• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.152-160
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• 2001

Purpose: We tried to establish the reproducibility of the measurement of maximal elastance (Emax) and to compare the degree of the reproducibility of two estimation methods: single pressure-volume loop method and parameter optimization method. Materials and methods: In 47 patients (42 males and 5 females, $53{\pm}10$ years old) with suspected coronary artery disease (election fraction; 22-68%), gated Tc-99m MIBI myocardial SPECT and arterial tonometry were acquired. In 11 patients among these 47 patients, gated SPECT and tonometry were performed twice consecutively with patients in situ. Emax and void volume (Vo) were estimated using single pressure-volume loop method of Lee and parameter optimization method based on linear approximation of Yoshizawa. Correlation between the consecutive measurements by each method and correlation between the two estimation methods were compared. Results: Reproducibility of Emax (r=0.96) and Vo (r=0.99) by single pressure-volume method was better than the reproducibility of Emax (r=0.89) and Vo (r=0.64) by parameter optimization method. Correlations of Emax and Vo were fair between the two methods. The correlation of Emax (r=0.77) was better than that of Vo (r=0.55). Conclusion: Reproducibility of Emax measurement by single pressure-volume loop method using gated myocardial SPECT and arterial tonometry was excellent. Reproducibility by parameter optimization method was also fair but was less than that achieved by single pressure-volume method.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.859-860
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• 2006

We developed a cuffless and noninvasive measurement technique of blood pressure using tonometric pressure sensor. With observation that the maximum value of pulse pressure is not obtained at mean arterial pressure(MAP), we have figured out MAP based on the physiological characteristic including the elasticity of wrist tisse. Detecting only one part of the body and using only one device are quite advantageous over other BP measurement techniques. Our technique makes new way for the cuffless BP measurement.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.19-27
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• 2014

Objectives: To investigate the different effects of Sa-Am acupuncture with Spleen Jung-gyuck and Spleen Seung-gyuck on the radial pulse in healthy subjects. Methods: Sixty healthy volunteers (30 males and 30 females) participated in this study. The participants were randomly divided into three groups: control (C), Sa-Am acupuncture with Spleen Jung-gyuck (SP+) and Sa-Am acupuncture with Spleen Seung-gyuck (SP-). The radial pulse was measured using a multi-step tonometry system before, and 0, 30 and 60 minutes after acupuncture. Results: The heart rate adjusted radial augmentation index (RAI/HR) and high-tensioned pulse area (W area) significantly increased in the SP- group compared to the C and SP+ groups in males. The systolic pulse period (T4) increased significantly in the SP- group compared to the C and SP+ groups in females. The RAI/HR had positive correlations with W area and T4. Conclusion: The effects of Sa-Am acupuncture with Spleen Jung-gyuck and Spleen Seung-gyuck are different. Sa-Am acupuncture with Spleen Seung-gyuck induces acute increases of radial pulse parameters related to arterial stiffness in healthy subjects.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2009.07a
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• pp.1978.1_1979.1
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• 2009

In this paper, we have proposed and demonstrated a tonometry sensor array for measuring arterial pulse pressure. A sensor module consists of 7 piezoresistive pressure sensor array. Wire-bonded connection was provided between silicon chip and lead frame. PDMS(poly-dimethylsiloxane) was coated on the sensor array to protect fragile sensor while faithfully transmitting the pressure of radial artery to the sensor. Tonometric pulse pressure can be measured by this packaged sensor array that provides the pressure value versus the output voltage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.98-105
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• 2009

Objective: Increased aortic and carotid arterial augmentation index (AI) is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. The most widely used approach for determining central arterial AI is by calculating the aortic pressure waveform from radial arterial waveforms using a transfer function. But how the change of waveform by applied pressure and the pattern of the change rely on subject's characteristics has not been recognized. In this study, we use a new method for measuring radial waveform and observe the change of waveform and the deviation of radial AI in the same position by applied pressure. Method: Forty-six non-patient volunteers (31 men and 15 women, age range 21-58 years) were enrolled for this study. Informed consent in a form approved by the institutional review board was obtained in all subjects. Blood pressure was measured on the left upper arm using an oscillometric method, radial pressure waves were recorded with the use of an improved automated tonometry device. DMP-3000(DAEYOMEDI Co., Ltd. Ansan, Korea) has robotics mechanism to scan and trace automatically. For each subject, we performed the procedure 5 times for each applied pressure level. We could thus obtain 5 different radial pulse waveforms for the same person's same position at different applied pressures. All these processes were repeated twice for test reproducibility. Result: Aortic AI, peripheral AI and radial AI were higher in women than in men (P<0.01), radial AI strongly correlated with aortic AI, and radial AI was consistently approximately 39% higher than aortic AI. Relationship between representative radial AI of DMP-3000 and peripheral AI of SphygmoCor had strongly correlation. And there were three patterns in change of pulse waveform. Conclusion: In this study, it is revealed the new device was sufficient to measure how radial AI and radial waveform from the same person at the same time change under applied pressure and it had inverse-proportion to applied pressure.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2009

