• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2008

The present study proposed a method that dissolves ultrasonographic images into multiple resolutions using wavelet conversion and a boundary detection filter and improves the quality of ultrasonographic images through boundary detection filtering. In order to reduce noises and strengthen edges, the proposed method adjusted selectivity coefficient by area step by step from a low resolution image obtained from wavelet converted images to a high resolution image and performed edge filtering in consideration of direction. Through this method, we generated a selective low pass filtering effect in areas except edges by decreasing the wavelet coefficient for pixels in spot areas, improved continuity by smoothing edges in the tangential direction, and enhanced contrast by thinning in the normal direction. Through an experiment, we compared the filtering method using a non linear anisotropic expansion model and the filtering method using wavelet contraction structure in single resolution.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2006

This paper proposes an efficient array beamforming method using spatial matched filtering for ultrasound imaging. In the proposed method, ultrasound waves are transmitted from an array subaperture with fixed transmit focus as in conventional array imaging. At receive, radio frequency (RF) echo signals from each receive channel are passed through a spatial matched filter that is constructed based on the system transmit-receive spatial impulse response. The filtered echo signals are then summed. The filter remaps and spatially registers the acoustic energy from each element so that the pulse-echo impulse response of the summed output is focused with acceptably low side lobes. Analytical beam pattern analysis and simulation results using a linear array show that the proposed spatial filtering method can provide more improved spatial resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) compared with conventional dynamic receive focusing (DRF) method by implementing two-way dynamically focused beam pattern throughout the field.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.854-865
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• 2022

Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT is a new CT technology utilizing a direct conversion X-ray detector, where incident X-ray photon energies are directly recorded as electronical signals. The design of the photon-counting detector itself facilitates improvements in spatial resolution (via smaller detector pixel design) and iodine signal (via count weighting) while still permitting multi-energy imaging. PCD-CT can eliminate electronic noise and reduce artifacts due to the use of energy thresholds. Improved dose efficiency is important for low dose CT and pediatric imaging. The ultra-high spatial resolution of PCD-CT design permits lower dose scanning for all body regions and is particularly helpful in identifying important imaging findings in thoracic and musculoskeletal CT. Improved iodine signal may be helpful for low contrast tasks in abdominal imaging. Virtual monoenergetic images and material classification will assist with numerous diagnostic tasks in abdominal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular imaging. Dual-source PCD-CT permits multi-energy CT images of the heart and coronary arteries at high temporal resolution. In this special review article, we review the clinical benefits of this technology across a wide variety of radiological subspecialties.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.4127-4133
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• 2024

Noise reduction in low-dose positron emission tomography (PET) is a well-researched topic aimed at reducing patient radiation doses and improving diagnosis. Software-based noise reduction mainly improves the contrast between regions by reducing the variation of the acquired image. However, it should be performed under appropriate parameters to reduce discrimination. We propose a method that derives optimal noise-reduction parameters using the multi-scale structural similarity index measure and visual information fidelity, which are metrics for image quality assessment. Simulation and experimental studies demonstrated the viability of the proposed algorithm. The contrast-to-noise ratio value of the denoised reconstruction slice, which was used as the optimal parameter, increased approximately three times compared to that of the low-dose slice while preserving the resolution. The results indicate that the proposed method successfully predicted the parameters according to the noise-reduction algorithm and PET system conditions in the sinogram domain. The proposed algorithm should help prevent misdiagnosis and provide standardized medical images for clinical application by performing appropriate noise reduction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry, and Cartography Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.187-192
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• 2006

Image fusion techniques are widely used to integrate a lower spatial resolution multispectral image with a higher spatial resolution panchromatic image. However, the existing techniques either cannot avoid distorting the image spectral properties or involve complicated and time-consuming decomposition and reconstruction processing in the case of wavelet transform-based fusion. In this study a simple spectral preserve fusion technique: the Smoothing Filter-based Replacement(SFR) is proposed based on a simplified solar radiation and land surface reflection model. By using a ratio between a higher resolution image and its low pass filtered (with a smoothing filter) image, spatial details can be injected to a co-registered lower resolution multispectral image minimizing its spectral properties and contrast. The technique can be applied to improve spatial resolution for either colour composites or individual bands. The fidelity to spectral property and the spatial quality of SFM are convincingly demonstrated by an image fusion experiment using IKONOS panchromatic and multispectral images. The visual evaluation and statistical analysis compared with other image fusion techniques confirmed that SFR is a better fusion technique for preserving spectral information.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.393-402
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• 2003

