Abstract: A transport unit includes a plurality of permanent magnets arranged to provide a magnetic holding field for protecting hyperpolarized gas during storage and/or transport. The permanent magnets are configured in a relatively light weight manner to project a substantially cylindrical magnetic holding field or spherical holding field in space. The magnet arrangements can include primary magnets and field shaping secondary magnets which act to enlarge the region of homogeneity. The permanent magnet arrangement can also be provided with a cylindrical shaped flex sheet magnetically activated to provide the magnetic holding field. The permanent magnet arrangements do not require disassembly to insert or remove one or more containers of hyperpolarized gas in or out of the transport unit.

Abstract: A compact portable transport unit for shipping hyperpolarized noble gases and shielding same from electromagnetic interference and/or external magnetic fields includes a means for shifting the resonance frequency of the hyperpolarized gas outside the bandwidth of typical frequencies associated with prevalent time-dependent fields produced by electrical sources. Preferably the transport unit includes a magnetic holding field which is generated from a solenoid in the transport unit. The solenoid includes a plurality of coil segments and is sized and configured to receive the gas chamber of a container. The gas container is configured with a valve, a spherical body, and an extending capillary stem between the valve and the body. The gas container or hyperpolarized product container can also be formed as a resilient bag.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, methods of the present invention obtain NMR spectroscopy signal data that corresponds to the behavior of the polarized 129Xe at a selected site(s) in selected environments in vivo. The gas exchange signal data can be used to evaluate: (a) the thickness of a barrier, such as a membrane, lining, wall or width of a lumen; (b) the operational condition or function of a membrane, body system or portion thereof; (c) cerebral perfusion; and/or (c) the efficacy of a therapeutic treatment used to treat a diagnosed disorder, disease, or condition. Thus, the present invention provides methods for screening and/or diagnosing a disorder or disease, and/or methods for monitoring the efficacy of therapeutics administered to subject to treat a disorder or disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loader device, for dispensing implantation seeds from a seed magazine and, optionally, a spacer magazine.

Abstract: A radioactive member for use in brachytherapy comprising a molded elongate, bioabsorbable carrier material with spaced radioactive sources disposed therein, and methods for the manufacture thereof. The radioactive members may be used in treatment of, for example, prostate cancer.

Abstract: A device for simulating a sample of gas having a specific level of polarization when measured by a NMR pickup coil includes an active circuit loosely coupled to the NMR pickup coil. The active circuit responds as a hyperpolarized gas having the specific level of polarization when measured by the NMR pickup coil.

Abstract: MR spectroscopy and imaging methods for imaging pulmonary and cardiac vasculature and the cardiac region and evaluating blood flow or circulatory deficits use dissolved phase polarized 129Xe gas and large flip angle excitation pulses. Pulmonary and cardiac vasculature MRI images are obtained by delivering gas to a patient via inhalation such as with a breath-hold delivery-procedure, exciting the dissolved phase gas with a large flip angle pulse, and generating a corresponding image. Preferably, the image is obtained using multi-echo imaging techniques. Blood flow is quantified using low field MR spectroscopy and an RF excitation pulse with a frequency which corresponds to the resonance of the dissolved phase 129Xe.

Abstract: A compact portable transport unit for shipping hyperpolarized noble gases and shielding same from electromagnetic interference and/or external magnetic fields includes a means for shifting the resonance frequency of the hyperpolarized gas outside the bandwidth of typical frequencies associated with prevalent time-dependent fields produced by electrical sources. Preferably the transport unit includes a magnetic holding field which is generated from a solenoid in the transport unit. The solenoid includes a plurality of coil segments and is sized and configured to receive the gas chamber of a container. The gas container is configured with a valve, a spherical body, and an extending capillary stem between the valve and the body. The gas container or hyperpolarized product container can also be formed as a resilient bag.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing a magnetic holding field about a chamber for accumulating frozen 129Xe. The apparatus includes a magnetic field source and a yoke for supporting the magnetic field source about the chamber. The magnetic field source provides a magnetic holding field having a field strength of greater than 2 kiloGauss. The apparatus may further include yoke for coupling the magnetic holding field through a portion of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for loading delivery systems, such as seed magazines and suture material, with seeds which greatly increases productivity, reduces process variation and reduces the risk of handling damage to the seeds. Importantly, the apparatus and methods of the present invention reduce potential risks to workers. In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an automated method of loading a delivery system for brachytherapy seeds which comprises the steps of a) securing the delivery system to be loaded; b) conmnunicating seeds from a supply of seeds into the delivery system; and c) repeating step b) to load a plurality of seeds. In a second aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for loading a delivery system for brachytherapy seeds comprising: a) means for retaining a delivery system to be loaded with seeds; and b) means for communicating individual seeds from a supply of seeds to said delivery system.

Abstract: An in vivo non-invasive method for detecting and/or diagnosing a pathological condition using hyperpolarized 129Xe spectroscopy is disclosed. Generally stated, the method includes determining the magnitude of spectral peaks which represent particular chemical shifts and comparing the observed magnitudes to those of healthy individuals. Preferably, the method includes subtracting substantial backgrounds and accounting for secondary conditions such as the polarization of hyperpolarized gas administered. Additionally, a quantitative analysis of hyperpolarized 129Xe spectra advantageously allows a physician to establish the extent of disease progression. Advantageously, this method can be used regardless of the method of hyperpolarized 129Xe administration.

