US5809801A
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US
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Cryogenic accumulator for spin-polarized xenon-129
Assignee: Princeton University
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Filing: 1996-03-29
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Granted: 1998-09-22
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Expires: 2016-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for accumulation of hyperpolarized 129 Xe is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention enable the continuous or episodic accumulation of flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form. The method also permits the accumulation of hyperpolarized 129 Xe to the substantial exclusion of other gases, thereby enabling the purification of hyperpolarized 129 Xe. The invention further includes 129 Xe accumulation means which is integrated with 129 Xe hyper polarization means in a continuous or pulsed flow arrangement. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized 129 Xe for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon D. Cates, Jr.
- 👤 Bastiaan Driehuys
- 👤 William Happer
- 👤 Eli Miron
- 👤 Brian Saam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/28; G01R33/282; A; A61; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/06; A61K49/18; A61K49/1806; A61K49/1815; C; C01; C01B; C01B23/00; C01B23/001; C01B23/0036; F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/06; F25J3/063; F25J3/0685; H; H05; H05H; H05H3/00; H05H3/02; C01B2210/00; C01B2210/0029; C01B2210/0037; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/20; F25J2210/00; F25J2210/42; F25J2215/00; F25J2215/36; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/60; F25J2270/90; F25J2270/904; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/62; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/919; Y10S62/923; Y10S62/925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for accumulating hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: flowing a source gas, comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe, through an accumulation reservoir adapted to permit gas flow therethrough, wherein said accumulation reservoir is refrigerated to a temperature which causes xenon to condense to frozen form and wherein a magnetic field is applied to said accumulation reservoir, and accumulating from said flowing source gas said hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form within said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for accumulating hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: flowing a source gas, comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe, through an accumulation reservoir adapted to permit gas flow therethrough, wherein said accumulation reservoir is refrigerated to a temperature which causes xenon to condense to frozen form and wherein a magnetic field is applied to said accumulation reservoir, and accumulating from said flowing source gas said hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form within said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said accumulating is performed in an applied magnetic field which maximizes the spin-lattice relaxation time of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe at the accumulation temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said accumulating is performed for a period of up about the maximum possible spin-lattice relaxation time of 129 Xe at the temperature at which the 129 Xe is accumulated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said source gas further comprises a quenching gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said quenching gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and hydrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said buffer gas is helium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said source gas further comprises a buffer gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said source gas comprises from about 0.1% to about 5% hyperpolarized 129 Xe, from about 0.1% to about 30% of said quenching gas, and the balance helium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said source gas comprises about 1% hyperpolarized 129 Xe, about 1% nitrogen, and about 98% helium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said accumulating comprises selectively accumulating said hyperpolarized 129 Xe at a temperature which prevents substantial condensation of other gases present in said flowing source gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said accumulation reservoir is refrigerated using a refrigerating fluid selected from the group consisting of liquid nitrogen, liquid hydrogen, and other liquefied gases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said accumulation reservoir is refrigerated using a closed cycle refrigeration system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises hyperpolarizing 129 Xe in said source gas to provide said hyperpolarized 129 Xe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said hyperpolarizing comprises hyperpolarizing said 129 Xe by spin exchange with an alkali metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said hyperpolarizing provides a continuous flow of said source gas comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe, and wherein said accumulating of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe is continued for a period of up to about the maximum possible spin-lattice relaxation time for the 129 Xe at the temperature of the accumulation means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising storing said accumulated hyperpolarized 129 Xe at a temperature of about or below the freezing point of xenon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said storing comprises storing said accumulated hyperpolarized 129 Xe at a location remote from where said accumulating is performed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said storing comprises storing said accumulated hyperpolarized 129 Xe in an applied magnetic field which maximizes the spin-lattice relaxation time of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe at the storage temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
