Patents by Inventor Gordon D. Cates, Jr.
Gordon D. Cates, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10126438Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for examining a subject. In one embodiment, a method includes polarizing nuclei of a radioactive substance such that the spins of the nuclei are oriented in a specific direction, to generate a polarized radioactive tracer with anisotropic gamma ray emission probability. The method also includes introducing the tracer into a subject. The method further includes applying radio frequency oscillating (RF) magnetic fields and/or spatially varying magnetic fields to the tracer that are configured to manipulate the orientation of the spins such as to manipulate the directional dependence of gamma ray emission from the tracer. The method further includes detecting gamma rays from the gamma ray emission, and obtaining, based on the detected gamma rays and properties associated with the anisotropic gamma ray emission, imaging data and/or spectroscopic data associated with the tracer in the subject.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATIONInventors: Gordon D. Cates, Jr., G. Wilson Miller, Yuan Zheng, William A. Tobias
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Publication number: 20160084971Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for examining a subject. In one embodiment, a method includes polarizing nuclei of a radioactive substance such that the spins of the nuclei are oriented in a specific direction, to generate a polarized radioactive tracer with anisotropic gamma ray emission probability. The method also includes introducing the tracer into a subject. The method further includes applying radio frequency oscillating (RF) magnetic fields and/or spatially varying magnetic fields to the tracer that are configured to manipulate the orientation of the spins such as to manipulate the directional dependence of gamma ray emission from the tracer. The method further includes detecting gamma rays from the gamma ray emission, and obtaining, based on the detected gamma rays and properties associated with the anisotropic gamma ray emission, imaging data and/or spectroscopic data associated with the tracer in the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Gordon D. Cates, JR., G. Wilson Miller, Yuan Zheng, William A. Tobias
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Patent number: 6593144Abstract: A method of imaging a spatial distribution of a noble gas by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry includes detecting a spatial distribution of at least one noble gas by NMR spectrometry and generating a representation of said spatial distribution of the noble gas. The noble gas is selected from noble gas isotopes having nuclear spin, preferably Xenon-129 and/or Helium-3. The noble gas is at least thermally or equilibrium polarized and is preferably hyperpolarized, most preferably hyperpolarized by optical (laser) pumping in the presence of an alkali metal or by metastability exchange. The generation of the representation of the noble gas spatial distribution includes at least one dimension, preferably 2 or 3 dimensions of the spatial distribution. The noble gas may be imaged according to the invention in chemical or biological systems, preferably in a human or animal subject or organ system or tissue thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University, The Research Foundation of State University of New YorkInventors: Mitchell S. Albert, Dilip Balamore, Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Brian Saam, Arnold Wishnia
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Patent number: 6551559Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarization cell which is coated with glass deposited from a sol-gel used for hyperpolarizing noble gases. The invention also includes a method for hyperpolarizing noble gases utilizing the polarization cell coated with glass deposited from a sol-gel. These polarization cells can also be incorporated into containers used for storage and transport of the hyperpolarized noble gases.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton UniversityInventors: Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Ilhan A. Aksay, William Happer, Ming Feng Hsu, Daniel Martin Dabbs
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Patent number: 6318092Abstract: Methods of hyperpolarizing a noble gas by spin-exchange optical pumping use an alkali metal hybrid comprising a primary alkali metal and an auxiliary alkali metal to effectuate spin transfer interaction among the primary alkali metal, the auxiliary alkali metal, and the noble gas.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2000Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton UniversityInventors: William Happer, Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Mikhail V. Romalis, Christopher J. Erickson
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Patent number: 6241966Abstract: A method of imaging a spatial distribution of a noble gas by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry includes detecting a spatial distribution of at least one noble gas by NMR spectrometry and generating a representation of said spatial distribution of the noble gas. The noble gas is selected from noble gas isotopes having nuclear spin, preferably Xenon-129 and/or Helium-3. The noble gas is at least thermally or equilibrium polarized and is preferably hyperpolarized, most preferably hyperpolarized by optical (laser) pumping in the presence of an alkali metal or by metastability exchange. The generation of the representation of the noble gas spatial distribution includes at least one dimension, preferably 2 or 3 dimensions of the spatial distribution. The noble gas may be imaged according to the invention in chemical or biological systems, preferably in a human or animal subject or organ system or tissue thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1998Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University, The Research Foundation of State University of New YorkInventors: Mitchell S. Albert, Dilip Balamore, Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Brian Saam, Arnold Wishnia
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Patent number: 6123919Abstract: A method of imaging a spatial distribution of a noble gas by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry includes detecting a spatial distribution of at least one noble gas by NMR spectrometry and generating a representation of said spatial distribution of the noble gas. The noble gas is selected from noble gas isotopes having nuclear spin, preferably Xenon-129 and/or Helium-3. The noble gas is at least thermally or equilibrium polarized and is preferably hyperpolarized, most preferably hyperpolarized by optical (laser) pumping in the presence of an alkali metal or by metastability exchange. The generation of the representation of the noble gas spatial distribution includes at least one dimension, preferably 2 or 3 dimensions of the spatial distribution. The noble gas may be imaged according to the invention in chemical or biological systems, preferably in a human or animal subject or organ system or tissue thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1999Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University, The Research Foundation of State University of New YorkInventors: Mitchell S. Albert, Dilip Balamore, Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Brian Saam, Arnold Wishnia
