• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.247-254
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Dual-energy X-ray imaging is widely used today in various areas of medicine and in other applications. However, no similar technique exists for dental applications. In this study, we propose a dual-energy technique for dental diagnoses based on voltage-switching. Materials and Methods: The method presented in this study allowed different groups of materials to be classified based on atomic number, thereby enabling two-dimensional images to be colorized. Computer simulations showed the feasibility of this approach. Using a number of different samples with typical biologic and synthetic dental materials, the technique was applied to radiographs acquired with a commercially available dental X-ray unit. Results: This technique provided a novel visual representation of the intraoral environment in three colors, and is of diagnostic value when compared to state-of-the-art grayscale images, since the oral cavity often contains multiple permanent foreign materials. Conclusion: This work developed a technique for two-dimensional dual-energy imaging in the context of dental applications and showed its feasibility with a commercial dental X-ray unit in simulation and experimental studies.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.158-164
• /
• 2011

Breast cancer is the most frequently appearing cancer in women, these days. To reduce mortality of breast cancer, periodic check-up is strongly recommended. X-ray mammography is one of powerful diagnostic imaging systems to detect 50~100 um micro-calcification which is the early sign of breast cancer. Although x-ray mammography has very high spatial resolution, it is not easy yet to distinguish cancerous tissue from normal tissues in mammograms and new tissue characterizing methods are required. Recently ultrasound elastography technique has been developed, which uses the phenomenon that cancerous tissue is harder than normal tissues. However its spatial resolution is not enough to detect breast cancer. In order to develop a new elastography system with high resolution we are developing x-ray elasticity imaging technique. It uses the small differences of tissue positions with and without external breast compression and requires an algorithm to detect tissue displacement. In this paper, computer simulation is done for preliminary study of x-ray elasticity imaging. First, 3D x-ray breast phantom for modeling woman's breast is created and its elastic model for FEM (finite element method) is generated. After then, FEM experiment is performed under the compression of the breast phantom. Using the obtained displacement data, 3D x-ray phantom is deformed and the final mammogram under the compression is generated. The simulation result shows the feasibility of x-ray elasticity imaging. We think that this preliminary study is helpful for developing and verifying a new algorithm of x-ray elasticity imaging.

• Journal of Magnetics
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.593-598
• /
• 2016

In order to reduce the amount of noise component in X-ray imaging system, various reduction techniques were frequently used in the field of diagnostic imaging. Although the previous techniques -such as median, Wiener filters and Anscombe noise reduction technique - were able to reduce the noise, the edge information was still damaged. In order to cope with this problem, total variation (TV) noise reduction technique has been developed and researched. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the image quality using normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) through simulations and experiments with respect to the above-mentioned noise reduction techniques. As a result, not only lowest NNPS value but also highest CNR values were acquired using a TV noise reduction technique. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that TV noise reduction technique is proved as the most practical method to ensure accurate denoising in X-ray imaging system.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.120-126
• /
• 2021

Background: This paper aims to evaluate the clinical utility and radiation dosimetry, for the mobile X-ray imaging of patients with known or suspected infectious diseases, through the window of an isolation room. The suitability of this technique for imaging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is of particular focus here, although it is expected to have equal relevance to many infectious respiratory disease outbreaks. Materials and Methods: Two exposure levels were examined, a "typical" mobile exposure of 100 kVp/1.6 mAs and a "high" exposure of 120 kVp/5 mAs. Exposures of an anthropomorphic phantom were made, with and without a glass window present in the beam. The resultant phantom images were provided to experienced radiographers for image quality evaluation, using a Likert scale to rate the anatomical structure visibility. Results and Discussion: The incident air kerma doubled using the high exposure technique, from 29.47 µGy to 67.82 µGy and scattered radiation inside and outside the room increased. Despite an increase in beam energy, high exposure technique images received higher image quality scores than images acquired using lower exposure settings. Conclusion: Increased scattered radiation was very low and can be further mitigated by ensuring surrounding staff are appropriately distanced from both the patient and X-ray tube. Although an increase in incident air kerma was observed, practical advantages in infection control and personal protective equipment conservation were identified. Sites are encouraged to consider the use of this technique where appropriate, following the completion of standard justification practices.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.08a
• /
• pp.403-406
• /
• 2006

