• Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• 제1권4호
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• pp.272-288
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• 2014

This paper presents a two-step, semi-automated method for reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) shape of the prostate from a 3D transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) image. While the method has been developed for prostate ultrasound imaging, it can potentially be applicable to any other organ of the body and other imaging modalities. The proposed method takes as input a 3D TRUS image and generates a watertight 3D surface model of the prostate. In the first step, the system lets the user visualize and navigate through the input volumetric image by displaying cross sectional views oriented in arbitrary directions. The user then draws partial/full contours on selected cross sectional views. In the second step, the method automatically generates a watertight 3D surface of the prostate by fitting a deformable spherical template to the set of user-specified contours. Since the method allows the user to select the best cross-sectional directions and draw only clearly recognizable partial or full contours, the user can avoid time-consuming and inaccurate guesswork on where prostate contours are located. By avoiding the usage of noisy, incomprehensible portions of the TRUS image, the proposed method yields more accurate prostate shapes than conventional methods that demand complete cross-sectional contours selected manually, or automatically using an image processing tool. Our experiments confirmed that a 3D watertight surface of the prostate can be generated within five minutes even from a volumetric image with a high level of speckles and shadow noises.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.67-75
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the value of image post-processing software (FreeSurfer, IBASPM [individual brain atlases using statistical parametric mapping software]) and inversion time (TI) in volumetric analyses of the hippocampus and to identify differences in comparison with manual tracing. Materials and Methods: Brain images from 12 normal adults were acquired using magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE) with a slice thickness of 1.3 mm and TI of 800, 900, 1000, and 1100 ms. Hippocampal volumes were measured using FreeSurfer, IBASPM and manual tracing. Statistical differences were examined using correlation analyses accounting for spatial interpretations percent volume overlap and percent volume difference. Results: FreeSurfer revealed a maximum percent volume overlap and maximum percent volume difference at TI = 800 ms ($77.1{\pm}2.9%$) and TI = 1100 ms ($13.1{\pm}2.1%$), respectively. The respective values for IBASPM were TI = 1100 ms ($55.3{\pm}9.1%$) and TI = 800 ms ($43.1{\pm}10.7%$). FreeSurfer presented a higher correlation than IBASPM but it was not statistically significant. Conclusion: FreeSurfer performed better in volumetric determination than IBASPM. Given the subjective nature of manual tracing, automated image acquisition and analysis image is accurate and preferable.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.321-325
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• 1998

일반적으로 현재의 초음파 의료영상시스템에서 지연시간의 계산에 사용하는 음속도는 인체의연조직에서의 평균속도인 1540m/s 의 값을 이용한다. 그러나 사람마다 혹은 매질의 특성에 따라 초음파의 속도가 크게 차이가 나서 고정된 속도를 이용한 집속 지연시간 계산에는 오차가 발생한다. 이는 해상도의 저하를 가져올 뿐만 아니라, 매질의 기하학적인 크기나 거리정보가 필요한, 심장이나 신장의 용적을 계산과 같은 경우에는 큰 오차를 가져온다. 따라서 매질의 속도를 정확히 구하는 것이 해상도 향상의 중요한 관건의 하나임을 알 수가 있다. 본 논문에서는 이를 위해 매질내의 관심영역에서의 밝기를 최대화시켜주는 접속지연시간 프로파일을 구해 매질 내에서의 옴파의 속도를 측정하여 실제 초음파 팬텀에 적응하여 좋은 결과를 얻을 수 있었다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1995년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.253-256
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• 1995

Polymers have been one of the emerging biomedical materials in the area of biomedical research which are applicable to the human body. For human applications, noninvasive characterization of the biomedical polymers has been one of the important topics, and is valuable information. Among others, the swelling rate is one of the important measurements needed for the hydrophilic polymers. NMR imaging has been a suitable method for the noninvasive study of such a material since it is sensitive to many physical and biochemical changes of the specimens. In addition, NMR techniques possess many useful intrinsic properties such as the relaxation and diffusion effects. The present study has provided a noble and noninvasive method of measuring the process of swelling as well as volumetric changes occurred in polymers and drug delivery processes in a drug delivery system (DDS) together with changes of released drug. This gives information, relating with both water ingress process, volumetric changes of polymer specimens and the visualization of sequential drug delivery process. Also, this study provides more reliable method to ascertain the time dependent swelling process compared to the conventional method. The important aspects is that the proposed method is truly noninvasive and is able to ascertain time dependent processes.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.189-196
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• 2019