In times of the civil uses of commercialized high-resolution satellite imagery, applications of remote sensing have been widely extended to the new fields or the problem solving beyond traditional application domains. Transportation application of this sensor data, related to the automatic or semiautomatic road extraction, is regarded as one of the important issues in uses of remote sensing imagery. Related to these trends, this study focuses on automatic road extraction using Gradient Direction Profile Algorithm (GDPA) scheme, with IKONOS panchromatic imagery having 1 meter resolution. For this, the GDPA scheme and its main modules were reviewed with processing steps and implemented as a prototype software. Using the extracted bi-level image and ground truth coming from actual GIS layer, overall accuracy evaluation and ranking error-assessment were performed. As the processed results, road information can be automatically extracted; by the way, it is pointed out that some user-defined variables should be carefully determined in using high-resolution satellite imagery in the dense or low contrast areas. While, the GDPA method needs additional processing, because direct results using this method do not produce high overall accuracy or ranking value. The main advantage of the GDPA scheme on road features extraction can be noted as its performance and further applicability. This experiment study can be extended into practical application fields related to remote sensing.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2008

Purpose: Cone-beam CT using linear accelerator attached to on-board imager is a image guided therapy equipment. Because it is to check the patient's set-up error, correction, organ and target movement. but imaging dose should be cause of the secondary cancer when taking a image. The aim of this study is investigation of appropriate cone beam CT scan mode to compare and estimate the image quality and skin dose. Materials and Methods: Measurement by Thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD-100, Harshaw) with using the Rando phantom are placed on each eight sites in seperately H&N, thoracic, abdominal section. each 4 methods of scan modes of are measured the for skin dose in three time. Subsequently, obtained average value. Following image quality QA protocol of equipment manufacturers using the catphan 504 phantom, image quality of each scan mode is compared and analyzed. Results: The results of the measured skin dose are described in here. The skin dose of Head & Neck are measured mode A: 8.96 cGy, mode B: 4.59 cGy, mode C: 3.46 cGy mode D: 1.76 cGy and thoracic mode A: 9.42 cGy, mode B: 4.58 cGy, mode C: 3.65 cGy, mode D: 1.85 cGy, and abdominal mode A: 9.97 cGy, mode B: 5.12 cGy, mode C: 4.03 cGy, mode D: 2.21 cGy. Approximately, dose of mode B are reduced 50%, mode C are reduced 60%, mode D are reduced 80% a point of reference dose of mode A. the results of analyzed HU reproducibility, low contrast resolution, spatial resolution (high contrast resolution), HU uniformity in evaluation item of image quality are within the tolerance value by recommended equipment manufacturer in all scan mode. Conclusion: Maintaining the image quality as well as reducing the image dose are very important in cone beam CT. In the result of this study, we are considered when to take mode A when interested in soft tissue. And we are considered to take mode D when interested in bone scan and we are considered to take mode B, C when standard scan. Increasing secondary cancer risk due to cone beam CT scan should be reduced by low mAs technique.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.24-29
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• 2014

Digital mammography is the most common technique for the early detection of breast cancer. To diagnose the breast cancer in early stages and treat efficiently, many image enhancement methods have been developed. This paper presents a multi-scale contrast enhancement method in the Laplacian pyramid for the digital mammogram. The proposed method decomposes the image into the contrast measures by the Gaussian and Laplacian pyramid, and the pyramid coefficients of decomposed multi-resolution image are defined as the frequency limited local contrast measures by the ratio of high frequency components and low frequency components. The decomposed pyramid coefficients are modified by the contrast measure for enhancing the contrast, and the final enhanced image is obtained by the composition process of the pyramid using the modified coefficients. The proposed method is compared with other existing methods, and demonstrated to have quantitatively good performance in the contrast measure algorithm.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.38-41
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• 2002

Mammography is considered the single most important diagnostic tool in the early detection of breast cancer. Today's dedicated mammographic equipment, specially designed x-ray screen/film combinations, coupled with controlled film processing, produces excellent image quality and can detect very low contrast small lesions. In mammography, it is most important to produce consistent high-contrast, high-resolution images at the lowest radiation dose consistent with high image quality. Some of the major technical development milestones that have let to today's high quality in mammographic imaging are reviewed. Both the American College of Radiology Mammography Accreditation Program and the Mammography Quality Standards Act have significant impact on the improvement of the technical quality of mammographic images in the United States and worldwide. A most recent development in digital mammography has opened up avenues for improving diagnosis.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.185-212
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• 2013

In this paper, a conceptual model of legal culture based on Ehrlich's "living law" theory and Cole's social-cultural explanation can explain the low utilization rates of arbitration of Japan and the high utilization rates of arbitration in the United States, simultaneously. This model highlights the clash between social norms and legal provisions in Japan. Japan has developed a two-tiered system of dispute resolution. At the official level, Japanese people accept the legal system imposed by the outside world. But, at a deeper level, they utilize diverse forms of informal dispute resolution mechanisms, such as reconcilement and conciliation, reflecting their own social norms. In contrast, there is no conflict between social norms and legal provisions in United States. This study may show that there are distinctions between American-style arbitration and Japanese-style arbitration, reflecting their own respective social norms. The question of reconciliation between the American style of arbitration and the Japanese style of arbitration can be resolved by an international arbitrator.