• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2001

최근 포항 방사광 가속기 연구소에 미세구조 X-선 영상 실험을 위한 5C1 방사광(Synchrtoron Radiation) 빔라인이 건설되었다. 광대역의 에너지 스펙트럼을 가진 방사광 X-선이 물체를 투과한 후 CdWO$_{4}$ scintillator에 의해 가시광선으로 바뀌고, 그 빛을 CCD 카메라로 받아들여 영상을 획득하게 된다. 방사광 X-선은 일반 의료진단용 X-선에 비하여 위상이 일치하고, 평행하며, 그 양이 풍부한 특성들을 갖고 있다. 방사광 영상시스템과 X-선 유방촬영 시스템에서 영상을 획득하여 영상특성들을 비교, 분석하였다. 고-분해능 X-선 시험 패턴(20 line pairs mm$^{-1}$), 유방촬영 팬텀, 파라핀에 고정한 인체 유방암조직과 포르말린에 고정한 인체 유방암조직, 그리고 capillary tube내 micro-bubbles등의 방사광 영상은 기존의 X-선 유방촬영시스템에서 얻은 영상보다 분해능이 뛰어나고 영상질도 우수하였다. 방사광 X-선 영상시스템은 micrometer 공간 분해능 영상을 획득할 수 있어 많은 기초분야의 영상연구와 의료영상분야에서도 활발하게 활용될 것으로 기대된다.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.531-536
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• 2017

Nano/micro technology is currently applied to improve solid surface wettability, with recent research studies indicating that nanostructures can improve surface wettability in the hydrophilic direction, and liquid spreading (propagation) is generated by capillary wicking. The majority of the existing research involves qualitative analysis of the spreading phenomena, owing to the difficulty in conducting small-scale analysis (nanostructures). In this study, the droplet interfacial behavior on silicon surfaces with micro/nano/micro-nano structures is experimentally investigated. The interfacial behavior is directly visualized using synchrotron X-ray imaging (side view). The spreading phenomena occur on structured surfaces, and the liquid interface behaviors on the surfaces differ. The liquid film thickness is uniform during spreading on the microstructured surface, but not on the nano case which shows a gentle slope. These combined spreading shapes were observed on a micro-nano structured surface, and liquid propagation was enhanced when the micro- and nano-structures are combined.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.69-73
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• 2011

Butterflies have been known to suck viscous liquids through a long, cylindrical proboscis using the large pressure difference formulated by the cyclic expansion and contraction of a muscular pump located inside their head. However, there are few studies on the liquid-feeding phenomena in a live butterfly, because it is hard to observe the internal morphological structures under in vivo condition. In this study, the dynamic motion of the pump system in a butterfly was in vivo visualized using synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique to analyze the liquid-feeding mechanism. The period of the liquid-feeding process is about 0.3sec. The expansion stage is about two times larger than the contraction stage in one cycle. The cyclic variation of pump volume generate large negative suction pressure and the pressure difference inside the long proboscis of a butterfly is estimated to be larger than 1atm.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.101-104
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• 2017

In this investigation, synchrotron X-ray imaging was used to investigate the water distribution inside newly developed gas diffusion media in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. In-situ radiography was used to reveal the relationship between the structure of the microporous layer (MPL) and the water flow in a newly developed MPL equipped with randomly arranged holes. A strong influence of these holes on the overall water transport was found. This contribution provides a brief overview to some of our recent activities on this research field.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.3 s.168
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• pp.7-14
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• 2005

본 논고에서는 microfocus X 선 발생장치와 평판형 영상센서를 이용한 micro-CT 시스템의 개발과 그 응용에 대해 소개하였다. 개발과 관련하여서는 영상센서 및 시스템의 동작원리뿐만 아니라 성능평가 결과에 대해서도 간단히 언급하였는데, 이와 같은 성능평가는 추후 개선된 혹은 새로운 설계 및 제작을 위해서는 필수적으로 수반되어야 할 부분이다. 개발된 micro-CT 시스템의 응용분야 소개와 관련하여서는 몇 가지 획득 영상을 토대로 바이오 영상과 산업용 영상에 관하여 언급하였다. 바이오 영상분야에서는 현재 세계적으로 유수 의료기기업체에서 이미 제작하여 판매하고 있으며, 대부분 X선 영상증배관 혹은 CCD(charge-coupled device)를 X 선 영상획득 센서로 사용한 반면, 본 논고에서 소개한 시스템은 평판형 영상센서를 사용했다는 점에서 차별성이 있다. Micro-CT 시스템의 산업용 영상분야로의 적용은 이제 시작 단계이며, 기존 라미노그라피 시스템을 대체하거나 혹은 새로운 응용으로 자리매김할 것으로 기대된다.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2010

