Patent ID: 8241842

Claim:
A method of using magnetic resonance imaging to observe diffusion across a permeable ex vivo biological membrane in a container that comprises: a cap element having a chamber capable of holding a solution; a base element having a chamber capable of holding a solution; and a sample assembly element capable of holding a ex vivo biological membrane that can be disposed between the cap element and the base element; an O-ring element capable of securing the sample assembly element within the container; a first solution comprising a molecule selected to impart contrast to a magnetic resonance image; a second solution; and a permeable ex vivo biological membrane disposed between the first solution and the second solution; the method comprising using magnetic resonance imaging to obtain an image of the diffusion of the molecule in the first solution across the permeable ex vivo biological membrane in to the second solution, such that diffusion across the permeable ex vivo biological membrane in the container is observed.