• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.391-401
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• 2004

3D imaging systems using 2D phased arrays have a large number of active channels, compelling to use a very expensive and bulky beamforming hardware, and suffer from low volume rate because, in principle, at least one ultrasound transmit-receive event is necessary to construct each scanline. A high speed 3D imaging method using a cross array proposed previously to solve the above limitations can implement fast scanning and dynamic focusing in the lateral direction but suffer from low resolution except at the fixed transmit focusing along the elevational direction. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new real-time volumetric imaging method using a cross array based on the synthetic aperture technique. In the proposed method, ultrasound wave is transmitted successively using each elements of an 1D transmit array transducer, one at a time, which is placed along the elevational direction and for each firing, the returning pulse echoes are received using all elements of an 1D receive array transducer placed along the lateral direction. On receive, by employing the conventional dynamic focusing and synthetic aperture method along lateral and elevational directions, respectively, ultrasound waves can be focused effectively at all imaging points. In addition, in the proposed method, a volume of interest consisting of any required number of slice images, can be constructed with the same number of transmit-receive steps as the total number of transmit array elements. Computer simulation results show that the proposed method can provide the same and greatly improved resolutions in the lateral and elevational directions, respectively, compared with the 3D imaging method using a cross array based on the conventional fixed focusing. In the accompanying paper, we will also propose a new real-time 3D imaging method using a cross array for improving transmit power and elevational spatial resolution, which uses linear wave fronts on transmit.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.513-521
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and complications of an ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block performed by orthopedic surgeons. Materials and Methods: From March to May 2017, an ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block was performed on a total of 103 cases of surgery. A VF13-5 transducer from Siemens Acuson X300 was used. The surgical site was included in the range of the anatomic sensory distribution of the blocked nerve, except for the case where an operation time of more than 2 hours was expected due to multiple injuries and the operation of the upper arm. The procedure was performed by 2 orthopedic surgeons in the same method using 50 ml of solution (20 ml of lidocaine HCl in 2%, 20 ml of ropivacaine in 0.75%, 10 ml of normal saline in 0.9%). The success rate of anesthesia induction during surgery, anesthetic induction time, anatomical range of operation, duration of postoperative analgesia and complications were investigated. Results: The results from the 2 practices were similar. The anesthesia was successful in 100 out of 103 patients (97.1%). In these patients, the average needling time was 5.5 minutes (2.5-13.2 minutes), the average induction time to complete anesthesia was 18.4 minutes (5-40 minutes), and the average duration of postoperative analgesia was 402.8 minutes (141-540 minutes). The post-anesthesia immediate complications were dizziness in 1 case, nausea and vomiting in 4 cases, and peri-oral numbness in 2 cases, but surgery was performed without problems. All these 7 cases with complications recovered on the same day. A total of 3 cases failed with anesthesia, and they were treated by an injection with local anesthesia in the operation room in 2 cases and switched to general anesthesia in 1 case. Conclusion: An ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block, which was performed by orthopedic surgeons allows anesthesia in a brief period and the high success rates of anesthesia for certain surgeries of the elbow and surgeries on forearm, wrist and hand. Therefore, it can reduce the waiting time to the operating room. This technique is a relatively safe procedure and dose selective anesthesia is possible.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.975-984
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• 2022

Since a linear transducer has an area of interest equal to the length of the transducer, the area of interest can be expanded using the virtual convex function installed in the device.However, it was thought that the change in the direction of the ultrasonic sound velocity according to the change in the visual area of interest would affect the image quality, so this was objectively confirmed. For this study, image evaluation and SNR·CNR of the phantom for ultrasound quality control were measured. As a result, in the phantom image evaluation, both images were able to identify structures in functional resolution, grayscale, and dynamic range. However, it was confirmed that the standard image was excellent in the reproducibility of the size and shape of the structure. As a result of SNR·CNR evaluation, SNR·CNR of most trapezoidal images was low, except for structures at specific locations. In addition, through the statistical analysis graph, it was further confirmed that the SNR and CNR for each depth decreased as the size of the cystic structure decreased. Through this study, it was confirmed that the use of the function has the advantage of providing a wide visual area of interest, but it has an effect on the image quality. Therefore, when using the virtual convex function, it is judged that the examiner should use it in an appropriate situation and conduct various studies to acquire high-quality images and to improve the understanding and proficiency of the equipment.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.236-240
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• 2017

