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US 2024/0319293 A1Published application
Systems for automated volumetry, blending and dispensing of gas
AssigneePolarean, Inc.
InventorsAndrew K. Dummer, Matthew Linford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Gas dispensing control systems that use a gas expansion chamber with a plunger in fluid communication with both a vacuum pump and a nitrogen supply with a controller that calculates and dispenses standard volumes of gas based, at least in part, on local environmental conditions. The dispensed gas can be hyperpolarized 129Xe for MRI imaging.
Claims23
A gas dispensing control system, comprising:
- a gas expansion chamber comprising a first end portion, a second end portion opposing and spaced apart from the first end portion, and a plunger in the expansion chamber configured to travel between the first end portion and the second end portion;
- a first valve coupled to the first end portion of the gas expansion chamber and in fluid communication with a nitrogen gas supply;
- a second valve coupled to the second end portion of the gas expansion chamber and in fluid communication with the nitrogen gas supply;
- and
- a controller in communication with the first valve and the second valve to direct the first valve to be in an open state and the second valve to be in a closed state or direct the second valve to be in an open state and the first valve to be in a closed state so that nitrogen gas from the nitrogen gas supply either:
- enters the first end portion of the gas expansion chamber, or
- enters the second end portion of the gas expansion chamber.
4 more elements
A method of dispensing hyperpolarized 129Xe, comprising:
- providing a gas control dispensing system comprising a gas expansion chamber with a plunger in communication with a vacuum pump and a nitrogen supply;
- directing nitrogen from the nitrogen supply into a first end portion of the gas expansion chamber in front of the plunger;
- evacuating a back side space of the gas expansion chamber in back of the plunger to further or fully retract the plunger;
- then
- evacuating a front side of the gas expansion chamber to place the gas expansion chamber in a ready state for receiving hyperpolarized 129Xe gas;
- then
- directing hyperpolarized 129Xe gas from a gas collection system to flow into the first end portion of the gas expansion chamber;
- and then
- directing nitrogen from the nitrogen gas supply to flow into the second end portion of the gas expansion chamber to move the plunger a defined amount to force a defined volume of the 129Xe gas or a gas mixture with the 129Xe and nitrogen out of the first end portion of the gas expansion chamber and into a container.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.