Method and apparatus for accumulating hyperpolarized xenon
AssigneeUniversity of New Hampshire
InventorF. William Hersman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the accumulation of hyperpolarized 129Xe is described. A gas mixture comprising 129Xe is flowed through a heat exchanger tube from the first end to the second end. Concurrently, the outer surface of the heat exchanger tube is controllably refrigerated, beginning with the second end, to a temperature low enough to freeze the 129Xe on the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube.
Claims10
A method for accumulating hyperpolarized 129Xe comprising:
- adapting a heat exchanger tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a first end and a second end to permit gas to flow therethrough from the first end to the second end;
- flowing a gas mixture comprising hyperpolarized 129Xe from the first end to the second end of the heat exchanger tube;
- applying a magnetic field to the heat exchanger tube;
- and
- controllably refrigerating the outer surface of the heat exchanger tube, by exposing a controllably larger area of the tube as freezing progresses beginning with the second end of the heat exchanger tube, to a temperature that is at least low enough to cause the 129Xe to freeze on the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube.
An apparatus for accumulating hyperpolarized 129Xe comprising:
- a heat exchanger tube with an outer tube having an inner surface and an outer surface and an insulated inner tube, the outer tube having a first end and a second end for accumulating hyperpolarized 129Xe from a gas mixture flowing therethrough from the first end to the second end;
- a magnetization means to apply a magnetic field to the heat exchanger tube;
- and
- a refrigeration means for controllably refrigerating the outer surface of the heat exchanger tube, beginning with the second end, to a temperature that is at least low enough to cause the 129Xe to freeze on the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube.
A method for accumulating hyperpolarized 129Xe comprising:
- adapting a heat exchanger tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a first end and a second end to permit gas to flow therethrough from the first end to the second end;
- flowing a gas mixture comprising hyperpolarized 129Xe from the first end to the second end of the heat exchanger tube;
- applying a magnetic field to the heat exchanger tube;
- and
- controllably refrigerating the outer surface of the heat exchanger tube, beginning with the second end of the heat exchanger tube, to a temperature that is at least low enough to cause the 129Xe to freeze on the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube, wherein controllably refrigerating the outer surface comprises raising the level of the cryogen relative to the heat exchanger tube.
A method for accumulating hyperpolarized 129Xe comprising:
- adapting a heat exchanger tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a first end and a second end to permit gas to flow therethrough from the first end to the second end;
- flowing a gas mixture comprising hyperpolarized 129Xe from the first end to the second end of the heat exchanger tube;
- applying a magnetic field to the heat exchanger tube;
- and
- controllably refrigerating the outer surface of the heat exchanger tube, beginning with the second end of the heat exchanger tube, to a temperature that is at least low enough to cause the 129Xe to freeze on the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube, wherein the controllable refrigeration is raised such that a uniform thickness of frozen 129Xe is formed on the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.