• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2009

Recently microscale biofluid flows have been receiving large attention in various research areas. However, most conventional imaging techniques are unsatisfactory due to difficulties encountered in the visualization of microscale biological flows. Recent advances in optics and digital image processing techniques have made it possible to develop several advanced micro-PIV/PTV techniques. They can be used to get quantitative velocity field information of various biofluid flows from visualized images of tracer particles. In this paper, as new advanced micro-PIV techniques suitable for biofluid flow analysis, the basic principle and typical applications of the time-resolved micro-PIV and X-ray micro-PIV methods are explained. As a 3D velocity field measurement technique for measuring microscale flows, holographic micro-PTV method is introduced. These advanced PIV/PTV techniques can be used to reveal the basic physics of various microscale biological flows and will play an important role in visualizing veiled biofluid flow phenomena, for which conventional methods have many difficulties to analyze.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.181-191
• /
• 2016

In geological storage of $CO_2$, the behavior of $CO_2$ is influenced by pore network of rock. In this study, the drilling cores from Pohang Basin were analyzed quantitatively using three-dimensional images acquired by X-ray micro computed tomography. The porosities of sandstone specimens around 740 m-depth (T1), 780 m-depth (T2) and 810 m-depth (T3) which were target strata were 25.22%, 23.97%, 6.28%, respectively. Equivalent diameter, volume, area, local thickness of pores inside the sandstone specimens were analyzed. As a result, the microstructural properties of T1 and T2 specimens were more suitable for geological storage of $CO_2$ than those of T3 specimens. The result of the study can be used as input data of the site for decision of injection condition, flow simulation and so on.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2015

Whole spine scanography (WSS) is a radiological examination that exposes the whole body of the individual being examined to x-ray radiation. WSS is often repeated during the treatment period, which results in a much greater radiation exposure than that in routine x-ray examinations. The aims of the current study were to evaluate the patient dose of WSS using computer simulation, image magnification and angulation of phantom image using different patient position. We evaluated the effective dose(ED) of 23 consecutive patients (M : F = 13:10) who underwent WSS, based on the automatic image pasting method for multiple exposure digital radiography. The Anterior-Posterior position(AP) and Posterior-Anterior position( PA) projection EDs were evaluated based on the PC based Monte Carlo simulation. We measured spine transverse process distance and angulation using DICOM measurement. For all patient, the average ED was 0.069 mSv for AP position and 0.0361 mSv for PA position. AP position calculated double exposure then PA position. For male patient, the average ED was 0.089 mSv(AP) and 0.050 mSv(PA). For female patient, the average ED was 0.0431 mSv(AP) and 0.026 mSv(PA). The transverse process of PA spine image measured 5% higher than AP but angulation of transverse process was no significant differences. In clinical practice, just by change the patient position was conformed to reduce the ED of patient. Therefor we need to redefine of protocol for digital radiography such as WSS. whole spine scanography, effective dose, patient exposure dose, exposure direction. protocol optimization.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.21 no.3 s.61
• /
• pp.239-246
• /
• 2000

In this paper. we propose a semi-automatic segmentation algorithm to extract organ in 3D medical data by using a manually segmentation result in a sing1e slice. Generally region glowing based tracking method consists of 3 steps object projection. seed extraction and boundary decision by region growing. But because the boundary between organs in medical data is vague, improper seeds make the boundary dig into the organ or extend to the false region. In the proposed algorithm seeds are carefully extracted to find suitable boundaries between organs after region growing. And the jagged boundary at low gradient region after region growing is corrected by post-processing using Fourier descriptor. Also two-path tracking make it possible to catch up newly appeared areas. The proposed algorithm provides satisfactory results in segmenting 1 mm distance kidneys from X-rav CT body image set of 82 slices.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 2014

In general radiotherapy, mega-voltage (MV) x-ray images are widely used as the unique method to verify radio-therapeutic fields. But, the image quality of MV images is much lower than that of kilo-voltage x-ray images due to scatter interactions. Since 1990s, studies for the scatter correction have performed with digital-based MV imaging systems. In this study, a novel method for the scatter correction is suggested using scatter to primary ratio (SPR), instead of conventional methods such as digital image processing or scatter kernel calculations. We measured two MV images with and without a solid water phantom describing a patient body with given imaging conditions, and calculated un-attenuated ratios. Then, we obtained SPR distributions for the scatter correction. For experimental validation, a line-pair (LP) phantom using several Al bars and a clinical pelvis MV image was used. As the result, scatter signals of the LP phantom image were successfully reduced so that original density distribution of the phantom was restored. Moreover, image contrast values increased after SPR correction at all ROIs of the clinical image. The mean value of increases was 48%. The SPR correction method suggested in this study has high reliability because it is based on actually measured data. Also, this method can be easily adopted in clinics without additional cost. We expected that the SPR correction can be an effective method to improve the quality of MV image guided radiotherapy.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2005

