US 2001/0041834 A1 · Exchange-based NMR imaging and spectroscopy of hyperpolarized xenon-129

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for using hyperpolarized xenon-129 and magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy as a probe to non-invasively and non-destructively characterize important properties of certain structures or materials with high spatial and temporal resolution, resulting in high-resolution magnetic resonance images wherein the associated signal intensities reflect a property of interest of at least one of the compartments. Hyperpolarized xenon-129 is introduced into two compartments between which xenon-129 can be exchanged, for example, into the blood vessels of mammal organs and the tissue of said organ or into compartments within inorganic objects. Due to chemical shift and applied magnetic field strength, the hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into the first compartment has a different resonant frequency from the hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into the second compartment. In an exemplary embodiment, a magnetic resonance system measures the magnetic resonance signal of the hyperpolarized xenon-129 in the first compartment before and after exchange of hyperpolarized xenon-129 between the first and second compartments. The resulting magnetic resonance signals are compared to determine at least one parameter of interest of at least one of the compartments.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A process of magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy, comprising the steps of:

introducing a first form of hyperpolarized xenon-129 having a first resonant frequency into a first compartment;
introducing a second form of hyperpolarized xenon-129 having a second resonant frequency which is different from said first resonant frequency into a second compartment, wherein said second compartment and said first compartment permit exchange of hyperpolarized xenon-129 therebetween;
positioning said first compartment and said second compartment in an NMR system;
measuring the magnetic resonance signal of said hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into said first compartment;
allowing exchange of hyperpolarized xenon-129 between said first compartment and said second compartment;
measuring the magnetic resonance signal from the hyperpolarized xenon-129 in said first compartment after exchange with said hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into said second compartment;
and
determining, by comparison of said magnetic resonance signal of the hyperpolarized xenon-129 in said first compartment and said magnetic resonance signal from the hyperpolarized xenon-129 in said first compartment after exchange with said hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into said second compartment, a parameter indicative of a characteristic of at least one of said first compartment and said second compartment.

5 more elements

An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy using hyperpolarized xenon-129, comprising:

a first compartment;
a second compartment;
a first form of hyperpolarized xenon-129 having a first resonant frequency for introduction into said first compartment;
a second form of hyperpolarized xenon-129 having a second resonant frequency different from said first resonant frequency for introduction into said second compartment;
a magnetic resonance system into which said first compartment and said second compartment are positioned,
wherein said first compartment and said second compartment permit exchange of hyperpolarized xenon-129 therebetween, and
wherein said magnetic resonance system measures a magnetic resonance signal of said hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into said first compartment prior to exchange of hyperpolarized xenon-129 between said first compartment and said second compartment, and a magnetic resonance signal from the hyperpolarized xenon-129 in said first compartment after exchange with said hyperpolarized xenon-129 introduced into said second compartment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Exchange-based NMR imaging and spectroscopy of hyperpolarized xenon-129

Life of this patent

Exchange-based NMR imaging and spectroscopy of hyperpolarized xenon-129

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19