Medi-physics, Inc.

Magnetic Imaging Technologies Incorporated

Daniel M Deaton

Bastiaan Driehuys

David L Zollinger

Kenton Christopher Hasson

Alan Langhorn

K C Hasson

Patrick A Cella

Methods of collecting, thawing, and extending the useful polarized life of frozen polarized gases include heating a portion of the flow path and/or directly liquefying the frozen gas during thawing. A polarized noble gas product with an extended polarized life product is also included. Associated apparatus such as an accumulator and heating jacket for collecting, storing, and transporting polarized noble gases include a secondary flow channel which provides heat to a portion of the collection path during accumulation and during thawing.

Polarized gas accumulators and heating jackets and associated gas collection and thaw methods and polarized gas products

A resilient multi-layer container is configured to receive a quantity of hyperpolarized noble fluid such as gas and includes a wall with at least two layers, a first layer with a surface which minimizes contact-induced spin-relaxation and a first or second layer which is substantially impermeable to oxygen. The container is especially suitable for collecting and transporting He. The resilient container can be formed of material layers which are concurrently responsive to pressure such as polymers, deuterated polymers, or metallic films. The container can include a capillary stem and/or a port or valve isolation means to inhibit the flow of gas from the main volume of the container during transport. The resilient container can be configured to directly deliver the hyperpolarized noble gas to a target interface by deflating or collapsing the inflated resilient container. In addition, single layer resilient containers with T 's of above 4 hours for Xe and above 6 hours for He include materials with selected relaxivity values. In addition, a bag with a port fitting or valve member and one or more of a capillary stem and port isolation means is configured to minimize the depolarizing effect of the container valve or fitting(s). Also disclosed is a method for determining the gas solubility in an unknown polymer or liquid using the measured relaxation time of a hyperpolarized gas.

Resilient containers for hyperpolarized gases and associated methods

Polarized gas accumulators and heating jackets and associated gas collection methods and thaw methods and polarized gas products

A resilient container configured to receive a quantity of hyperpolarized noble gas includes a wall with at least two layers, a first layer with a surface which minimizes spin-relaxation and a first or second layer which is substantially impermeable to oxygen. The container is especially suitable for collecting and transporting .sup.3 He. The resilient container can be configured to directly deliver the hyperpolarized noble gas to a target interface by deflating or collapsing the inflated resilient container. Related collection and transporting methods include forming the wall of the container and collecting the hyperpolarized gas in a way which minimizes its exposure to de-polarizing impurities. Also, a container includes a quantity of polarized gas and extends the T.sub.1 life by configuring the wall of the container with a controlled thickness of the surface coating and overlays the interior with an exterior which is substantially impermeable to oxygen. In addition, an O-ring and seal is configured to minimize the depolarizing effect of the collection device. Also disclosed is a method for determining the gas solubility in an unknown polymer or liquid using the measured relaxation time of a hyperpolarized gas.

Containers for hyperpolarized gases and associated methods

Methods of collecting, thawing, and extending the useful life of

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Daniel M Deaton