High contrast and high resolution are the most important factors for examining mammography images. Despite of the inconveniences of screen-film, most clinics still prefer them to computed radiography(CR) and direct radiography(DR). The reading of screen-film mammography images is influenced by the brightness from the X-ray illuminator, the exam room and incoming light from outside sources. Therefore, a comparative analysis on the results of mammo phantom images would be variated by the changes in the reading environment. There was no influence on reading results from the examiners close distance eyesight(p > 0.05); however, reading of micro lesions improved with greater darkness in the X-ray film reading room and the brightness of the X-ray illuminator(p < 0.05). Also, observation of fiber and mass images were maximized at a distance of 50 cm from the reader. Now, it is possible to observe these small classification groups using a magnifying glass without being physically close to the image. For the image of mammography, obtaining high quality images is important but in order to get an accurate clinical lesions of the reading also needs to be considered the optimal environmental factors.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.70-77
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• 2016

In this study, we aim to obtain the fundamental data needed for the objective analysis and bio-mimetics of leeches, using x-ray imaging with radiation that allows 3D analysis of the detailed anatomic structures of leeches. It was confirmed that through using radiation, detailed images of leeches can be obtained, allowing 3D analysis of leeches' anatomical structures. Also, since the data obtained through the radiation allows you to observe the micro-structure, it can serve as a good resource for component analysis, as well as physiological and functional research. More, it is hoped to contribute to further research in the areas of bio-mimetics using leeches.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images obtained using different voxel sizes in measuring trabecular bone microstructure in comparison to micro-CT. Materials and Methods: Twelve human skull bones containing posterior-mandibular alveolar bone regions were analyzed. CBCT images were obtained at voxel sizes of 0.075mm(high: HI) and 0.2mm(standard: Std), while microCT imaging used voxel sizes of 0.06 mm (HI) and 0.12 mm (Std). Analyses were performed using CTAn software with the standardized automatic global threshold method. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the consistency and agreement of paired measurements for bone volume (BV), percent bone volume (BV/TV), bone surface (BS), trabecular thickness (TbTh), trabecular separation (TbSp), trabecular number (TbN), trabecular pattern factor(TbPf), and structure model index (SMI). Results: When compared to micro-CT, CBCT images had higher BV, BV/TV, and TbTh values, while micro-CT images had lower BS, TbSp, TbN, TbPf, and SMI values (P<0.05). The BV, BV/BT, TbTh, and TbSp variables were higher with Std voxels, whereas the BS, TbPf, and SMI variables were higher with HI voxels for both imaging methods. For each imaging modality and voxel size evaluated, BV, BS, and TbTh were significantly different(P<0.05). TbN, TbPf, and SMI showed statistically significant differences between imaging methods(P<0.05). The consistency and absolute agreement between micro-CT and CBCT were excellent for all variables. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the potential of high-resolution CBCT imaging for quantitative bone morphometry assessment.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2021

Purpose: The use of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans in biomedical and dental research is growing rapidly. This study aimed to explore the scientific literature on approaches and applications of micro-CT in restorative dentistry. Materials and Methods: An electronic search of publications from January 2009 to March 2021 was conducted using ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search included only English-language articles. Therefore, only studies that addressed recent advances and the potential uses of micro-CT in restorative and preventive dentistry were selected. Results: Micro-CT is a tool that enables 3-dimensional imaging on a small scale with very high resolution. In this method, there is no need for sample preparation or slicing. Therefore, it is possible to examine the internal structure of tissue and the internal adaptation of materials to surfaces without destroying them. Due to these advantages, micro-CT has been recommended as a standard imaging tool in dental research for many applications such as tissue engineering, endodontics, restorative dentistry, and research on the mineral density of hard tissues and bone growth. However, the high costs of micro-CT, the time necessary for scanning and reconstruction, computer expertise requirements, and the enormous volume of information are drawbacks. Conclusion: The potential of micro-CT as an emerging, accurate, non-destructive approach is clear, and the valuable research findings reported in the literature provide an impetus for researchers to perform future studies focusing on employing this method in dental research.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.151-159
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• 2014

Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most widely used medical imaging modality. However, substantial x-ray dose exposed to the human subject during the CT scan is a great concern. Region-of-interest (ROI) CT is considered to be a possible solution for its potential to reduce the x-ray dose to the human subject. In most of ROI-CT scans, the ROI is set to a circular shape whose diameter is often considerably smaller than the full field-of-view (FOV). However, an arbitrarily shaped ROI is very desirable to reduce the x-ray dose more than the circularly shaped ROI can do. We propose a new method to make a non-circular convex-shaped ROI along with the image reconstruction method. To make a ROI with an arbitrary convex shape, dynamic collimations are necessary to minimize the x-ray dose at each angle of view. In addition to the dynamic collimation, we get the ROI projection data with slightly lower sampling rate in the view direction to further reduce the x-ray dose. We reconstruct images from the ROI projection data in the compressed sensing (CS) framework assisted by the exterior projection data acquired from the pilot scan to set the ROI. To validate the proposed method, we used the experimental micro-CT projection data after truncating them to simulate the dynamic collimation. The reconstructed ROI images showed little errors as compared to the images reconstructed from the full-FOV scan data as well as little artifacts inside the ROI. We expect the proposed method can significantly reduce the x-ray dose in CT scans if the dynamic collimation is realized in real CT machines.