We investigated differences in ventricular and hippocampal volumes between CSF tap test (CSFTT) responders and non-responders in idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) patients and compared these parameters in INPH patients with that of age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We also evaluated relationships between ventricular and hippocampal volumes and clinical profiles in INPH patients. We enrolled 48 patients with INPH and 29 healthy controls. Ventricular and hippocampal volumes were measured on MRI, including 3-dimensional volumetric images. INPH patients, when compared to healthy controls, had significantly larger ventricular and smaller hippocampal volumes. No difference in ventricular and hippocampal volumes was found between CSFTT responders and non-responders in INPH patients. And hippocampal volumes showed significant negative correlations with Clinical Dementia Rating Scale scores, INPH grading scale cognitive scores, Timed Up and Go Test scores, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor scores in INPH patients. Volumetric assessment of ventricular and hippocampal regions may have no predictive value in differentiating between CSFTT responders and non-responders in INPH patients. Our findings may help us understand the potential pathophysiology of unique symptoms associated with INPH.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.38-45
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• 2019

Purpose: To demonstrate the high-resolution numerical simulation of the respiration-induced dynamic $B_0$ shift in the head using generalized susceptibility voxel convolution (gSVC). Materials and Methods: Previous dynamic $B_0$ simulation research has been limited to low-resolution numerical models due to the large computational demands of conventional Fourier-based $B_0$ calculation methods. Here, we show that a recently-proposed gSVC method can simulate dynamic $B_0$ maps from a realistic breathing human body model with high spatiotemporal resolution in a time-efficient manner. For a human body model, we used the Extended Cardiac And Torso (XCAT) phantom originally developed for computed tomography. The spatial resolution (voxel size) was kept isotropic and varied from 1 to 10 mm. We calculated $B_0$ maps in the brain of the model at 10 equally spaced points in a respiration cycle and analyzed the spatial gradients of each of them. The results were compared with experimental measurements in the literature. Results: The simulation predicted a maximum temporal variation of the $B_0$ shift in the brain of about 7 Hz at 7T. The magnitudes of the respiration-induced $B_0$ gradient in the x (right/left), y (anterior/posterior), and z (head/feet) directions determined by volumetric linear fitting, were < 0.01 Hz/cm, 0.18 Hz/cm, and 0.26 Hz/cm, respectively. These compared favorably with previous reports. We found that simulation voxel sizes greater than 5 mm can produce unreliable results. Conclusion: We have presented an efficient simulation framework for respiration-induced $B_0$ variation in the head. The method can be used to predict $B_0$ shifts with high spatiotemporal resolution under different breathing conditions and aid in the design of dynamic $B_0$ compensation strategies.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.313-321
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• 2016

