Patent ID: 6282920
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: A61K,B01D,G01R,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for producing polarized vapor-phase helium-3, particularly for NMR imaging, with the apparatus comprising a means for injecting helium-3 or a mixture of isotopes into an optical pumping cell (2) for polarizing said helium-3, a means for liquefaction of the polarized gas from the optical pumping cell (2) and a tank (4) for storing the polarized helium-3 in liquid phase, wherein the tank (4) is selectively temperature controlled, for establishing phase and pressure as a function of temperature, between a storage temperature Ta and an evaporation temperature Te, and including means for alternatively communicating said tank (4) with said optical pumping cell (2) and with a high-pressure helium-3 gas discharge duct through which vapor-phase helium-3, generated by evaporation within said tank is discharged.