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US 12,560,663 B2Granted
Methods and systems for producing hyperpolarized fluid samples
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsClifford Russell Bowers, Maria-Jose Ferrer
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for systems and methods of making, processing, and purifying hyperpolarized fluid samples and fractions thereof as well as detecting and using the hyperpolarized fluid samples. The present disclosure provides for methods and systems of making hyperpolarized fluid sample (e.g., hyperpolarized target molecules), which can be analyzed using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detection device.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a precursor introduction device, wherein the precursor solution includes a target substrate molecule and a catalyst;
- a reaction chamber, wherein the precursor introduction device is configured to be in fluidic communication with the reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber includes an ultrasonic nozzle that has a surface, wherein the precursor introduction device is configured to deliver the precursor solution to the surface of the ultrasonic nozzle, wherein the ultrasonic nozzle is configured to produce droplets of the sample having an average diameter of from 1 to 50 microns in a droplet distribution range of about 25 microns or less, wherein the reaction chamber includes a collection structure;
- and
- a gas introduction system in communication with the reaction chamber, wherein the gas introduction system is configured to introduce parahydrogen into the reaction chamber, wherein the system is configured to expose the parahydrogen and the droplets of the precursor to one another, leading to the formation of the hyperpolarized fluid sample.
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A method of detecting targeted molecules, comprising:
- delivering a precursor solution onto a surface of an ultrasonic nozzle, wherein the precursor solution comprises a target molecule and a catalyst;
- producing droplets of the precursor solution using an ultrasonic frequency from the ultrasonic nozzle, wherein the droplets have an average diameter of 1 to 50 microns in a droplet distribution range of about 25 microns or less;
- mixing the droplets with parahydrogen to make a hyperpolarized fluid sample;
- introducing the hyperpolarized fluid sample to a separation process which separates a hyperpolarized fluid fraction from one or more of a catalyst, a side-reaction product, cleaved molecular fragments, or solvent residues;
- and
- introducing the hyperpolarized fluid fraction to a detection device which uses magnetic resonance imaging for detection of the targeted molecule within the hyperpolarized fluid fraction.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.