MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING WITH HIGHLY POLARIZED 3HE GAS

磁成像技术公司（MITI）已经创建了一个设备， 惰性气体偏振器（IGP），利用强大的新信号源 用于临床磁共振成像（MRI）。在这个装置中， 惰性气体~3He和~（129）He的非平衡核极化 通过使用高功率激光二极管来实现。那些超极化气体 用作良性的可吸入造影剂。一旦超极化气体 传统的核磁共振成像可以用来对体内的气体进行成像 自己新的和更安全的技术来研究肺，血液，大脑和肠道 可以通过这项技术来实现。IGP的两个原型已经 建成了 这项研究的具体目标是： 1)创建一个合适的腔室，用于容纳3He， 在IGP中正在两极分化 2)创建合适的容器，用于存储极化 气体，直到气体准备好由患者使用 3)考虑3He回收和再利用的问题 4)开始优化使用3He进行肺部成像的过程， 临床设置。 拟定商业应用： 这一努力将推动惰性气体偏振器的商业发展 (IGP)用于临床MRI系统。IGP完全兼容 现有7000台临床机器的MRI基础。根据预计 当前进行的MRI扫描数量增加，并假设 到2000年，将有100套IGI系统投入使用 一千六百五十万美元。

Magnetic Imaging Technologies Incorporated (MITI) has created a device, the Inert Gas Polarizer (IGP), that utilizes a powerful new signal source for clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this device, very high non equilibrium nuclear polarizations of the inert gases 3He and 129Xe are achieved by the use of high power laser diodes. Those hyperpolarized gases act as benign, inhalable contrast agents. Once the hyperpolarized gases are in the body conventional MRI can be used to image the gases themselves. New and safer techniques to study lung, blood, brain and bowel may be enabled by this technology. Two prototypes of the IGP have already been built. The specific aims of this research are: 1) Create a suitable chamber that will be used to contain the 3He while it is being polarized in the IGP 2) Create suitable containers, that will be used for storing the polarized gas until the gas is ready to be used by a patient 3) Consider the question of 3He recycling and reuse 4)Begin the process of optimizing the use of 3He for lung imaging in the clinical setting. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: This effort will advance commercial development of the inert gas polarizer (IGP) system for use in clinical MRI. The IGP is fully compatible with the existing MRI base of 7000 clinical machines. Based upon projected increases in the number of current MRI scans performed and assuming that 100 IGI systems are fielded by 2000 MITI's revenues are projected to be 16.5M$.