Accumulator apparatus for continuous accumulation of hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: a) an accumulation reservoir for accumulating hyperpolarized 129 Xe from a source gas flowing therethrough said accumulation reservoir comprising an inlet and an outlet to permit gas flowthrough, b) refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes condensation and accumulation of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form within said accumulation reservoir, and c) magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
Accumulator apparatus for continuous accumulation of hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: a) an accumulation reservoir for accumulating hyperpolarized 129 Xe from a source gas flowing therethrough said accumulation reservoir comprising an inlet and an outlet to permit gas flowthrough, b) refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes condensation and accumulation of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form within said accumulation reservoir, and c) magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said magnetization means comprises means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir which maximizes the spin-lattice relaxation time of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe at the accumulation temperature.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said refrigeration means comprises means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir by means of a refrigerating fluid selected from the group consisting of liquid nitrogen, liquid helium, and other liquefied gases.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said refrigeration means comprises a closed-cycle refrigeration system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising means for providing flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said providing means comprises hyperpolarization means for hyperpolarizing flowing 129 Xe.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said hyperpolarization means comprises: a) a polarization chamber for polarizing said flowing 129 Xe; and b) a light source capable of delivering hyperpolarizing radiation into said polarization chamber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said polarization chamber contains an alkali metal for providing an alkali-metal vapor during hyperpolarizing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said light source is capable of delivering hyperpolarizing radiation in an amount which induces hyperpolarizing of said 129 Xe by spin exchange with an alkali metal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said accumulation reservoir is adapted to replaceably engage and operate with said hyperpolarization means and said refrigeration means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said accumulation reservoir is adapted to replaceably engage and operate with said refrigeration means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said inlet and said outlet of said accumulation reservoir further comprise sealable valves to control gas flow through said reservoir.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus further comprises means for subliming said accumulated hyperpolarized 129 Xe to provide xenon gas comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said refrigeration means comprises means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature of from about 4.2K to about 157K.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein an interior surface of said accumulation reservoir is treated to reduce depolarization of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for providing a. gas comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: a) providing a target gas comprising 129 Xe and at least one other gas; b) flowing said target gas through hyperpolarization means; c) hyperpolarizing said 129 Xe in said hyperpolarization means by spin exchange with an alkali metal to provide hyperpolarized 129 Xe in said target gas; d) flowing said target gas through an accumulation reservoir which is refrigerated to a temperature which causes xenon to condense in frozen form and to which a magnetic field is applied, to accumulate frozen hyperpolarized 129 Xe within said accumulation reservoir while preventing substantial condensation of said at least one other gas of said flowing target gas; e) thawing said frozen hyperpolarized 129 Xe to provide a gas consisting essentially of xenon and comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe; f) delivering said gas from said accumulation reservoir to provide a supply of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for providing a. gas comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: a) providing a target gas comprising 129 Xe and at least one other gas; b) flowing said target gas through hyperpolarization means; c) hyperpolarizing said 129 Xe in said hyperpolarization means by spin exchange with an alkali metal to provide hyperpolarized 129 Xe in said target gas; d) flowing said target gas through an accumulation reservoir which is refrigerated to a temperature which causes xenon to condense in frozen form and to which a magnetic field is applied, to accumulate frozen hyperpolarized 129 Xe within said accumulation reservoir while preventing substantial condensation of said at least one other gas of said flowing target gas; e) thawing said frozen hyperpolarized 129 Xe to provide a gas consisting essentially of xenon and comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe; f) delivering said gas from said accumulation reservoir to provide a supply of said hyperpolarized 129 Xe.