• Journal of KIISE:Computer Systems and Theory
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2000

This paper addresses a new method for constructing surface representation of 3D structures from a sequence of tomographic cross-sectional images, Firstly, we propose cell-boundary representation by transforming the cuberille space into cell space. A cell-boundary representation consists of a set of boundary cells with their 1-voxel configurations, and can compactly describe binary volumetric data. Secondly, to produce external surface from the cell-boundary representation, we define 19 modeling primitives (MP) including volumetric, planar and linear groups. Surface polygons are created from those modeling primitives using a simple table look-up operation. Comparing with previous method such as Marching Cube or PVP algorithm, our method is robust and does not make any crack in resulting surface model. Hardware implementation is expected to be easy because our algorithm is simple(scan-line), efficient and guarantees data locality in computation time.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.163-173
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• 2014

When evaluating the spatial resolution images and evaluation of low contrast resolution using CT standard phantom, and might present a automated quantitative evaluation method for minimizing errors by subjective judgment of the evaluator be, and try to evaluate the usefulness. 120kVp and 250mAs, 10mm collimation, SFOV(scan field of view) of 25cm or more than, exposure conditions DFOV(display field of view) of 25cm, and were evaluated the 24 passing images and 20 failing images taken using a standard reconstruction algorithm by using the Nuclear Associates, Inc. AAPM CT Performance Phantom(Model 76-410). Quantitative evaluation of low contrast resolution and spatial resolution was using an evaluation program that was self-developed using the company Mathwork Matlab(Ver. 7.6. (R2008a)) software. In this study, the results were evaluated using the evaluation program that was self-developed in the evaluation of images using CT standard phantom, it was possible to evaluate an objective numerical qualitative evaluation item. First, if the contrast resolution, if EI is 0.50, 0.51, 0.52, 0.53, as a result of evaluating quantitatively the results were evaluated qualitatively match. Second, if CNR is -0.0018~-0.0010, as a result of evaluating quantitatively the results were evaluated qualitatively match. Third, if the spatial resolution, as a result of using a image segmentation technique, and automatically extract the contour boundary of the hole, as a result of evaluating quantitatively the results were evaluated qualitatively match.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.624-633
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of CT measurements of muscle quantity and quality using variable CT parameters. Materials and Methods: A phantom, simulating the L2-4 vertebral levels, was used for this study. CT images were repeatedly acquired with modulation of tube voltage, tube current, slice thickness, and the image reconstruction algorithm. Reference standard muscle compartments were obtained from the reference maps of the phantom. Cross-sectional area based on the Hounsfield unit (HU) thresholds of muscle and its components, and the mean density of the reference standard muscle compartment, were used to measure the muscle quantity and quality using different CT protocols. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were calculated in the images acquired with different settings. Results: The skeletal muscle area (threshold, -29 to 150 HU) was constant, regardless of the protocol, occupying at least 91.7% of the reference standard muscle compartment. Conversely, normal attenuation muscle area (30-150 HU) was not constant in the different protocols, varying between 59.7% and 81.7% of the reference standard muscle compartment. The mean density was lower than the target density stated by the manufacturer (45 HU) in all cases (range, 39.0-44.9 HU). The SNR decreased with low tube voltage, low tube current, and in sections with thin slices, whereas it increased when the iterative reconstruction algorithm was used. Conclusion: Measurement of muscle quantity using HU threshold was reliable, regardless of the CT protocol used. Conversely, the measurement of muscle quality using the mean density and narrow HU thresholds were inconsistent and inaccurate across different CT protocols. Therefore, further studies are warranted in future to determine the optimal CT protocols for reliable measurements of muscle quality.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently in diagnostics area PET/CT is using a variety of areas including oncology, as well as in cardiology, neurology, etc. While increasing in the importance of PET/CT, there are various researches in the image quality related to reconstruction method. We compared and tested Iterative 2D Reconstruction Method with True X Reconstruction method by Siemens through phantom experiment, so we can see increasing of clinical usefulness of PET/CT. Materials and Methods: We measured contrast ratio and FWHM due to evaluating images on dose and experiment using Biograph 40 True Point PET/CT (Siemens, Germany). Getting a result of contrast ratio and FWHM, we used NEMA IEC PET body phantom (Data Spectrum Corp.) and capillary tube. We used the current TrueX and the previous Iterative 2D algorithm for all images which have 10 minutes long. Also, a clinical suitability of parameter for Iterative 2D and a recommended parameter by Siemens for True X are applied to the experiment. Results: We tested FWHM using capillary tube. As a result, TrueX was less than Iterative 2D. Also, the differences of FWHM get bigger in low dose. On the other hand, we tested contrasts ratio using NEMA IEC PET body phantom. As a result, TrueX was better aspect than Iterative 2D. However, there was no difference in dose. Conclusion: In this experiment, TrueX get higher results of contrast ratio and spatial resolution than Itertive 2D through experiment. Also, in the reconstruction result through TrueX, TrueX had better aspect of resolution than Iterative 2D in low dose. However, contrast ratio had no specific difference. In other words, TrueX reconstruction method in PET/CT had higher clinical value in use because TrueX can reduce exposure of patient and had a better quality of screen.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify clinical usefulness of Wide Beam Reconstruction (WBR) which is called Xpress.cardiac$^{TM}$ to confirm the agreement between segmental perfusion and regional wall motion in myocardium compared to conventional OSEM method. Materials and Methods: Subjects were separated two groups. First group was composed of 20 normal control group. Second group was composed of 10 patients (abnormal group) who had coronary artery disease. Subjects underwent myocardial perfusion SPECT ($^{201}Tl$ rest and $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI stress). Image acquisition and reconstruction were that rest stage was each step per 30, 15 seconds and stress stage was each step per 25, 13 seconds, OSEM and WBR methods were applied. Segmental perfusion and regional wall motion were applied 20-segment model of QPS, QGS algorithm in AutoQuant. Status of perfusion was composed of 5 point scoring system (0=normal, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe hypokinesia, 4=dyskinesia). Status of regional wall motion was also composed of 5 point scoring (0=normal, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe hypokinesia, 4=dyskinesia). We evaluated the agreement between conventional OSEM and WBR through automatic quantification value. Results: The agreement of rest segmental perfusion between conventional OSEM and WBR in normal patients was 99% (396/400, k=0.662, p<0.0001) and one of rest regional wall motion was 83.8% (335/400, k=0.283), the agreement of stress segmental perfusion was 95.8%(383/400, k=0.656), one of stress regional wall motion was 87.3% (349/400, k=0.390). The match rate of rest segmental perfusion in abnormal patients was 83% (166/200, k=0.605, p<0.0001) and one of rest regional wall motion was 55.5% (111/200, k=0.385), the agreement of stress segmental perfusion was 79.5% (159/200, k=0.682), one of stress regional wall motion was 63.5% (127/200, k=0.486). Conclusion: Compared to conventional OSEM, WBR method had a good agreement of segmental perfusion in myocardium in normal and abnormal groups. However regional wall motion showed meaningful low agreement. Although WBR offers high resolution and contrast ratio, it is not useful method for gated myocardial perfusion SPECT.

