Patent ID: 8980225
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: A61K,C07C,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method of providing a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the method comprising: providing a precursor molecule comprising two J-coupled, non-zero-spin, non-equivalent nuclei, wherein said precursor molecule is chemically convertible to a contrast agent molecule wherein the two J-coupled, non-zero-spin, non-equivalent nuclei are converted to equivalent nuclei; hyperpolarizing the precursor molecule to provide a hyperpolarized precursor molecule; applying one or more radiofrequency pulse(s) to the hyperpolarized precursor molecule to create one or both of a non-equilibrium αβ nuclear spin state population and a non-equilibrium βα nuclear spin state population; and chemically converting the hyperpolarized precursor molecule into a contrast agent molecule by converting the two J-coupled, non-zero-spin, non-equivalent nuclei to two J-coupled, non-zero-spin, equivalent nuclei, wherein the contrast agent molecule comprises a non-equilibrium nuclear singlet spin state population and is chemically convertible to a detection molecule wherein said equivalent nuclei are converted to non-equivalent nuclei.