In this paper, we investigate the thermal response of skin tissue to high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) by means of infrared (IR) thermal imaging. For skin tightening, a 7-MHz ultrasound transducer is used to induce irreversible tissue coagulation in porcine skin. An IR camera is employed to monitor spatiotemporal changes of the temperature in the tissue. The maximum temperature in the tissue increased linearly with applied energy, up to $90^{\circ}C$. The extent of irreversible tissue coagulation (up to 3.2 mm in width) corresponds well to the spatial distribution of the temperature during HIFU sonication. Histological analysis confirms that the temperature beyond the coagulation threshold (${\sim}65^{\circ}C$) delineates the margin of collagen denaturation in the tissue. IR thermal imaging can be a feasible method for quantifying the degree of thermal coagulation in HIFU-induced skin treatment.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.361-367
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• 2024

Ultrasound in the air is widely used in industry as a measurement technique to prevent abnormalities in the machinery. Recently, the use of airborne ultrasound imaging techniques, which can find the location of abnormalities using an array transducers, is increasing. A beamforming method that uses the phase difference for each sensor is used to visualize the location of the ultrasonic sound source. We exploit a random sparse ultrasonic array and obtain beamforming power distribution on the source in a certain distance away from the array. Conventional beamforming methods inevitably have limited spatial resolution depending on the number of sensors used and the aperture size. A high-resolution ultrasound imaging technique was implemented by applying functional beamforming as a method to overcome the geometric constraints of the array. The functional beamforming method can be expressed as a generalized beam forming method mathematically, and has the advantage of being able to obtain high-resolution imaging by reducing main-lobe width and side lobes. As a result of observation through computer simulation, it was verified that the resolution of the ultrasonic source in the air was successfully increased by functional beamforming using the ultrasonic sparse array.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2008

Ultrasonic C-scan technique is one of very popular techniques being used for detection of flaws in polymer matrix composite(PMC). However, the application of this technique is very limited for evaluation of defects in PMC fabricated by the automated fiber placement process. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel ultrasonic hybrid system based on nondestructive and non-contact ultrasonic techniques for evaluation of delamination in carbon/epoxy and carbon/PPS composite laminates. It was shown that the newly developed ultrasonic hybrid system based on dual air-coupled pitch-catch technique with ultrasonic scattering reflection concept could provide excellent image with higher resolution of delamination in PMC compared with the conventional pitch-catch method. It is expected that this ultrasonic hybrid technique can be applied for on-line inspection of flaws in PMC during the fabrication process.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2017

Three types of piezoelectric single crystals [PMN-PT (Generation I $[Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbTiO_3]$), PMN-PZT (Generation II $[Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-Pb(Zr,Ti)O_3]$), PMN-PZT-Mn (Generation III)] were grown by the solid-state single crystal growth (SSCG) method, and their dielectric and piezoelectric properties were measured and compared. Compared to (001) PMN-PT and PMN-PZT single crystals, the (001) PMN-PZT-Mn single crystals exhibited a higher transition temperature between the rhombohedral and tetragonal phases ($T_{RT}=144^{\circ}C$), as well as a higher coercive electric field ($E_C=6.3kV/cm$) and internal bias field ($E_I=1.6kV/cm$). The (011) PMN-PZT-Mn single crystals showed the highest coercive electric field ($E_C=7.0kV/cm$), and the highest stability of $E_C$ and $E_I$ during 60 cycles of polarization measurement. These results demonstrate that both Mn doping (for higher electromechanical quality factor ($Q_m$)) and a (011) crystallographic orientation (for higher coercive electric field and stability) are necessary for high power transducer applications of these piezoelectric single crystals. Specifically, the (011) PMN-PZT-Mn single crystal (Gen. III) had the highest potential for application in the fields of SONAR transducers, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), ultrasonic motors, and others.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.163-166
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• 2002

