Optical Pumping Spin Exchange {sup 3}He Gas Cells for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Journal Article · Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3215774· OSTI ID:21344458

Kim, W ^[1]; Stepanyan, S S; Kim, A; Jung, Y; Woo, S; Yurov, M; Jang, J ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Kyungpook National University Daegu, 702-701 (Korea, Republic of)

We present a device for spin-exchange optical pumping system to produce large quantities of polarized noble gases for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). A method and design of apparatus for pumping the polarization of noble gases is described. The method and apparatus enable production, storage and usage of hyperpolarized noble gases for different purposes, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging of human and animal subjects. Magnetic imaging agents breathed into lungs can be observed by the radio waves of the MRI scanner and report back physical and functional information about lung's health and desease. The technique known as spin exchange optical pumping is used. Nuclear magnetic resonance is implemented to measure the polarization of hyperpolarized gas. The cells prepared and sealed under high vacuum after handling Alkali metals into the cell and filling with the {sup 3}He-N{sub 2} mixture. The cells could be refilled. The {sup 3}He reaches around 50% polarization in 5-15 hours.

• OSTI ID: 21344458
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1149, Issue 1; Conference: SPIN 2008: 18. International Spin Physics Symposium, Charlottesville, VA (United States), 6-11 Oct 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3215774; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ALKALI METALS
DIAGNOSTIC USES
HELIUM 3
LUNGS
NITROGEN
NMR IMAGING
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
OPTICAL PUMPING
POLARIZATION
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RARE GASES
SPIN EXCHANGE
BODY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
METALS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ORGANS
PUMPING
RADIATIONS
RESONANCE
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
STABLE ISOTOPES
USES