A new medical X-ray PIV technique was developed using a conventional medical X-ray tube. To acquire images of micro-scale particles, the X-ray PIV system consists of an x-ray CCD camera with high spatial resolution, and a X-ray tube with small a focal spot. A new X-ray exposure control device was developed using a rotating disc shutter to make double pulses which are essential for PIV application. Synchronization methodology was also developed to apply the PIV technique to a conventional medical X-ray tube. In order to check the performance and usefulness of the developed X-ray PIV technique, it was applied to a glycerin flow in an opaque silicon tube. Tungsten particles which have high X-ray absorption coefficient were used as tracer particles. Through this preliminary test, the spatial resolution was found to be higher than ultrafast MRI techniques, and the temporal resolution was higher than conventional X-ray PIV techniques. By improving its performance further and developing more suitable tracers, this medical X-ray PIV technique will have strong potential in the fields of medical imaging or nondestructive inspection as well as diagnosis of practical thermo-fluid flows.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.29 no.11 s.242
• /
• pp.1182-1188
• /
• 2005

An x-ray PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) technique was developed to measure quantitative information on flows inside opaque conduits and on opaque-fluid flows. At first, the developed x-ray PIV technique was applied to flow in an opaque Teflon tube. To acquire x-ray images suitable for PIV velocity field measurements, refraction-based edge enhancement mechanism was employed using detectable tracer particles. The optimal distance between with the sample and detector was experimentally determined. The resulting amassed velocity field data were in reasonable agreement with the theoretical prediction. The x-ray PIV technique was also applied to blood flow in a microchannel. The flow pattern of blood was visualifed by enhancing the diffraction/interference -bas ed characteristic s of blood cells on synchrotron x-rays without any contrast agent or tracer particles. That is, the flow-pattern image of blood was achieved by optimizing the sample (blood) to detector distance and the sample thickness. Quantitative velocity field information was obtained by applying PIV algorithm to the enhanced x-ray flow images. The measured velocity field data show a typical flow structure of flow in a macro-scale channel.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.11a
• /
• pp.45-46
• /
• 2003

The x-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to measure the size and velocity of micro-bubbles moving in an opaque tube simultaneously. Phase contrast images were obtained at interfaces of micro-bubbles between water and air due to different refractive index. Micro-bubbles of $20\~120{\mu}m$ diameter moving upward in an opaque tube $(\phi=2.7mm)$ were tested. For two different working fluids of tap water and DI water, the measured velocity of micro-bubbles is roughly proportional to the square of bubble size.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.48-53
• /
• 2010

Water-uptake through roots, is an essential process of the water flow in plants. Its visualization is very useful for understanding sap flow dynamics at whole plant level. In this study, the tips of Arabidopsis' root hairs were excised and exposed to repeated dehydration and rehydration processes. The water-refilling through individual xylem vessels was visualized using the synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique. The high temporal resolution ($2\;{\mu}m$) and beam intensity of the X-ray source allowed to acquisition of consecutive X-ray images of the water-refilling process up to 10 frames/sec. Various flow patterns were observed and the ascending speed of the water-air interfaces was analyzed. The relation between the water-rising height and ascending speed was also analyzed. The present results would provide better alternative for investigating sap flows in roots.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 2007

The global environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate, despite of enhanced international environmental regulation. Many studies have been performed to reduce toxic pollutants. Recently, plant-based phytoremediation technology for moving toxic contaminants from soil and water has been receiving large attention. Arsenic-contaminated soil is one of the major pollutant sources for drinking water. Pteris erotica has been known as a hyper-accumulator of arsenic from soils. In this study, we investigated the effect of arsenic absorption on sap flow inside xylem vessels of Pteris. The synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to monitor the refilling process of water containing arsenic inside the xylem vessels of Pteris's leaves and stems non-invasively. The captured phase-contrast X-ray images show both anatomy of internal structure and transport of water inside Pteris. The exposure of Pteris to arsenic solution was found to increase largely the water raise speed in xylem vessels. The present results would provide important information needed for understanding the mechanisms of accumulation and transportation of toxic materials in plants.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.12a
• /
• pp.92-95
• /
• 2006

The global environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate despite of enhanced international environmental regulation. Many studies have been performed to reduce pollutants. Recently, phytoremediation, plant-based technology for the removal of toxic contaminants from soil, water, and air, has been receiving large attention. Arsenic-contaminated soil is one of the major pollutant sources fur drinking water. The fern brake (Pteris erotica) has been reported as a hyper-accumulate arsenic from soils. In this study, we investigated the arsenic absorption effect on sap flow inside xylem vessels of a fern brake. The synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to monitor flow inside the plant non-invasively. The captured phase-contrast X-ray images show both anatomy and transport of water inside the fern brake. The refilling process of water containing arsenic inside the xylem vessels of fern brake's leaves and stems was clearly observed. These results would provide important information needed fur understanding the mechanisms of accumulation, translocation, and transformation of toxic materials in plants.