The underwater acoustic communication has been widely applied to various objects such as ocean exploration-development and military affairs. And recently for embodiment of the communication system that is installed in a submarine and underwater work system, many studies have been progressing. This scope of the main studies in the meantime. It made it possible for a diver and a scuba diver who arc difficult to notice the situation of the outside because of staying in the water to hear a sound through a small speaker by using a ultra sound transducer that a central frequency is 32KHz after modulation of a voice to give the information of the outside. Also in case of happening an emergency to a diver in the water, it made him/her ask for help to a person in the outside by pressing a key and send a letter data to a person in the outside by using a keyboard. Through this system, it is possible to send a voice or data between the underwater and the outside and it is available to a diver or skin scuba diver.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.732-739
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• 2009

Flow phantom with stenosis was manufactured using an auto-injector to obtain angiostenotic flow information and quality assurance (QA) for ultrasound diagnostic instrumentation. Effectiveness of manufactured flow phantom with stenosis was investigated with power Doppler that was known to have diagnostic efficiency for angiostenosis. The flow phantom with stenosis was manufactured to 70% stenosis with 8 mm and 2.4 mm silicon tube, and silicone tube was covered with gelatin that has acoustic characteristics similar to soft tissue. When the linear transducer was used for measurement, the estimated diameter of normal vessel was measured lower than that of normal value, and the estimated diameter of stenosed vessel was measured higher than that of normal value. The measured parameters were not affected except for the radical conditions such as gain of 60%, PRF of 3000 Hz, use of maximal filter or angle. In addition, when the convex transducer was used for measurement, measurement parameters were affected by gain, PRF, filter, and angle. Therefore it is expected that flow phantom with stenosis manufactured with an auto-injector will be utilized effectively for QA of angiostenotic diagnosis.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.95-101
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• 2018

Objective: To determine if the provision of visual biofeedback using real-time rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) enhances the acquisition and retention of diaphragm muscle recruitment during exercise. Design: Two group pretest posttest design. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects were randomly assigned to the verbal feedback group (VG, n=15) or the visual and verbal feedback group (VVG, n=15). The VG performed breathing exercises 10 times with verbal feedback, and the VVG also performed breathing exercises 10 times with verbal feedback and visual feedback with the use of RUSI to measure changes in diaphragm thickness (DT). For DT, the mid-axillary lines between ribs 8 and 9 on both sides were measured in standing, and then the chest wall was perpendicularly illuminated using a linear transducer with the patients in supine to observe the region between rib 8 and 9 and to obtain 2-dimensional images. DT was measured as the distance between the two parallel lines that appeared bright in the middle of the pleura and the peritoneum. After one week, three repetitions (follow-up session) were performed to confirm retention effects. Intra- and between- group percent changes in diaphragm muscle thickness were assessed. Results: In the VVG, the intervention value had a medium effect size compared to the baseline value, but the follow-up value decreased to a small effect size. In the between-group comparisons, during the intervention session, the VVG showed no significant effect on percent change of DT but had a medium effect size compared to the VG (p=0.050, Cohen's d=0.764). During the follow-up session, retention effect did not persist (p=0.311, Cohen's d=0.381). Conclusions: RUSI can be used to provide visual biofeedback and improve performance and retention in the ability to activate the diaphragm muscle in healthy subjects. Future research needs to establish a protocol for respiratory intervention to maintain the effect of diaphragmatic breathing training using RUSI with visual feedback.