• Journal of KIISE:Computer Systems and Theory
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.354-362
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• 2006

This paper suggests a method for generating high qualify stereo video avatar to support visual communication in a CAVE$^{TM}$-like system. In such a system because of frequent change of light projected onto screens around user, it is not easy to extract user silhouette robustly, which is an essential step to generate a video avatar. In this study, we use an infrared reflective image acquired by a grayscale camera with a longpass filter so that the change of visible light on a screen is blocked to extract robust user silhouette. In addition, using two color cameras positioned at a distance of a binocular disparity of human eyes, we acquire two stereo images of the user for fast generation and stereoscopic display of a high quality video avatar without 3D reconstruction. We also suggest a fitting algorithm of a silhouette mask on an infrared reflective image into an acquired color image to remove background. Generated stereo images of a video avatar are texture mapped into a plane in virtual world and can be displayed in stereoscopic using frame sequential stereo method. Suggested method have advantages that it generates high quality video avatar taster than 3D approach and it gives stereoscopic feeling to a user 2D based approach can not provide.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1850-1857
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether a deep learning (DL) algorithm could enable simultaneous noise reduction and edge sharpening in low-dose lumbar spine CT. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 52 patients (26 male and 26 female; median age, 60.5 years) who had undergone CT-guided lumbar bone biopsy between October 2015 and April 2020. Initial 100-mAs survey images and 50-mAs intraprocedural images were reconstructed by filtered back projection. Denoising was performed using a vendor-agnostic DL model (ClariCT.AI^TM, ClariPI) for the 50-mAS images, and the 50-mAs, denoised 50-mAs, and 100-mAs CT images were compared. Noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and edge rise distance (ERD) for image sharpness were measured. The data were summarized as the mean ± standard deviation for these parameters. Two musculoskeletal radiologists assessed the visibility of the normal anatomical structures. Results: Noise was lower in the denoised 50-mAs images (36.38 ± 7.03 Hounsfield unit [HU]) than the 50-mAs (93.33 ± 25.36 HU) and 100-mAs (63.33 ± 16.09 HU) images (p < 0.001). The SNRs for the images in descending order were as follows: denoised 50-mAs (1.46 ± 0.54), 100-mAs (0.99 ± 0.34), and 50-mAs (0.58 ± 0.18) images (p < 0.001). The denoised 50-mAs images had better edge sharpness than the 100-mAs images at the vertebral body (ERD; 0.94 ± 0.2 mm vs. 1.05 ± 0.24 mm, p = 0.036) and the psoas (ERD; 0.42 ± 0.09 mm vs. 0.50 ± 0.12 mm, p = 0.002). The denoised 50-mAs images significantly improved the visualization of the normal anatomical structures (p < 0.001). Conclusion: DL-based reconstruction may enable simultaneous noise reduction and improvement in image quality with the preservation of edge sharpness on low-dose lumbar spine CT. Investigations on further radiation dose reduction and the clinical applicability of this technique are warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.344-359
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• 2022

