Patent ID: 6453188
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method of magnetic resonance imaging of a sample said method comprising:(i) hyperpolarising a hyperpolarisable gas before, during or after introducing an MR imaging agent thereto whereby to cause nuclear polarization of said MR imaging agent, and wherein said hyperpolarisable gas is a noble gas and said MR imaging agent is a different chemical species to said hyperpolarisable gas; (ii) optionally (simultaneously or sequentially to step (i)) exposing the MR imaging agent to a uniform magnetic field; (iii) separating the whole, substantially the whole, or a portion of said hyperpolarisable gas from said MR imaging agent; (iv) administering said MR imaging agent to said sample; (v) exposing said sample to radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions in the MR imaging nuclei in said MR imaging agent; (vi) detecting magnetic resonance signals from said MR imaging agent in said sample; and (vii) optionally, generating an image or biological functional data or dynamic flow data from said detected signals.