Method of improving magnetic resonance sensitivity

• US 20100201362A1
• Filed: 02/11/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bruce Holman III
• Original Assignee: Bruce Holman III
• Inventors: Holman, Bruce III
• Application Number:
  US12/658,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20100201362A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/310
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 24/08 by using nuclear magnetic resonance G01N24/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/282 Means specially adapted for hyperpolarisation or for hyperpolarised contrast agents, e.g. for the generation of hyperpolarised gases using optical pumping cells, for storing hyperpolarised contrast agents or for the determination of the polarisation of a hyperpolarised contrast agent
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5605 by transferring coherence or polarization from a spin species to another, e.g. creating magnetization transfer contrast [MTC], polarization transfer using nuclear Overhauser enhancement [NOE]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/62 using double resonance G01R33/24 takes precedence

Abstract

We describe a method for use in enhancing MRI signals and increasing the sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy. The method involves the use of dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) in which the polarizing agents are sequestered at the interface between two phases a sample phase, and a polarizing phase in such a way that the polarizing agent can be easily removed from the sample prior to analysis. The method produces much efficiency for sample manipulation, and the polarization process. In at least one embodiment the hyper-polarization can be repeated so as to allow the accumulation of spectra of the same material for further increasing the signal to noise ratio. The method also allows a discernment of which peaks in an NMR spectrum of a mixture belong to each individual component.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of depositing a sample for NMR analysis on a polarizing phase;

polarizing the sample;

separating the sample from the polarizing phase; and

then taking an NMR spectrum of the sample.