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Patent number: 5860295Abstract: A method and apparatus for accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention enable the continuous or episodic accumulation of flowing hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe in frozen form. The method also permits the accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe to the substantial exclusion of other gases, thereby enabling the purification of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe. The invention further includes .sup.129 Xe accumulation means which is integrated with .sup.129 Xe hyperpolarization means in a continuous or pulsed flow arrangement. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1998Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton UniversityInventors: Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Eli Miron, Brian Saam, Daniel Walter
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Patent number: 5809801Abstract: A method and apparatus for accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention enable the continuous or episodic accumulation of flowing hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe in frozen form. The method also permits the accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe to the substantial exclusion of other gases, thereby enabling the purification of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe. The invention further includes .sup.129 Xe accumulation means which is integrated with .sup.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 .sup.129 Xe for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton UniversityInventors: Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Eli Miron, Brian Saam
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Patent number: 5789921Abstract: A method of imaging a spatial distribution of a noble gas by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry includes detecting a spatial distribution of at least one noble gas by NMR spectrometry and generating a representation of said spatial distribution of the noble gas. The noble gas is selected from noble gas isotopes having nuclear spin, preferably Xenon-129 and/or Helium-3. The noble gas is at least thermally or equilibrium polarized and is preferably hyperpolarized, most preferably hyperpolarized by optical (laser) pumping in the presence of an alkali metal or by metastability exchange. The generation of the representation of the noble gas spatial distribution includes at least one dimension, preferably 2 or 3 dimensions of the spatial distribution. The noble gas may be imaged according to the invention in chemical or biological systems, preferably in a human or animal subject or organ system or tissue thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignees: The Research Foundation of State University of New York, The Trustees of Princeton UniversityInventors: Mitchell S. Albert, Dilip Balamore, Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Brian Saam, Arnold Wishnia
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Patent number: 5785953Abstract: A method of imaging a spatial distribution of a noble gas by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry includes detecting a spatial distribution of at least one noble gas by NMR spectrometry and generating a representation of said spatial distribution of the noble gas. The noble gas is selected from noble gas isotopes having nuclear spin, preferably Xenon-129 and/or Helium-3. The noble gas is at least thermally or equilibrium polarized and is preferably hyperpolarized, most preferably hyperpolarized by optical (laser) pumping in the presence of an alkali metal or by metastability exchange. The generation of the representation of the noble gas spatial distribution includes at least one dimension, preferably 2 or 3 dimensions of the spatial distribution. The noble gas may be imaged according to the invention in chemical or biological systems, preferably in a human or animal subject or organ system or tissue thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University, The Research Foundation of State University of New YorkInventors: Mitchell S. Albert, Dilip Balamore, Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Brian Saam, Arnold Wishnia
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Patent number: 5642625Abstract: A method and apparatus for hyperpolarization of flowing noble gases is disclosed, including means for hyperpolarization of noble gases in a continuous flow arrangement. Noble gases such as xenon-129 and helium-3 can be hyperpolarized using the disclosed method and apparatus. Preferably, the noble gas is hyperpolarized via spin exchange between atoms of the noble gas and an alkali metal such as rubidium. Also, a method and apparatus for accumulation and/or storage of hyperpolarized noble gases in a continuous flow arrangement is provided. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized noble gases for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1996Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton UniversityInventors: Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Hunter Middleton, Eli Miron, Brian Saam, Daniel Walter
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Patent number: 5612103Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting surface-induced nuclear spin relaxation and surface trapping of a hyperpolarized noble gas, most preferably .sup.129 Xe, by polymer-coated surfaces. The method includes inhibiting the amount of interaction of the noble gas with a polymeric coating on the surface of apparatus which contacts the noble gas. Preferably, the method includes inhibiting noble gas nuclear spin relaxation by replacing at least some of the protons in the polymer with substituents which have non-zero nuclear spin and/or reduced polymer permeability. A preferred substituent having non-zero spin is deuterium. A preferred modification which reduces permeability includes introducing into the polymer a substituent such as a halogen, more preferably fluorine. The method also provides containers having surfaces which have been coated with a polymer which inhibits noble gas trapping and nuclear spin relaxation.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 18, 1997Assignee: Princeton UniversityInventors: Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Gordon D. Cates, Jr.
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Patent number: 5545396Abstract: A method of imaging a spatial distribution of a noble gas by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry includes detecting a spatial distribution of at least one noble gas by NMR spectrometry and generating a representation of said spatial distribution of the noble gas. The noble gas is selected from noble gas isotopes having nuclear spin, preferably Xenon-129 and/or Helium-3. The noble gas is at least thermally or equilibrium polarized and is preferably hyperpolarized, most preferably hyperpolarized by optical (laser) pumping in the presence of an alkali metal or by metastability exchange. The generation of the representation of the noble gas spatial distribution includes at least one dimension, preferably 2 or 3 dimensions of the spatial distribution. The noble gas may be imaged according to the invention in chemical or biological systems, preferably in a human or animal subject or organ system or tissue thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1994Date of Patent: August 13, 1996Assignees: The Research Foundation of State University of New York, The Trustees of Princeton University Office of Research and Project AdministrationInventors: Mitchell S. Albert, Dilip Balamore, Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Bastiaan Driehuys, William Happer, Brian Saam, Arnold Wishnia