In vivo studies of xenon self-diffusion might provide a useful means to characterize tissues. Diffusion weighted MR imaging of free water in tissues is a well established technique to study pathological conditions, for instance acute stroke. By introducing phase-encode gradients, the Burst sequence could be used to acquire diffusion weighted MR images. Due to its high speed, Burst is likely to be a suitable technique for time-resolved in vivo hyperpolarized 129 Xe MR applications as for instance functional imaging or perfusion studies. Plot of diffusion data for hyperpolarized xenon in water, in PFOB and in benzene, and straight-line fits according to theory.
Error bars are within the symbol, except as otherwise indicated.