Development of tracer gas lung MRI approaches using inert fluorinated gases

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technology that allows pictures to be taken inside the body without the use of x-rays or other harmful radiation. Typically, MRI works by being able to image water inside organs and tissues of the human body. Unfortunately, MRI of the lungs is very difficult due to the fact that the lungs are mostly air-filled, without much water content by volume. Additionally, conventional MRI and most x-ray based technologies which take pictures of the lungs take anatomical pictures, and do not provide information about how well the lungs are working (ie. functional information). MRI using inert fluorinated gases as an inhalable contrast mechanism for lung imaging has gained interest recently. These gases are safe, relatively abundant, cheap, and are detectable by the MRI. This allows us to visualize the distribution of gases inside the lungs, allowing us to measure how well the lung is working. Despite the benefits provided by inert fluorinated gas MRI, it is under-utilized and has only been explored at a handful of hospitals and research centres worldwide. Part of the reason for this is because there are still fundamental unanswered questions associated with how best to use this technology such as: which fluorinated gas is best? What is the best way to deliver the gas to a subject in the MRI? Which MRI scan parameters work best for this application? Is this technique feasible in children as well as adults? The aim of this project will be to answer the outstanding technical questions described above to help develop robust inert fluorinated gas lung MRI methodologies. With the help of our private-sector partner, we will translate our findings, such as optimal imaging strategies, into standard operating procedures (SOP) and software packages that may be shared with other institutions, further lowering the barrier to more widespread clinical adoption.