Method and apparatus to hyperpolarize materials for enhanced mr techniques

A polarizer system to polarize a material to be used in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the system comprising:

• a container having a liquid helium bath therein, wherein the material to be polarized is positioned in the liquid helium bath;
• a sorption pump to reduce a pressure in the container and thereby vaporize a portion of the liquid helium bath;
• a cooling system to cool the sorption pump and promote molecular adsorption therein;
• a thermally conductive link that selectively connects the sorption pump and the cooling system to provide selective cooling to the sorption pump;
• and
• wherein the polarizer system operates in a closed cyclical thermal cycle alternating between a polarizing phase and a reheating phase based on the connection of the sorption pump to the cooling unit.

A method for producing hyperpolarized material for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy systems comprising:

• placing a material in a vessel containing a liquid helium bath;
• reducing a temperature in the liquid helium bath by way of a sorption pump;
• and
• polarizing the material when the liquid helium bath has been sufficiently cooled.