The computed tomogrpahy(CT) provides a high quality in images of human body but contributes to the relatively high patient dose. The frequency of CT examination is increasing and, therefore, the concerns about the patient dose are also increasing. In this study the experimental determination of patient dose was performed by using a physical anthropomorphic phantom and thermoluminescent dosimeter(TLD). The measurements were done for the both axial and spiral scan mode. As a result the effective doses for each scan mode were 17.78mSv and 10.01 mSv respectively and the fact that the degree of the reduction in the patient dose depends on the pitch scan parameter was confirmed. The measurement methods suggested in this study can be applied for the reassessment of the patient dose when the technique in CT equipment is developed or the protocol for CT scanning is changed.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.70-77
• /
• 2010

This study tested how S/N (Signal to Noise Ratio) ratios and ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) values vary with different T-scores in a group of patients with osteoporosis. Based on DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) T-scores for L1.L4 for two groups of subjects consisting of 30 healthy people without osteoporosis and 30 patients who came for treatment of waist (lumbar or low back) pain and were suspected to have osteoporosis as judged from the simple X-ray findings, this study classified every spine into two groups of osteoporosis and osteopenia. Signal intensity measurements were made in the four regions of L1 to L4 on diffusion-weighted MR images obtained using 1.5T MR scanner, while ADC measurements were obtained from ADC map images. As an approach for quantitative analysis, the comparison of the variances in S/N ratios and ADC values for varying T-scores in the selected regions of interest was carried out based on averaged T-scores, S/N ratios, and ADC values. Also, the variances in S/N ratios and ADC values for each of the groups of osteoporosis and osteopenia, which were classified into by T-scores, were compared. For qualitative analysis, a careful naked eye examination of signal intensity differences in the area of L4 was made on T1-weighted sagittal images for each of the healthy (normal), osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups. In the qualitative analysis, it was found that for both the osteopenia group and the osteoporosis group, as T-scores deceased, the S/N ratios on diffusion-weighted MR images also decreased, with the greatest decrease in the S/N ratio found in the osteoporosis group. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest S/N ratio was found in the osteoporosis group. With respect to ADC map, it was found that for both the osteopenia group and the osteoporosis group, as T-scores deceased, the ADC values on diffusion-weighted MR images also decreased, with the greatest decrease in the ADC values found in the osteoporosis group. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest ADC value was found in the osteoporosis group. On the other hand, in the qualitative analysis, the osteoporosis group showed the highest signal intensity. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest signal intensity was found in the healthy (normal) group. It was found that as osteoporosis progressed, S/N ratio and ADC decreased, whereas signal intensity increased on T1-weighted images. Also, in diagnosing osteoporosis, MRI tests turned out to be (more) effective.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.64-66
• /
• 2004

When examing patients with DRs it is necessary to remove bad pixels and lines and to correct non-uniform offsets and x-ray field. For non-uniformity correction a flat field x-ray image is needed, and to obtain it the center of detector is usually aligned with the focal spot of the x-ray tube, which is conserved when examing patients to preserve the flat field. In some of radiographic techniques, however, it is necessary to move the x-ray tube off the center position of detector or tilt the detector. We investigated the effect of detector tilting on the non-uniformity correction, and propose a method to reduce the effect using a new algorithm. The flat field of X-ray in the DR detector could be guaranteed with this result.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.161-169
• /
• 2017

The cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) which can acquire 3-dimensions images is widely used for confirmation of patient position before radiation therapy. In this study, through the simulation using the Monte Carlo technique, we will analyze the exposure dose by cone beam computed tomography and present the standardized data. For the experiment, MCNPX(ver. 2.5.0) was used and the photon beam spectrum was analyzed after Cone beam was simulated. As a result of analyzing the photon beam spectrum, the average energy ranged from 25.7 to 37.6 keV at the tube voltage of 80 ~ 120 kVp and the characteristic X-ray energy was 9, 60, 68 and 70 keV. As a result of using the water phantom, the percentage depth dose was measured, and the maximum dose appeared on the surface and decreased with depth. The absorbed dose also decreased as the depth increased. The absorbed dose of the whole phantom was 9.7 ~ 18.7 mGy. This is a dose which accounts for 0.2% of about 10 Gy, which is generally used for radiation therapy per week, which is not expected to have a significant effect on the treatment effect. However, it should not be overlooked even if it is small compared with prescription dose.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
• /
• v.19B no.2
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the evaluation parameters' osteoporosis predictability in accordance with measuring regions by analyzing the correlations between bone mineral density and trabecular patterns derived from different measuring regions. Experimental subjects were a total of 40 female patients after menopause aged over 40 years, and were classified into 20 control and 20 osteoporotic groups according to the T-score. Bone mineral density was measured on femoral neck, trochanter and ward's triangle by DEXA(Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry). We designated ROI(Region of Interest) with $50{\times}50$ pixel size on each measuring regions, and extracted trabecular patterns by using existing image processing method. We also selected a total of eight evaluation parameters that are categorized into structural(mean gray level, area, perimeter, thickness and terminal distance), skeletonized parameters(number, length) and fractal dimension. As a result, it was observed that area, perimeter, thickness, terminal distance, number, length and fractal dimension reflected the bone mineral density with high statistical validity(p<0.003). We also confirmed that the evaluation parameters could predict the osteoporosis more efficiently.