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:
Oct. 10, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 30, 1998
Daniel M Deaton, Raleigh, NC (US);
Patrick A Cella, Raleigh, NC (US);
Kenton C Hasson, Durham, NC (US);
David Zollinger, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Bastiaan Driehuys, Durham, NC (US);
Medi-Physics, Inc., Princeton, NJ (US);
Abstract
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.