Apparatus and method for a fully automated preparation of a hyperpolarizing imaging agent

US7633290B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Abdul Rahman Abdallah Al-Khalidy · Niskayuna, US
• Bruce Campbell Amm · Clifton Park, US
• John Arthur Urbahn · Saratoga Springs, US
• Jan Henrik Ardenkjaer-Larsen · Malmö, SE
• Vincent Paul Staudinger · Niskayuna, US
• Jaydeep Roy · Saratoga Springs, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 9, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 15, 2009
• Expiry date: Sep 9, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/62
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus and method for automated hyperpolarization of samples for use as an imaging agent comprising a sample box, an airlock chamber configured to receive a sample from the sample box, a cryogenic chamber, a guide channel to transport samples from the airlock chamber to the cryogenic chamber, a heater and pressure module coupled to the sample box, an insertion and retraction device to transport samples through the guide channel to and from the cryogenic chamber, a dissolution module coupled to the sample box, and a controller to regulate hyperpolarization of the samples by controlling one or more of position, sequencing, temperature, pressure, and dissolution of the samples within the apparatus. Also provided is a machine-readable medium comprising instruction which, when executed by a controller, causes a hyperpolarization apparatus to perform the steps of hyperpolarization of a sample.