Method and apparatus for production of spin-polarized medical-grade xenon .sup.129 gas by laser optical pumping
US5934103A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S62/925
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Spin-polarized xenon gas is provided in medical-grade purity for use as a contrast medium in MRI studies by use of collision-induced transfer of spin energy to the xenon gas from laser-pumped spin-polarized Rb gas. The Rb gas is provided by thermally vaporizing solid Rb at low pressure in a container having an inside surface coated with a siliconizing agent and exposed to the Rb gas. The combined xenon and Rb gases are separated after transfer of the spin energy in order to provide a sufficient purity of the xenon gas by use of a cryogenic separation process. The Rb gas is removed from the xenon gas and is returned cryogenically to a solid stated to an acceptable level of purity for the xenon gas. The gas may be analyzed optically to measure the remaining Rb concentration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.