MR tagging of human lungs using hyperpolarized 3He gas

✍ Scribed by John R. Owers-Bradley; Mr Stanislao Fichele; Abdelmalek Bennattayalah; Colin J. Smith McGloin; Richard W. Bowtell; Paul S. Morgan; Alan R. Moody

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 556 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1053-1807
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.10226

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the use of spin‐tagging in conjunction with hyperpolarized gas imaging for monitoring lung ventilation and gas diffusion.

Methods and Materials

Images were taken at 0.15 T using single shot RARE, with hyperpolarized ^3^He gas prepared by the metastability exchange technique. Sinusoidal modulation of the longitudinal magnetization (tag) was produced by two 90‐degree rf pulses separated by a gradient pulse. The diffusion of ^3^He gas in the lungs was measured by monitoring the decay of the tags. This study was conducted on a 25‐year‐old, male, healthy volunteer.

Results

Clear tags in hyperpolarized ^3^He gas both in vivo and in vitro were generated. The relative movement of the lung compared to a static, partial breath‐hold was measured following inspiration or expiration. The diffusion coefficient of ^3^He in the lungs was found to be 0.02 ± 0.005 cm^2^seconds^‐1^.

Conclusion

The spin‐tagging of hyperpolarized ^3^He in the lungs is possible, and allows regional lung movements to be measured following inspiration and expiration. It also allows quantification of the diffusion of the ^3^He gas. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;17:142–146. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.