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for the accumulation and storage of hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form, comprising; a replaceable accumulation reservoir having an inlet and an outlet to permit continuous gas flow therethrough, wherein said replaceable accumulation reservoir includes means to detachably engage and operate with hyperpolarization apparatus for producing flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe and delivering said flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe into said accumulation reservoir and wherein said apparatus further comprises integrated refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes xenon to condense to frozen form for maintaining said hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for the accumulation and storage of hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form, comprising; a replaceable accumulation reservoir having an inlet and an outlet to permit continuous gas flow therethrough, wherein said replaceable accumulation reservoir includes means to detachably engage and operate with hyperpolarization apparatus for producing flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe and delivering said flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe into said accumulation reservoir and wherein said apparatus further comprises integrated refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes xenon to condense to frozen form for maintaining said hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said apparatus further comprises integrated magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for the accumulation and storage of hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form, comprising: a replaceable accumulation reservoir having an inlet and an outlet to permit continuous gas flow therethrough, wherein said replaceable accumulation reservoir includes means to detachably engage and operate with hyperpolarization apparatus for producing flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe and delivering said flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe into said accumulation reservoir, and wherein said apparatus farther comprises integrated magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for the accumulation and storage of hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form, comprising: a replaceable accumulation reservoir having an inlet and an outlet to permit continuous gas flow therethrough, wherein said replaceable accumulation reservoir includes means to detachably engage and operate with hyperpolarization apparatus for producing flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe and delivering said flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe into said accumulation reservoir, and wherein said apparatus farther comprises integrated magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said apparatus further comprises integrated refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes xenon to condense to frozen form for maintaining said hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for continuous production of hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: a) source gas delivery means adapted for providing flowing 129 Xe, b) hyperpolarization means for hyperpolarizing said flowing 129 Xe to provide flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe, and c) accumulation means for accumulating said hyperpolarized 129 Xe, wherein said accumulation means comprises: 1) an accumulation reservoir for accumulating said hyperpolarized 129 Xe, 2) refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes said hyperpolarized 129 Xe to condense and to accumulate in said accumulation reservoir in frozen form, and 3) magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for continuous production of hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: a) source gas delivery means adapted for providing flowing 129 Xe, b) hyperpolarization means for hyperpolarizing said flowing 129 Xe to provide flowing hyperpolarized 129 Xe, and c) accumulation means for accumulating said hyperpolarized 129 Xe, wherein said accumulation means comprises: 1) an accumulation reservoir for accumulating said hyperpolarized 129 Xe, 2) refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes said hyperpolarized 129 Xe to condense and to accumulate in said accumulation reservoir in frozen form, and 3) magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for continuous accumulation of a hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: flowing a target gas comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe through accumulator means to accumulate said hyperpolarized 129 Xe, wherein said accumulator means comprises: a) an accumulation reservoir for accumulating hyperpolarized 129 Xe; b) refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes said hyperpolarized 129 Xe to condense and to accumulate in said accumulation reservoir in frozen form, and c) magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for continuous accumulation of a hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: flowing a target gas comprising hyperpolarized 129 Xe through accumulator means to accumulate said hyperpolarized 129 Xe, wherein said accumulator means comprises: a) an accumulation reservoir for accumulating hyperpolarized 129 Xe; b) refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes said hyperpolarized 129 Xe to condense and to accumulate in said accumulation reservoir in frozen form, and c) magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for continuous accumulation of hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: a) flowing a target gas comprising 129 Xe through hyperpolarization means, b) hyperpolarizing said 129 Xe by means of spin exchange with an alkali metal in said hyperpolarization means to provide hyperpolarized 129 Xe in said target gas, and c) flowing said target gas through accumulator means to accumulate hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form; wherein said accumulator means comprises: 1) an accumulation reservoir for accumulating said frozen hyperpolarized 129 Xe; 2) refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes said hyperpolarized 129 Xe to condense and to accumulate in said accumulation reservoir in frozen form, and 3) magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for continuous accumulation of hyperpolarized 129 Xe, comprising: a) flowing a target gas comprising 129 Xe through hyperpolarization means, b) hyperpolarizing said 129 Xe by means of spin exchange with an alkali metal in said hyperpolarization means to provide hyperpolarized 129 Xe in said target gas, and c) flowing said target gas through accumulator means to accumulate hyperpolarized 129 Xe in frozen form; wherein said accumulator means comprises: 1) an accumulation reservoir for accumulating said frozen hyperpolarized 129 Xe; 2) refrigeration means for refrigerating said accumulation reservoir to a temperature which causes said hyperpolarized 129 Xe to condense and to accumulate in said accumulation reservoir in frozen form, and 3) magnetization means for applying a magnetic field to said accumulation reservoir.
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