Abstract: The invention relates to a method of 13C-MR detection using an imaging medium comprising hyperpolarised 13C-fumarate and imaging media comprising hyperpolarised 13C-fumarate for use in said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of 13C-MR detection using an imaging medium comprising hyperpolarised 13C acetate and to an imaging medium comprising hyperpolarised 13C-acetate.

Abstract: The invention relates to hyperpolarised 13C-alanine, its use as imaging agent, an imaging medium comprising hyperpolarised 13C-alanine and methods of 13C-MR detection wherein such an imaging medium is used. Further, the invention relates to methods of producing hyperpolarised 13C-alanine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of 13C-MR detection using an imaging medium comprising hyperpolarised 13C-fumarate and imaging media comprising hyperpolarised 13C-fumarate for use in said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of 13C-MR detection using an imaging medium comprising hyperpolarised 13C-lactate and to an imaging medium containing hyperpolarised 13C1-lactate for use in said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of an MR contrast agent, said process comprising: i) obtaining a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of said substrate compound; ii) introducing said solution in droplet form into a chamber containing hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) and/or ortho-deuterium (o-2H2) whereby to hydrogenate said substrate to form a hydrogenated imaging agent; iii) optionally subjecting said hydrogenated imaging agent to a magnetic field having a field strength below earth's ambient field strength; iv) optionally dissolving said imaging agent in an aqueous medium; v) optionally separating said catalyst from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; vi) optionally separating said solvent from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; and vii) optionally freezing the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and method for dissolving solid polarised material while retaining a high level of polarisation. In an embodiment of the present invention a material is polarised in a strong magnetic field in a cryostat 2 and then brought into solution while still inside the cryostat 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of an MR contrast agent, said process comprising: i) obtaining a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of said substrate compound; ii) introducing said solution in droplet form into a chamber containing hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) and/or ortho-deuterium (o-2H2) whereby to hydrogenate said substrate to form a hydrogenated imaging agent; iii) optionally subjecting said hydrogenated imaging agent to a magnetic field having a field strength below earth's ambient field strength; iv) optionally dissolving said imaging agent in an aqueous medium; v) optionally separating said catalyst from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; vi) optionally separating said solvent from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; and vii) optionally freezing the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of an MR contrast agent, said process comprising: i) obtaining a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of said substrate compound; ii) introducing said solution in droplet form into a chamber containing hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) and/or ortho-deuterium (o-2H2) whereby to hydrogenate said substrate to form a hydrogenated imaging agent; iii) optionally subjecting said hydrogenated imaging agent to a magnetic field having a field strength below earth's ambient field strength; iv) optionally dissolving said imaging agent in an aqueous medium; v) optionally separating said catalyst from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; vi) optionally separating said solvent from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; and vii) optionally freezing the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and method for dissolving solid polarised material while retaining a high level of polarisation. In an embodiment of the present invention a material is polarised in a strong magnetic field in a cryostat 2 and then brought into solution while still inside the cryostat 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and method for melting solid polarised sample while retaining a high level of polarisation. In an embodiment of the present invention a sample is polarised in a sample-retaining cup (9) in a strong magnetic field in a polarising means (3a, 3b, 3c) in a cryostat (2) and then melted inside the cryostat (2) by melting means such as a laser (8) connected by an optical fibre (4) to the interior of the cryostat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably of a human or non-human animal body. The method comprises the step of ex vivo polarization of a high T1 agent. The polarizing agent is optionally separated from the high T1 agent before the high T1 agent is administered to the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of an MR contrast agent, said process comprising:

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of magnetic imaging (MR) of a living sample comprising the steps of hyperpolarizing a hyperpolarizable gas ex-vivo and transferring the nuclear polarization from the hyperpolarized gas to the nuclei of an MR imaging agent, that is not hyperpolarizable, that is exposed to a uniform magnetic field and that is introduced in contact to the hyperpolarizable gas, separating the hyperpolarizable gas from the MR imaging agent, administering the MR imaging agent to the living sample, exciting NMR transitions in the nuclei of the imaging agent and detecting an NMR signal thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of MR investigation of a sample, the method comprising: (i) placing in a uniform magnetic field a composition comprising an OMRI contrast agent and an MR imaging agent containing nuclei (MR imaging nuclei) capable of emitting magnetic resonance signals (e.g. the primary magnetic field B0) and capable of exhibiting a T1 relaxation time of 6 s or more (at 37° C. in D2O in a field of 7T); (ii) exposing the composition to a first radiation of a frequency selected to excite electron spin transitions in the OMRI contrast agent; (iii) optionally but preferably separating the whole, substantially the whole, or a portion of said OMRI contrast agent from said MR imaging agent; (iv) administering said MR imaging agent to said sample, (v) exposing the sample to a second radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions; (vi) detecting magnetic resonance signals from the sample; and (vii) optionally, generating an image or dynamic flow data from the detected signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably of a human or non-human animal body, said method comprising the step of ex vivo polarisation of a high T1 agent and wherein the polarising agent is optionally seperated from the high T1 agent before the high T1 agent is administered to the sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of electron spin resonance enhanced magnetic resonance imaging which relies on ex vivo dynamic nuclear polarisation of an MR imaging agent.