in integrated imaging modalities, such as positron-emission-tomography-CT and single-photon-emission-computed-tomography-CT, and in clinical applications, including image acquisition parameters, CT angiography, image adjustment, versatile image visualizations, volumetric/surface rendering on a computer workstation, radiation treatment planning, and target localization in radiotherapy. The understanding of CT characteristics will provide more effective and accurate patient care in the fields of diagnostics and radiotherapy, and can lead to the improvement of image quality and the optimization of exposure doses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.195-199
• /
• 2008

The carbon fiber has low x-ray absorption property and high stiffness. This is the reason why many CT(Computed Tomography) manufacturer use carbon fiber in couch tabletop for CT scanner. In this paper, we design and make the couch tabletop made of carbon fiber composite, and verify the validity in CT scanner. In designing the couch tabletop, to determine the aluminum equivalent thickness of couch tabletop, we evaluate X-ray the transmissivity of aluminum and carbon plate in 80-120kVp X-ray energy range. And we perform structural analysis and mechanical design using determined thickness of carbon sheet. In conclusion, it was evaluated that manufactured couch tabletop satisfies X-ray transmissivity and mechanical requirements in CT scanner.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 2011

Purpose : This study evaluated the potential use of the computed tomography indices (CTI) on cone beam CT (CBCT) images for an assessment of the bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Materials and Methods : Twenty-one postmenopausal osteoporotic women and 21 postmenopausal healthy women were enrolled as the subjects. The BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and femur were calculated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) using a DXA scanner. The CBCT images were obtained from the unilateral mental foramen region using a PSR-$9000N^{TM}$ Dental CT system. The axial, sagittal, and coronal images were reconstructed from the block images using $OnDemend3D^{TM}$. The new term "CTI" on CBCT images was proposed. The relationship between the CT measurements and BMDs were assessed and the intra-observer agreement was determined. Results : There were significant differences between the normal and osteoporotic groups in the computed tomography mandibular index superior (CTI(S)), computed tomography mandibular index inferior (CTI(I)), and computed tomography cortical index (CTCI). On the other hand, there was no difference between the groups in the computed tomography mental index (CTMI: inferior cortical width). Conclusion : CTI(S), CTI(I), and CTCI on the CBCT images can be used to assess the osteoporotic women.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.110-118
• /
• 1997

Recently, to make a diagnosis of the patient different X-Ray examinations are used. To name a few, Computed Tomography(CT). Magnetic Resonance Image(MRI) Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography(SPET) and Positron Emission Tomography(PET). But diagnosticians face difficulties sometimes when they make a diagnosis with images from those examinations. One of the problem is whether the Lesions of the patient is captured in the image correctly. Another one is whether the images are taken with same angle. in this paper, a study 9 on the method to obtain the hybrid image from the different images to different examinations. The procedure done in this paper is described as future study. Although small errors in position between images would occurred, this method more useful as it does not make patients in convenient. To reconstruct a image, some images are scanned by scanner and stored to personal computer for further image processing with Aldus photostyler program. The method to generate a sharpened image are also described.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.94-101
• /
• 2019

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of motion-correction algorithm (MCA) in improving coronary artery image quality and measurement accuracy using an anthropomorphic dynamic heart phantom and 256-detector row computed tomography (CT) scanner. Materials and Methods: An anthropomorphic dynamic heart phantom was scanned under a static condition and under heart rate (HR) simulation of 50-120 beats per minute (bpm), and the obtained images were reconstructed using conventional algorithm (CA) and MCA. We compared the subjective image quality of coronary arteries using a four-point scale (1, excellent; 2, good; 3, fair; 4, poor) and measurement accuracy using measurement errors of the minimal luminal diameter (MLD) and minimal luminal area (MLA). Results: Compared with CA, MCA significantly improved the subjective image quality at HRs of 110 bpm (1.3 ± 0.3 vs. 1.9 ± 0.8, p = 0.003) and 120 bpm (1.7 ± 0.7 vs. 2.3 ± 0.6, p = 0.006). The measurement error of MLD significantly decreased on using MCA at 110 bpm (11.7 ± 5.9% vs. 18.4 ± 9.4%, p = 0.013) and 120 bpm (10.0 ± 7.3% vs. 25.0 ± 16.5%, p = 0.013). The measurement error of the MLA was also reduced using MCA at 110 bpm (19.2 ± 28.1% vs. 26.4 ± 21.6%, p = 0.028) and 120 bpm (17.9 ± 17.7% vs. 34.8 ± 19.6%, p = 0.018). Conclusion: Motion-correction algorithm can improve the coronary artery image quality and measurement accuracy at a high HR using an anthropomorphic dynamic heart phantom and 256-detector row CT scanner.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.57 no.7
• /
• pp.297-303
• /
• 2014

