FUNCTIONAL MRI OF THE LUNGS USING HYPERPOLARIZED 3HE

肺部成像历来由传统的X射线 技术. 美国最广泛的成像研究仍然是 胸部X光检查，估计每年进行1亿或更多。 计算机断层扫描也能很好地描述肺的解剖和病理。 然而，这些成像技术都不能提供任何显著的成像效果。 深入了解肺功能和病理生理学。 功能成像 肺在历史上一直是核医学的领域。 甚至 磁共振成像技术， 人脑的成像难以应用于肺。 最近的研究表明，超极化的3 He，这是没有放射性的， 并且是化学惰性的。可用作MRI造影剂， 对比度比使用高10-100倍成像肺通气 标准磁共振成像。 这项技术可以用来诊断 监测肺栓塞、慢性肺病、肺炎， 其他限制肺通气的疾病， 病人与传统MRI相比，仅略微增加成本。 需要更有效的，高通量的3 He极化方法， 演示。 科学研究实验室（SRL）开发了一种方法， 为了快速生产多升的超极化3 He， 有效且不含潜在危险的添加剂。 一期 研究工作非常成功，表明 第二阶段的成功。 拟定商业应用： SRL氦极化技术是唯一可以 及时生产所需数量的清洁超极化3 He 用于临床应用的量表（1-2小时）。 由于MRI设备 几乎所有的大型医院都有 这种设备的潜在市场。 一旦这项技术被证明， SRL将积极寻求额外的资金，以建立一个临床 并将这种新的偏振技术商业化。 SRL 正在研究超极化3 He NMR的非医学应用 光谱学也是。

Lung imaging has historically been dominated by conventional x-ray technology. The most widespread imaging study in the US remains the chest x-ray, with an estimated 100 million or more performed each year. Computerized tomography also delineates lung anatomy and pathology well. However, neither of these imaging techniques provides any significant insight into lung function and pathophysiology. Functional imaging of the lungs has historically been the domain of nuclear medicine. Even magnetic resonance imaging, which has allowed spectacular functional imaging of the human brain has been difficult to apply in the lung. Recent work has shown that hyperpolarized 3He, which is not radioactive and which is chemically inert. can be used as an MRI contrast agent to image lung ventilation with 10-100 times higher contrast than with standard MR imaging. This technique can potentially be used to diagnose and monitor pulmonary embolism, chronic lung disease, pneumonia, and other conditions that limit lung ventilation with very low risk to the patient. Only slight cost increases over conventional MRI will be required as more efficient, high throughput 3He polarization methods are demonstrated. Science Research Laboratory (SRL) has developed a method for producing multiple liters of hyperpolarized 3He quickly, efficiently, and without potentially dangerous additives. Phase I research efforts were highly successful indicating a high probability of success in Phase II. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: SRL helium polarization technique is the only technology that can produce the required quantities of clean hyperpolarized 3He in time scales useful for clinical applications (1-2 hours). Since MRI devices are present in essentially all large hospitals there is a enormous potential market for such a device. Once the technique is demonstrated, SRL will actively pursue additional funds to construct a clinical prototype and to commercialize this new polarization technology. SRL is pursuing non-medical applications of hyperpolarized 3He NMR spectroscopy as well.