Abstract: A gas storage cell containing a nuclear spin polarized gas in a gas storage space surrounded by a cell wall made of an uncoated material having a surface substantially free of paramagnetic substances which is in contact with the gas storage space and a method for removing the nuclear spin polarized gas from the gas storage cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetically shielded container (1) having disposed in parallel opposed position on an axis (S) thereof magnetic field homogenizing pole shoes (10.1, 10.2), having disposed about said pole shoes a magnetically shielded yoke (2), said pole shoes and yoke enclosing a magnetic chamber (26), said container further comprising magnetic field sources (2.4, 2.5) disposed about and radially distanced from said axis whereby there exists within said chamber substantially homogenous magnetic field Bo oriented in the direction of said axis and whereby there is a usable volume within said chamber where the ratio of the magnetic field gradient in the direction transverse to said axis to said magnetic field Bo has a value of no more than 1.5×10?3/cm. By virtue of the very low ratio of weight to volume that is achievable with this construction, the containers according to the invention are economical to produce and especially suited to transporting polarized gasses.

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: The invention relates to a method for determining the degree of polarization (P) of a nuclear spin polarized gas, in particular 3He, 129Xe, in which the nuclear spin polarized gas is placed in a container, comprising determining the magnetic field Bd of the pola gas by measuring the magnetic dipole field emerging therefrom and then determining from Bd the degree of polarization of the gas.

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: 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.