• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.73-80
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• 2019

In this paper, we propose an effective dynamic range compression (DRC) method of infrared images. A histogram of infrared images has narrow dynamic range compared to visible images. Hence, it is important to apply the effective DRC algorithm for high performance of an infrared image analysis. The proposed algorithm for high dynamic range divides an infrared image into the overlapped blocks and calculates Shannon's entropy of overlapped blocks. After that, we classify each block according to the value of entropy and apply adaptive histogram modification method each overlapped block. We make an intensity mapping function through result of the adaptive histogram modification method which is using standard-deviation and maximum value of histogram of classified blocks. Lastly, in order to reduce block artifact, we apply hanning window to the overlapped blocks. In experimental result, the proposed method showed better performance of dynamic range compression compared to previous algorithms.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.142-146
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• 2010

Background: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is known to increase blood flow to the innervations area of the stellate ganglion. Near infrared spectroscopy reflects an increased blood volume and allows continuous, non-invasive, and bedside monitoring of regional cerebral oxygen saturation ($rSO_2$). We investigated the influence of SGB on bilateral cerebral oxygenation using a near infrared spectroscopy. Methods: SGB was performed on 30 patients with 1% lidocaine 10 ml using a paratracheal technique at the C6 level and confirmed by the presence of Horner's syndrome. The blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and rSO2 were measured before SGB and 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after SGB. Tympanic temperature of each ear was measured prior to SGB and 20 minutes after SGB. Results: The increments of the $rSO_2$ on the block side from the baseline were statistically significant at 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. The $rSO_2$ on the non-block side compared with the baseline, however, decreased at 15 and 20 minutes. The difference between the block and the non-block sides was significant at 15 and 20 minutes. The BP at 10, 15 and 20 minutes was increased and the HR was increased at 10 and 15 minutes. Conclusions: We observed an increment of the $rSO_2$ on the block side from the baseline; however, the $rSO_2$ on the non-block side decreased.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2001

Facial nerve palsy is not a serious disease, but it can be both upsetting and disabling for patients. More than half of the lesions of facial nerve palsy fall into the category termed Bell's palsy. It is very rare to find a representative case of bilateral Bell's palsy. Here we report the changes of infrared thermographic findings in bilateral Bell's palsy treated with a stellate ganglion block (SGB). A 45-year-old female patient who had a right facial palsy which developed 2 weeks before. Steroid administration and acupuncture was not effective and so she was referred to pain clinic. The right facial palsy was cured after 19th right SGB. Twenty eight days after the onset of the right facial palsy, left facial palsy also developed and cured completely with a left SGB. Serial infrared thermograms were performed. The hypothermias on the affected side improved symmetrically by the end of the treatment.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.755-763
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• 2018

In this paper, for recognize a night pedestrian from an infrared video, a new method differentiated from the existing feature vector is proposed and experimented. The new approach focuses on the shape feature vector of the structure and shape of the pedestrian image divided by the human body seven split ratio. The pedestrian images are divided into 7 square blocks from the still image of the preprocessing process. And to reduce the dimension, the square block is converted into a mosaic block. The scalar and direction of the shape feature vector is calculated by the brightness and position of the element in the mosaic. For practicality of infrared video system, the proposed method simplifies the data to be processed by reducing the amount of data in the preprocessing in order to continuously batch process the entire system in real time. Through the experiments, we verified the validity of the proposed shape feature vector. In comparison to the existing method, we propose a new shape feature vector generation method as the feature vector for night pedestrian recognition.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2001

Background: It had been reported by authors that linear polarized infrared light radiation (Superizer: SL) near the stellate ganglion had a similar effect on the change of skin temperature of hand compared with the stellate ganglion block (SGB). We hypothesized that this was due to dilatation of vessels and an increased blood flow. The aim of this study was to measure the velocity of blood flow in peripheral vessels after linear polarized infrared light radiation near the stellate ganglion and to compare the effect of SL with that of SGB using local anesthetics. Methods: Forty patients whose clinical criteria were matched for the symptoms of SGB were selected for study. We radiated the stellate ganglion by linear polarized infrared light radiation and measured the blood flow of radial artery using Ultrasound Doppler blood flow meter before and after 10, 20 and 30 minutes post-radiation. After 3 days, SGB was performed using 8 ml of 1% mepivacaine to the same patient, and the radial artery blood flow was measured in the same manner. Results: The blood flow velocity was increased by 40% and 27% at 10 min and 20 min after SL and by 42% and 41% at 10 min and 20 min after SGB. However, there was no statistically significant difference in blood flow velocity between SGL and SGB. Conclusions: We could conclude that linear polarized radiation is a clinically simple and useful noninvasive therapeutic tool in clinical area.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.15-23
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• 2017