Purpose To develop a denoising convolutional neural network-based image processing technique and investigate its efficacy in diagnosing breast cancer using low-dose mammography imaging. Materials and Methods A total of 6 breast radiologists were included in this prospective study. All radiologists independently evaluated low-dose images for lesion detection and rated them for diagnostic quality using a qualitative scale. After application of the denoising network, the same radiologists evaluated lesion detectability and image quality. For clinical application, a consensus on lesion type and localization on preoperative mammographic examinations of breast cancer patients was reached after discussion. Thereafter, coded low-dose, reconstructed full-dose, and full-dose images were presented and assessed in a random order. Results Lesions on 40% reconstructed full-dose images were better perceived when compared with low-dose images of mastectomy specimens as a reference. In clinical application, as compared to 40% reconstructed images, higher values were given on full-dose images for resolution (p < 0.001); diagnostic quality for calcifications (p < 0.001); and for masses, asymmetry, or architectural distortion (p = 0.037). The 40% reconstructed images showed comparable values to 100% full-dose images for overall quality (p = 0.547), lesion visibility (p = 0.120), and contrast (p = 0.083), without significant differences. Conclusion Effective denoising and image reconstruction processing techniques can enable breast cancer diagnosis with substantial radiation dose reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics C
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• v.36C no.12
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• pp.11-19
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• 1999

Fractal image compression algorithm has been studied mostly not in the view of hardware but software. However, a general processor by software can't decode fractal compressed images in real-time. Therefore, it is necessary that we develop a fast dedicated hardware. However, design examples of dedicated hardware are very rare. In this paper, we designed a quadtree fractal-based compressed image decoder which can decode $256{\times}256$ gray-scale images in real-time and used two power-down methods. The first is a hardware-optimized simple post-processing, whose role is to remove block effect appeared after reconstruction, and which is easier to be implemented in hardware than non-2' exponents weighted average method used in conventional software implementation, lessens costs, and accelerates post-processing speed by about 69%. Therefore, we can expect that the method dissipates low power and low energy. The second is to design a power dissipation in the multiplier can be reduced by about 28% with respect to a general array multiplier which is known efficient for low power design in the size of 8 bits or smaller. Using the above two power-down methods, we designed decoder's core block in 3.3V, 1 poly 3 metal, $0.6{\mu}m$ CMOS technology.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.192-201
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• 2005

Experiments and simulation were done to study the impact of contrast agent when CT scan was used to attenuation correction for PET Images in PET/CT system. Whole body phantom was imaged with various concentration of iodine-based contrast agent using CT. Mathematical emission and transmission density map with liver were made to simulate for whole body FDG Imaging. A variety of factors were estimated, including non-uniform enhancement of contrast agent, concentration and distribution size of contrast agent, noise level, image resolution, reconstruction algorithm, hypo-attenuation of contrast agent, and different time phases for contrast agent. Experimental studies showed that Hounsfield unit depends on the concentration of contrast agent and tube voltage. From the simulation data, contrast agents Introduced artifacts and degraded image quality on the attenuation-corrected PET images. The severity of these effects depends on a variety of factors, including the concentration and distribution size of contrast agent, the noise levels, and the Image resolution. These results Indicated that the impact of contrast agents should be considered with a full understanding of their potential problems in clinical PET/CT images.