Cryogenic accumulator for spin-polarized xenon-129
US5860295A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S62/925
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention enable the continuous or episodic accumulation of flowing hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe in frozen form. The method also permits the accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe to the substantial exclusion of other gases, thereby enabling the purification of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe. The invention further includes .sup.129 Xe accumulation means which is integrated with .sup.129 Xe hyperpolarization means in a continuous or pulsed flow arrangement. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.