MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING WITH HIGHLY POLARIZED 3HE GAS

磁成像技术公司（MITI）正在开发一种利用激光超极化3He气体进行临床磁共振成像（MRI）的技术。我们相信3He成像可以有效地评估肺、耳、结肠、鼻和喉咙的结构和功能。特别是，超偏振3He在弗吉尼亚大学健康科学中心被常规使用，以提供诊断质量的肺部空气图像。对于第二阶段，我们建议进行必要的技术改进，使该产品从原型到商业产品。为了达到这一目标，我们必须改进偏光片的性能。特别地，我们必须增加3He极化和超极化3He产生的速率。为了使设备更加可靠，以及易于制造，维修和使用，还需要更多的技术改进。此外，为了使这项技术广泛适用于尽可能多的磁共振成像中心，我们必须开发与不同制造商的磁共振成像仪兼容的最佳发送接收线圈。我们还计划开发磁共振成像脉冲序列。建议的商业应用：惰性气体成像（IGI）与超极化3He目前被用于产生诊断质量的人体肺气道图像。我们相信3He IGI可能对慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）的诊断和评估特别有用。超偏光3He也可用于耳、喉、鼻和结肠的成像。惰性气体成像可以与现有的7000台临床MRI设备完全兼容。

Magnetic Imaging Technologies Incorporated (MITI) is developing a technology that utilizes laser hyperpolarized 3He gas for clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We believe that 3He imaging can be effective for assessing structure and function of the lungs, ear, colon, nose and throat. In particular, hyperpolarized 3He is being routinely used at the University of Virginia Health Science Center to provide diagnostic quality images of the airspaces of the lung. For Phase II, we propose to develop technological improvements necessary to take this product from a prototype to a commercial product. In order to reach this goal we must improve the performance of the polarizer. In particular we must increase the 3He polarization and the rate at which the hyperpolarized 3He is produced. More technological improvements are also necessary in order to make the device more reliable, as well as easy to manufacture, service and use. Furthermore, in order, to make this technology broadly accessible to the largest number of MR imaging centers possible we must develop optimal send receive coil compatible with MR Imagers of different manufacturers. We also plan to develop MR imaging pulse sequences. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Inert Gas Imaging (IGI) with hyperpolarized 3He is at present being used to produce diagnostic-quality images of the human lung airways. We believe that 3He IGI may be particularly useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hyperpolarized 3He can also be used for imaging of the ear, throat, nose and colon. Inert gas imaging can be made fully compatible with the existing base of 7000 clinical MRI units.