Purpose: Total scalp irradiation (TSI) is a rare but challenging indication. We previously reported that non-coplanar intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was superior to coplanar IMRT in organ-at-risk (OAR) protection and target dose distribution. This consecutive treatment planning study compared IMRT with volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Materials and Methods: A retrospective treatment plan databank search was performed and 5 patient cases were randomly selected. Cranial imaging was restored from the initial planning computed tomography (CT) and target volumes and OAR were redelineated. For each patients, three treatment plans were calculated (coplanar/non-coplanar IMRT, VMAT; prescribed dose 50 Gy, single dose 2 Gy). Conformity, homogeneity and dose volume histograms were used for plan. Results: VMAT featured the lowest monitor units and the sharpest dose gradient (1.6 Gy/mm). Planning target volume (PTV) coverage and homogeneity was better in VMAT (coverage, 0.95; homogeneity index [HI], 0.118) compared to IMRT (coverage, 0.94; HI, 0.119) but coplanar IMRT produced the most conformal plans (conformity index [CI], 0.43). Minimum PTV dose range was 66.8%-88.4% in coplanar, 77.5%-88.2% in non-coplanar IMRT and 82.8%-90.3% in VMAT. Mean dose to the brain, brain stem, optic system (maximum dose) and lenses were 18.6, 13.2, 9.1, and 5.2 Gy for VMAT, 21.9, 13.4, 14.5, and 6.3 Gy for non-coplanar and 22.8, 16.5, 11.5, and 5.9 Gy for coplanar IMRT. Maximum optic chiasm dose was 7.7, 8.4, and 11.1 Gy (non-coplanar IMRT, VMAT, and coplanar IMRT). Conclusion: Target coverage, homogeneity and OAR protection, was slightly superior in VMAT plans which also produced the sharpest dose gradient towards healthy tissue.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.120-127
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the dosimetric performance of Mobius3D by comparison with an aSi-based electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and Octavius 4D, which are conventionally used for patient-specific prescription dose verification. Methods: The study was conducted using nine patients who were treated by volumetric modulated arc therapy. To evaluate the feasibility of Mobius3D for prescription dose verification, we compared the QA results of Mobius3D to an aSi-based EPID and the Octavius 4D dose verification methods. The first was the comparison of the Mobius3D verification phantom dose, and the second was to gamma index analysis. Results: The percentage differences between the calculated point dose and measurements from a PTW31010 ion chamber were 1.6%±1.3%, 2.0%±0.8%, and 1.2%±1.2%, using collapsed cone convolution, an analytical anisotropic algorithm, and the AcurosXB algorithm respectively. The average difference was found to be 1.6%±0.3%. Additionally, in the case of using the PTW31014 ion chamber, the corresponding results were 2.0%±1.4%, 2.4%±2.1%, and 1.6%±2.5%, showing an average agreement within 2.0%±0.3%. Considering all the criteria, the Mobius3D result showed that the percentage dose difference from the EPID was within 0.46%±0.34% on average, and the percentage dose difference from Octavius 4D was within 3.14%±2.85% on average. Conclusions: We conclude that Mobius3D can be used interchangeably with phantom-based dosimetry systems, which are commonly used as patient-specific prescription dose verification tools, especially under the conditions of 3%/3 mm and 95% pass rate.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2015

Purpose: We have developed a new method of segmenting the areas of absorbable implants and bone using region-based segmentation of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images, which allowed us to quantify volumetric bone-implant contact (VBIC) and volumetric absorption (VA). Materials and Methods: The simple threshold technique generally used in micro-CT analysis cannot be used to segment the areas of absorbable implants and bone. Instead, a region-based segmentation method, a region-labeling method, and subsequent morphological operations were successively applied to micro-CT images. The three-dimensional VBIC and VA of the absorbable implant were then calculated over the entire volume of the implant. Two-dimensional (2D) bone-implant contact (BIC) and bone area (BA) were also measured based on the conventional histomorphometric method. Results: VA and VBIC increased significantly with as the healing period increased (p<0.05). VBIC values were significantly correlated with VA values (p<0.05) and with 2D BIC values (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is possible to quantify VBIC and VA for absorbable implants using micro-CT analysis using a region-based segmentation method.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.59-65
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• 2018

Background: We analyzed changes in the doses, structure volumes, and dose-volume histograms (DVHs) when data were transferred from one commercial treatment planning system (TPS) to another commercial TPS. Materials and Methods: A total of 22 volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans for nasopharyngeal cancer were generated with the Eclipse system using 6-MV photon beams. The computed tomography (CT) images, dose distributions, and structure information, including the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs), were transferred from the Eclipse to the MRIdian system in digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) format. Thereafter, DVHs of the OARs and PTVs were generated in the MRIdian system. The structure volumes, dose distributions, and DVHs were compared between the MRIdian and Eclipse systems. Results and Discussion: The dose differences between the two systems were negligible (average matching ratio for every voxel with a 0.1% dose difference criterion = $100.0{\pm}0.0%$). However, the structure volumes significantly differed between the MRIdian and Eclipse systems (volume differences of $743.21{\pm}461.91%$ for the optic chiasm and $8.98{\pm}1.98%$ for the PTV). Compared to the Eclipse system, the MRIdian system generally overestimated the structure volumes (all, p < 0.001). The DVHs that were plotted using the relative structure volumes exhibited small differences between the MRIdian and Eclipse systems. In contrast, the DVHs that were plotted using the absolute structure volumes showed large differences between the two TPSs. Conclusion: DVH interpretation between two TPSs should be performed using DVHs plotted with the absolute dose and absolute volume, rather than the relative values.