In this paper, the block reweighting and global offset initialization methods are proposed to complement the improved IRLMS algorithm which is the effective algorithm in registration based SBNUC algorithm. Proposed block weighting method reweights the error map whose abnormal data are excluded. The global offset initialization method compensates the global nonuniformity initially. The ordinary registration based SBNUC algorithm is hard to compensate global nonuniformity because of low scene motion. We employ the proposed methods to improved IRLMS algorithm, and apply it to real-world infrared raw image stream. The result shows that new implementation provides 3.5~4.0dB higher PSNR and convergence speed 1.5 faster then the improved IRLMS algorithm.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.164-170
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• 2001

Background: Infrared Thermal Imaging (ITI) is an effective tool for the diagnosis of disease and evaluation of the therapeutic effects following pain treatment. Patients who were treated for pain in pain clinic described the intensity of pain and the degree of change of their pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS). In this study, the usefulness of ITI following multimodal methods for pain management were compared with the change of VAS. Methods: 1119 patients were evaluated. The patients were treated with stellate ganglion block, epidural block or trigger points injection. Before treatment, the temperature difference (${\Delta}T$) of the involved area and the corresponding area on the opposite side of the body was measured using ITI and VAS was assessed. After treatment, the temperature difference (${\Delta}T$) between the normal and involved areas, the change of ${\Delta}T$ (${\Delta}dT$), VAS and the change of VAS (${\Delta}VAS$) were measured. Statistic correlations between ${\Delta}dT$and ${\Delta}VAS$ were calculated in all groups. Results: Correlation of the ${\Delta}dT$ and ${\Delta}VAS$ was significant by contingency coefficient test. (SGB group, C = 0.358, Epi group, C = 0.377, TPI group, C = 0.374, P < 0.05) Conclusions: ITI is a reliable tool for the assessment of therapeutic effects following multidimensional management of painful disease.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 1991

ABA type block copolymers composed of poly($\gamma-benzyl$ L-glutamate) (PBLG) as the A component and poly (ethylene glycol) as the B component were obtained by polymerization of $\gamma-benzyl$ L-gletamate N -carboxyanhydride, initiated by amino groups at both ends of poly(ethylene glycol) . From circular dichroism measurements in ethylene dichloride solution as well as from infrared spectTa measurements in solid state, it was found that the polypep- tide block exists in the a-helical conformation, as in PBLG homopolymer. $Poly-N^5$ (3-hydroxypropyl glutamine) (PHPG)/poly(ethylene glycol)block copolymer hydrogel was obtained by the treatment of PBLG/PBG block copolymer with the mixture of 3-ammine-1-propanol and diamlnooctane. The water content of PHPG/PEG block copolymer hydrogel was about 80wt% when the concentration of crosslinking agent was below 5 mole % per polymer.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.258-260
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• 1993

We experienced a rare case of erection failure which developed after unilateral lumbar sympathetic block. A 43 year old male patient suffering from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which had developed after multiple communitted fracture of the right ankle, underwent right lumbar sympathetic block with 99.9% alcohol. The effectiveness of the lumbar sympathetic block was evaluated by monitoring the clinical symptoms, signs and temperature changes by digital infrared thermographic imaging. Postoperatively, the temperature of the affected side limb rose about $2^{\circ}C$, but the patient's conditions gradually returned to normal. Ten days after the operation the patient complainted of difficulty in achieving an erection. The patient was examined by a urologst without much results. The patient gradually recovered his ability to achieve an erection approximately 5 weeks after the lumbar sympathetic block.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.144-146
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• 2005

Herein, a case of missed upper lumbar disc herniation, diagnosed by thorough neurological examination, digital infrared thermographic imaging[DITI], and repeated magnetic resonance[MR] image study, is reported. A 36-year-old female presented with intractable leg pain on left anterior thigh. Although she underwent lumbar MR image at other hospital, she was misdiagnosed as acute sprain. Neurological examination suggested the possibility of upper lumbar disc herniation, which was confirmed by DITI, MRI, and selective root block. After operation, her leg pain was significantly improved. It should be considered that upper lumbar disc herniation might be misdiagnosed as an acute sprain, as in our case. A high index of suspicion based on thorough neurological examination is most important in such cases. Then, multi-access such as DITI, MR image, and selective block, base on thorough neurological examination, are warranted.