The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 01, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 29, 1996
Gordon D Cates, Jr, Skillman, NJ (US);
Bastiaan Driehuys, Bristol, PA (US);
William Happer, Princeton, NJ (US);
Hunter Middleton, Princeton, NJ (US);
Eli Miron, Princeton, NJ (US);
Brian Saam, Princeton, NJ (US);
Daniel Walter, Chicago, IL (US);
The Trustees of Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for hyperpolarization of flowing noble gases is disclosed, including means for hyperpolarization of noble gases in a continuous flow arrangement. Noble gases such as xenon-129 and helium-3 can be hyperpolarized using the disclosed method and apparatus. Preferably, the noble gas is hyperpolarized via spin exchange between atoms of the noble gas and an alkali metal such as rubidium. Also, a method and apparatus for accumulation and/or storage of hyperpolarized noble gases in a continuous flow arrangement is provided. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized noble gases for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.