Handheld electromagnet carrier for transfer of hyperpolarized carbon‐13 samples. Issue 2 (11th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shang, Hong; Skloss, Timothy; von Morze, Cornelius; Carvajal, Lucas; Van Criekinge, Mark; Milshteyn, Eugene; Larson, Peder E. Z.; Hurd, Ralph E.; Vigneron, Daniel B.
• Is Part Of: Magnetic resonance in medicine. Volume 75:Issue 2(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 917
• Page End: 922
• Publication Date: 2015-03-11
• Subjects: hyperpolarized carbon‐13 MRI/MRSI -- dynamic nuclear polarization -- low magnetic field -- T1 relaxation -- scalar coupling -- urea; Nuclear magnetic resonance -- Periodicals; Electron paramagnetic resonance -- Periodicals; 616.07548
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.25657
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-3194

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: Hyperpolarization of carbon‐13 ( 13 C) nuclei by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization increases signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) by >10, 000‐fold for metabolic imaging, but care must be taken when transferring hyperpolarized (HP) samples from polarizer to MR scanner. Some 13 C substrates relax rapidly in low ambient magnetic fields. A handheld electromagnet carrier was designed and constructed to preserve polarization by maintaining a sufficient field during sample transfer. Methods: The device was constructed with a solenoidal electromagnet, powered by a nonmagnetic battery, holding the HP sample during transfer. A specially designed switch automated deactivation of the field once transfer was complete. Phantom and rat experiments were performed to compare MR signal enhancement with or without the device for HP [ 13 C]urea and [1‐ 13 C]pyruvate. Results: The magnetic field generated by this device was tested to be >50 G over a 6‐cm central section. In phantom and rat experiments, [ 13 C]urea transported via the device showed SNR improvement by a factor of 1.8–1.9 over samples transferred through the background field. Conclusion: A device was designed and built to provide a suitably high yet safe magnetic field to preserve hyperpolarization during sample transfer. Comparative testing demonstrated SNR improvements of approximately two‐fold for [ 13 C]urea while maintaining SNR for [1‐ 13 C]pyruvate. Magn Reson Med 75:917–922, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.