• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.174-177
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• 2007

Trabecular bone can be accurately represented using image-based finite element modeling and analysis of these bone models is widely used to predict their mechanical properties. However, the choice of thresholding technique, a necessary step in converting grayscale images to finite element models which can thus significantly influence the structure of the resulting finite element model, is often overlooked. Therefore, we investigated the effects of thresholding techniques on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) based finite element models of trabecular bone. Three types of thresholding techniques were applied to micro-CT images of trabecular bone which resulted in three unique finite element models for each specimen. Bone volume fractions and apparent moduli were predicted for each model and compared to experimental results. Our findings suggest that predictions of apparent properties agree well with experimental measurements regardless of the choice of thresholding technique in micro CT images of trabecular bone.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.422-427
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• 2009

Computed tomography(CT) has been applied to measure micro-defects in the aluminum knuckle parts manufactured by the thixoforming process. 6061 aluminum alloys were used to form knuckle samples in the semi-solid temperature after the SIMA processing of billets. Tensile specimens were cut from the different locations in a thixoformed knuckle. The size and the distribution of forming defects in tensile specimens were analyzed using CT scanning and image analysis technology before tensile tests. It has been qualitatively shown that the stress-strain curves were significantly affected by the size and the distribution of forming defects although the defect sizes lie in the range of micro-meters.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.226-233
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adaptation of lithium disilicate crowns fabricated by CAD-CAM (computer aided design-computer aided manufacturing) and heat-press technique to compare two different measurement methods in assessing fit of the ceramic crowns: micro CT and cross-section technique. Materials and methods: A prepared typodont mandibular molar for ceramic crown was duplicated and ten dies were produced by milling the PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) resin. Ten vinyl polysiloxane impressions were made and stone casts were produced. Five dies were used for IPS e.max Press crowns with heat-press technique. The other five dies were used for IPS e.max CAD crowns with CAD-CAM technique. Ten lithium disilicate crowns were cemented on the resin dies using zinc phosphate cement with finger pressure. The marginal and internal fits in central buccolingual plane were evaluated using a micro CT. Then the specimens were embedded and cross-sectioned and the marginal and internal fits were measured using scanning electronic microscope. The two measurement methods and two manufacturing methods were compared using Mann-Whitney U test (SPSS 22.0). Results: The marginal and internal fit values using micro CT and cross-section technique were similar, showing no significant differences. There were no significant differences in adaptation between lithium disilicate crowns fabricated with CAD-CAM and heat-press technique. Conclusion: Both micro CT and cross-section technique were acceptable methods in the evaluation of marginal and internal fit of lithium disilicate crown. There was no difference in adaptation between lithium disilicate crowns fabricated with CAD-CAM and heat-press technique except occlusal fit.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2017

The mechanical characteristics of frozen sand greatly depend on the frozen temperature and the fine contents according to the previous study by Chae et al. (2015). There are two hypotheses to explain this experimental results; one is the unfrozen water contents greatly affected by the fine contents and frozen temperature and the other is the sand particle spacing greatly affected by the pore-ice. To evaluate the latter hypothesis, the micro X-ray CT scan was performed. The micro X-ray CT scanning, one of the actively performed interdisciplinary research area, has a high resolution with micrometer unit allows to investigate internal structure of soils. In this study, X-ray CT technique was applied to investigate the effect of the frozen temperature and fine contents on the sand particle minimum and average spacing with the developed image processing techniques. Based on the spacing analysis, the frozen temperature and fine contents have little influence on the sand particle spacing in the frozen sand specimens.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 2014

We analyzed the three-dimensional distribution of micropores and internal structures in both fresh and weathered granite using micro-focus X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT). Results show that the pore radius in fresh granite is mostly in the range of $17-50{\mu}m$, the throat radius is in the range of $5-25{\mu}m$, and the coordination number (CN) of pores is less than 10. In contrast, the pore radius in weathered granite is mostly in the range of $20-80{\mu}m$, the throat radius is in the range of $8-30{\mu}m$, and the CN is less than 12. In general, a positive linear relationship exists between pore radius and CN. In addition, both the size and the density of pores increase with an increasing degree of rock weathering. The size of the throats that connect the pores also increases with an increasing degree of weathering, which induces fracture propagation in rocks. Micro-CT is a powerful and versatile approach for investigating the three-dimensional distributions of pores and fracture structures in rocks, and for quantitatively assessing the degree of pore connectivity.

• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2016

Computed tomography (CT) can completely digitize the interior and the exterior of nearly any object without any destruction. Generally, the resolution for industrial CT is below a few microns. The industrial CT scanning, however, has a limitation because it requires long measuring and processing time. Whereas, 2D X-ray imaging is fast. In this paper, we propose a novel concept of 3D non-destructive inspection technique using the advantages of both micro-CT and dual X-ray images. After registering the master object’s CT data and the sample objects’ dual X-ray images, 3D non-destructive inspection is possible by analyzing the matching results. Calculation for the registration is accelerated by parallel computing using graphics processing unit (GPU).

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.8 s.197
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• pp.116-121
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• 2007

The length of root canal has to be measured for endodontic treatment. Several electronic apex locators were developed to measure the length of root canal by other researchers. And their accuracies were verified by X-ray or micrometer method. But these methods did not consider the non-linear bends of pulp and had ${\pm}0.5mm$ error which was large enough to measure the length of root canal. The purpose of this study is the introduction of a new method to measure the length of root canal and the verification of the accuracy of an electronic apex locator using a Micro-CT. The length of root canal of 6 teeth were measured with the electronic apex locator. When the electronic apex locator reads 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 and 1.0 mm length of the file which was inserted in the hole of the tooth to measure the length of root canal. The average (${\pm}$Standard deviation) length of root canal of 6 teeth measured by the Micro-CT was $0.49{\pm}0.03,\;0.59{\pm}0.04,\;0.68{\pm}0.03,\;0.78{\pm}0.03,\;0.90{\pm}0.04\;and\;1.01{\pm}0.03mm$, respectively. The maximum error of the electronic apex locator was 0.06 mm.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.364-370
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• 2008

Recent development in large area flat-panel x-ray detector technology enables clinical application of digital tomosyntesis. Unlike conventional motion tomography using x-ray films, flat-panel x-ray detectors provide projection images in digital formats so that tomographic images can be synthesized in a more flexible way. For the digital tomosynthesis, precise movements of the x-ray source and the x-ray detector with respect to a fulcrum point are necessary. In this study, we apply the digital tomosynthesis technique to the flat-panel detector based micro-CT in which the flat-panel detector and the x-ray source rotate together on a circular arc. The experimental results suggest that flat-panel detector based 3D CTs can be used for digital tomosynthesis in the clinical environment.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2014

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy of alveolar ridge preservation methods with and without primary wound closure and the relationship between histometric and micro-computed tomographic (CT) data. Materials and Methods: Porcine hydroxyapatite with polytetrafluoroethylene membrane was implanted into a canine extraction socket. The density of the total mineralized tissue, remaining hydroxyapatite, and new bone was analyzed by histometry and micro-CT. The statistical association between these methods was evaluated. Results: Histometry and micro-CT showed that the group which underwent alveolar preservation without primary wound closure had significantly higher new bone density than the group with primary wound closure (P<0.05). However, there was no significant association between the data from histometry and micro-CT analysis. Conclusion: These results suggest that alveolar ridge preservation without primary wound closure enhanced new bone formation more effectively than that with primary wound closure. Further investigation is needed with respect to the comparison of histometry and micro-CT analysis.