Patent ID: 7519492
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: G01N,G01R

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for fully automated closed system quality control of a hyperpolarized contrast agent comprising: a cryostat; a polarizer contained within the cryostat and configured to hyperpolarize a contrast agent; a material delivery line in fluid communication with the polarizer and configured to transport the hyperpolarized contrast agent from the polarizer; at least one compartment, outside the cryostat, capable of maintaining sterility of the hyperbolized contrast agent, in fluid communication with the material delivery line, and configured to receive the hyperpolarized contrast agent from the polizer; a monitoring device coupled to the compartment and configured to monitor at least one quality control parameter prior to an end-use of the hyperpolarized contrast agent and wherein the sterility of the hyperpolarized contrast agent is maintained during monitoring; and a processor coupled to the monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device is configured to communicate data to the processor for comparing at least one quality control parameter to an end-use value, and wherein the processor is further configured to control the release of the hyperpolarized contrast agent from the compartment to its end-use.