Abstract: A radioactive member for use in brachytherapy comprising an essentially stiff elongate, single stranded bioabsorbable carrier material with spaced radioactive sources disposed therein, and methods for the manufacture thereof. The radioactive members may be used in the treatment of, for example, prostate cancer.

Abstract: A loader device, for dispensing implantation seeds from a seed magazine, comprising a body (3), seed magazine receiving and locating means (27,), seed dispensing means (37) for ejecting seeds from a seed magazine, and a seed-transporting path (17) leading to a dispensing outlet (8), which loader device further comprises a spacer-transporting path (29, 31, 33, 35) for transporting spacers through the device to the dispensing outlet (8).

Abstract: Methods of extracting and removing hyperpolarized gas from a container include introducing an extraction fluid into the container to force the hyperpolarized gas out of an exit port. The hyperpolarized gas is forced out of the container separate and apart from the extraction fluid. Alternatively, if the fluid is a gas, a portion of the gas is mixed with the hyperpolarized gas to form a sterile mixed fluid product suitable for introduction to a patient. An additional method includes engaging a gas transfer source such as a syringe to a transport container and pulling a quantity of the hyperpolarized gas out of the container in a controlled manner. Another method includes introducing a quantity of liquid into a container and covering at least one predetermined internal surface or component with the liquid to mask the surfaces and keep the hyperpolarized gas away from the predetermined internal surface, thereby inhibiting any depolarizing affect from same.

Abstract: A transport unit includes a plurality of permanent magnets arranged to provide a magnetic holding field for protecting hyperpolarized gas during storage and/or transport. The permanent magnets are configured in a relatively light weight manner to project a substantially cylindrical magnetic holding field or spherical holding field in space. The magnet arrangements can include primary magnets and field shaping secondary magnets which act to enlarge the region of homogeneity. The permanent magnet arrangement can also be provided with a cylindrical shaped flex sheet magnetically activated to provide the magnetic holding field. The permanent magnet arrangements do not require disassembly to insert or remove one or more containers of hyperpolarized gas in or out of the transport unit.

Abstract: A method of screening for pulmonary embolism uses gaseous phase polarized 129Xe which is injected directly into the vasculature of a subject. The gaseous 129Xe can be delivered in a controlled manner such that the gas substantially dissolves into the vasculature proximate to the injection site. Alternatively, the gas can be injected such that it remains as a gas in the bloodstream for a period of time (such as about 8-29 seconds). The injectable formulation of polarized 129Xe gas is presented in small quantities of (preferably isotopically enriched) hyperpolarized 129Xe and can provide high-quality vasculature MRI images or NMR spectroscopic signals with clinically useful signal resolution or intensity. One method injects the polarized 129Xe as a gas into a vein and also directs another quantity of polarized gas into the subject via inhalation. In this embodiment, the perfusion uptake allows arterial signal information and the injection (venous side) allows venous signal information.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the T1 of injectable microbubble formulations of hyperpolarized 3He include the step of introducing the hyperpolarized 3He to a quantity of microbubbles held in a chamber and increasing the pressure therein to facilitate the movement or loading of the 3He into the microbubbles. Subsequently, a limited quantity of carrier liquid or a carrier liquid solution alone, or pre-mixed with 3He, can be introduced to the microbubble/3He in the chamber to inhibit the tendency of the 3He to leach out of the bubble. Related pharmaceutical products and associated containers as well as an evacuation based method for rapid mixing and delivery of the bubbles and the 3He is also disclosed. An additional method for dissolving 129Xe gas by using bubbles as an accelerant is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting regional variations in oxygen uptake from the lungs of an air-breathing animal subject, said method comprising administering into the lungs of said subject a diagnostically effective amount of a gaseous hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging agent, detecting the magnetic resonance signal from said agent in said lungs, determining the temporal variation in relaxation rate for said signal for at least one region of interest within said lungs, and from said variation generating a qualitative or quantitative value or image indicative of the oxygen uptake from the alveolar space in said at least one region of interest.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program products and associated apparatus, to monitor and determine the polarization level of a quantity of hyperpolarized gas during transport. A portable device is configured to transmit an excitation pulse and analyze a response signal in transit to provide a polarization level corresponding to the hyperpolarized gas. Preferably, the monitoring system can provide magnetic field fluctuation feedback to the transport unit and adjust operating current to a solenoid. The system also can compensate for NMR frequency shifts that may appear in the measured response signal to provide a more accurate polarization level or “real” T1 for the hyperpolarized gas.

Abstract: Methods of extracting and removing hyperpolarized gas from a container include introducing an extraction fluid into the container to force the hyperpolarized gas out of an exit port. The hyperpolarized gas is forced out of the container separate and apart from the extraction fluid. Alternatively, if the fluid is a gas, a portion of the gas is mixed with the hyperpolarized gas to form a sterile mixed fluid product suitable for introduction to a patient. An additional method includes engaging a gas transfer source such as a syringe to a transport container and pulling a quantity of the hyperpolarized gas out of the container in a controlled manner. Another method includes introducing a quantity of liquid into a container and covering at least one predetermined internal surface or component with the liquid to mask the surfaces and keep the hyperpolarized gas away from the predetermined internal surface, thereby inhibiting any depolarizing affect from same.