Premium
In vivo MRI using real‐time production of hyperpolarized 129 Xe
Author(s) -
Driehuys Bastiaan,
Pollaro Jim,
Cofer Gary P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.21651
Subject(s) - in vivo , nuclear magnetic resonance , pulse (music) , magnetic resonance imaging , isotopes of xenon , xenon , chemistry , computer science , physics , nuclear medicine , atomic physics , optics , medicine , radiology , microbiology and biotechnology , detector , biology
MR imaging of hyperpolarized (HP) nuclei is challenging because they are typically delivered in a single dose of nonrenewable magnetization, from which the entire image must be derived. This problem can be overcome with HP 129 Xe, which can be produced sufficiently rapidly to deliver in dilute form (1%) continuously and on‐demand. We demonstrate a real‐time in vivo delivery of HP 129 Xe mixture to rats, a capability we now routinely use for setting frequency, transmitter gain, shimming, testing pulse sequences, scout imaging, and spectroscopy. Compared to images acquired using conventional fully concentrated 129 Xe, real‐time 129 Xe images have 26‐fold less signal, but clearly depict ventilation abnormalities. Real‐time 129 Xe MRI could be useful for time‐course studies involving acute injury or response to treatment. Ultimately, real‐time 129 Xe MRI could be done with more highly concentrated 129 Xe, which could increase the signal‐to‐noise ratio by 100 relative to these results to enable a new class of gas imaging applications. Magn Reson Med 60:14–20, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.