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects has become a popular procedure. The availability of a preprocedural imaging study is crucial for a safe and successful closure. Both the anatomy and morphology of the defect should be precisely evaluated before the procedure. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography are helpful for understanding the morphology of a defect, which is important because different defect morphologies could variously impact the results. During the procedure, real-time 3D echocardiography can be used to guide an accurate closure. The safety and efficiency of transcatheter closures of atrial septal defects could be improved through the use of detailed imaging studies.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 2002

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of threshold value of computed tomography on the accuracy of rapid prototyping (RP) medical model Material and Methods : CT datas of a human dry skull were transferred from CT scanner via compact disk to a personal computer (PC). 3-dimensional image reconstruction on PC by V-works/sup TM/ 3.0 (CyberMed. Inc.) software and RP models fabrication were followed. 2-RP models were produced by threshold value of 500 and 800 selected in surface rendering process. Linear measurements between arbitrary 12 anatomical landmarks on dry skull, 3-D image model, and 2-RP models were done and compared. Thus, the accuracy of 500 RP and 800RP models was respectively evaluated. Results: There was mean difference (% difference) in absolute value of 2.27 mm (2.73%) between linear measurements of dry skull and 500 RP model. There was mean difference (% difference) in absolute value of 1.94 mm (2.52%) between linear measurements of dry skull and 800 RP model. Conclusion: Slight difference of threshold value in rendering process of 3-D modelling made a influence on the accuracy of RP medical model.

• 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.07a
• /
• pp.207-222
• /
• 2011

Relationships between soil saturated hydraulic conductivity ($K_s$) and porosity (${\phi}$) have been developed over many years; however, use of these relationships for evaluating rain-induced seals is limited mainly because of difficulties in estimating seal pore-size characteristics. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the $K_s$ of soil surface seals over a range of thicknesses, where seal thickness was determined using a High-Resolution-Computed-Tomography (HRCT) scanner, and to investigate relationships between $K_s$ and ${\phi}$ of developing seals in samples with equivalent diameters (e.d.) ${\geq}15\;{\mu}m$. A Mexico silt loam soil was packed to a bulk density (${\rho}_b$) of $1.1\;Mg\;m^{-3}$ in cylinders 160-mm i.d. by 160-mm long and subjected to $61-mm\;h^{-1}$ simulated rainfall having a kinetic energy (KE) of $25\;J\;m^{-2}\;min^{-1}$ for 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 min to create a range in seal development. Thicknesses of the seal layers were determined by analysis of HRCT images of seals. The $K_s$ values of the seals were estimated using an effective $K_s$ value ($K_{s-eff}$). The $K_s-{\phi}$ relationship was described by a Kozeny and Carmen equation, $K_s=B{\phi}^n$; where B and n are empirical constants and n = 31. This approach explained 86% of the variation between $K_s$ and ${\phi}$ within the soil seals. Knowledge of surface seal information and hydraulic conductivity can provide useful information to use in management of sites prone to sealing formation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.11
• /
• pp.4244-4252
• /
• 2022

The accuracy of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations in estimating the computed tomography radiation dose is highly dependent on the accuracy of CT scanner model. A system was developed to observe the 3D model intuitively and to calculate the X-ray energy spectrum and the bowtie (BT) filter model more accurately in Monte Carlo N-particle (MCNP). Labview's built-in Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) was used to display basic surfaces, and constructive solid geometry (CSG) method was used to realize Boolean operations. The energy spectrum was calculated by simulating the process of electronic shooting and the BT filter model was accurately modeled based on the calculated shape curve. Physical data from a study was used as an example to illustrate the accuracy of the constructed model. RMSE between the simulation and the measurement results were 0.97% and 0.74% for two filters of different shapes. It can be seen from the comparison results that to obtain an accurate CT scanner model, physical measurements should be taken as the standard. The energy spectrum library should be established based on Monte Carlo simulations with modifiable input files. It is necessary to use the three-segment splicing modeling method to construct the bowtie filter model.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare the centering abilities of four root canal instrument systems and the amounts of dentin removed after root canal shaping using them. The mesial canals of twenty extracted mandibular first molars having $10-20^{\circ}$ curvature were scanned using X-ray micro-computed tomography (XMCT)-scanner before root canals were instrumented. They were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group). In Group 1, root canals were instrumented by the step-back technique with stainless steel K-Flexofile after coronal flaring. The remainders were instrumented by the crown-down technique with Profile (Group 2), ProTaper (Group 3) or K3 system (Group 4). All canals were prepared up to size 25 at the end-point of preparation and scanned again. Scanned images were processed to reconstruct three-dimensional images using three-dimensional image software and the changes of total canal volume were measured. Pre-and post-operative cross-sectional images of 1, 3, 5, and 7 mm from the apical foramen were com pared. For each level, centering ratio were calculated using Adobe Photoshop 6.0 and image software program. ProTaper and K3 systems have a tendency to remove more dentin than the other file systems. In all groups, the lowest value of centering ratio at 3 mm level was observed. And except at 3 mm level, ProTaper system made canals less centered than the other systems (p < 0.05).