In this study, pulse waves were measured at radial artery using non-invasive tonometric pulse pressure measurement system, SphygmoCor(AtCor, Australia), according to subject's posture. Then it was analysed whether the pulse wave parameters, which contain heart activities, change among three different postures (upright stand, sit, and supine). And it was also verified that the pulse wave parameters change among blood pressure level groups(hypotensive, normotensive, and hypertensive). As a results, posture effects were verified in time information of pulse wave rather than amplitude. But some parameters calculated by ratio of two amplitude, such as augmented index(AI) and ratio of central aortic pulse and radial artery pulse, showed significant difference according to postures. In post hoc test, time to the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ pulse peak(P_$T_1$, and P_$T_2$), ED(ejection duration), and HR(heart rate) showed significant difference among posture groups with each other. In comparison of blood pressure groups, it was verified that the parameters related to amplitude of pulse wave showed significant difference rather than time information.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.68-79
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• 2008

Aortic AIx(augmentation index) has been used to measure aortic stiffness quantitatively and even to evaluate ventricular load. However, in order to calculate aortic AIx catheters should be inserted to the subjects' artery, which hampers its clinical usage. To overcome such limitation, aortic AIx has been indirectly calculated by estimating aortic pressure wave from the peripheral arterial pulse by applying transfer functions. In this study, central aortic pressure waves using Millar catheter and radial artery pulse waves using tonometry pressure sensor were measured to establish transfer functions for an estimation of central aortic pressure waves from radial artery pulse waves. Also, an algorithm which detects augmentation point for the calculation of AIx were developed. Developed algorithm for the detection of augmentation point gradually increases the differential order to detect inflection point rather than detects the distinctive point that appears after a specific time. Transfer functions were established using 10th order ARX model and were verified for the stability of the transfer function through residual analysis. Evaluation of an algorithm for the detection of augmentation point were performed by comparing the augmentation points obtained from developed algorithm with the known augmentation points synthesized in various conditions. In addition, developed algorithm for the AIx is proved to provide more accurate results than the ones developed by previous studies. The significance of the study was in two folds. Firstly, the results could provide the basis for the measurement of aortic stiffness using easily-measurable radial artery pulse waves, and secondly, extension of the study may enable the early diagnosis of various vascular diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2005

Purpose: The maximal elastance ($E_{max}$) of myocardium has been established as a reliable load-independent contractility index. Recently, we developed a noninvasive method to measure the regional contractility using gated myocardial SPECT and arterial tonometry data. In this study, we measured regional $E_{max}(rE_{max}$ in the patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and assessed its relationship with other variables. Materials and Methods: 21 patients (M:F=17:4, $58{\pm}12$ y) who underwent CABG were enrolled. $^{201}TI$ rest/dipyridamole stress $^{99m}Tc$-sestamibi gated SPECT were performed before and 3 months after CABG. For 15 myocardial regions, regional time-elastance curve was obtained using the pressure data of tonometry and the volume data of gated SPECT. To investigate the coupling with myocardial function, preoperative regional $E_{max}$ was compared with regional perfusion and systolic thickening. In addition, the correlation between $E_{max}$ and viability was assessed in dysfunctional segments (thickening <20% before CABG). The viability was defined as improvement of postoperative systolic thickening more than 10%. Results: Regional $E_{max}$ was slightly increased after CABG from $2.41{\pm}1.64 (pre)\;to\;2.78{\pm}1.83 (post)$ mmHg/ml. $E_{max}$ had weak correlation with perfusion and thickening (r=0.35, p<0.001). In the regions of preserved perfusion (${\geq}60%$), $E_{max}$ was $2.65{\pm}1.67$, while it was $1.30{\pm}1.24$ in the segments of decreased perfusion. With regard to thickening, $E_{max}$ was $3.01{\pm}1.92$ mmHg/ml for normal regions (thickening ${geq}40%$), $2.40{\pm}1.19$ mmHg/ml for mildly dysfunctional regions (<40% and ${\geq}20%$), and $1.13{\pm}0.89$ mmHg/ml for severely dysfunctional regions (<20%). $E_{max}$ was improved after CABG in both the viable (from $1.27{\pm}1.07\;to\;1.79{\pm}1.48$ mmHg/ml) and non-viable segments (from $0.97 {\pm}0.59\;to\;1.22{\pm}0.71$ mmHg/ml), but there was no correlation between $E_{max}$ and thickening improvements (r=0.007). Conclusions: Preoperative regional $E_{max}$ was relatively concordant with regional perfusion and systolic thickening on gated myocardial SPECT. In dysfunctional but viable segments, $E_{max}$ was improved after CABG, but showed no correlation with thickening improvement. As a load-independent contractility index of dysfunctional myocardial segments, we suggest that the regional $E_{max}$ could be an independent parameter in the assessment of myocardial function.