NMR polarization monitoring coils, hyperpolarizers with same, and methods for determining the polarization level of accumulated hyperpolarized noble gases during production
First Claim
1. A method for releasing the post-thaw cryogenically accumulated hyperpolarized gas from a cold finger collection container operably associated with exit flow path plumbing, comprising the steps of:
- cryogenically accumulating a quantity of hyperpolarized gas as a frozen sample in a cold finger;
monitoring a pressure associated with the cryogenically collected hyperpolarized gas sample held in the cold finger;
thawing at least a portion of the quantity of frozen hyperpolarized gas sample in the cold finger;
increasing the pressure in the cold finger, thereby facilitating the phase transition of the hyperpolarized gas from a substantially frozen sample into a thawed fluid sample; and
releasing the thawed fluid hyperpolarized sample as a gas from the cold finger responsive to when the hyperpolarized sample achieves a predetermined pressure based on the pressure determined during said monitoring step.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Hyperpolarizers which produce hyperpolarized noble gases include one or more on-board NMR monitoring coils configured to monitor the polarization level of the hyperpolarized gas at various production points in the polarized gas production cycle. A dual symmetry NMR coil is positioned adjacent the optical pumping cell and is in fluid communication with a secondary reservoir in fluid communication with the polarized gas dispensing or exit flow path. This can measure the post-thaw polarization of the gas “on-board” the polarizer. Alternately or additionally, a NMR monitoring coil is assembled to the exit port portion of the optical pumping cell to give a more reliable indication of the polarization level of the gas as it flows out of the gas optical pumping cell. Another NMR monitoring coil can be positioned in a cryogenic bath adjacent a quantity of frozen polarized 129Xe to determine the polarization level of the frozen gas.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method for releasing the post-thaw cryogenically accumulated hyperpolarized gas from a cold finger collection container operably associated with exit flow path plumbing, comprising the steps of:
-
cryogenically accumulating a quantity of hyperpolarized gas as a frozen sample in a cold finger;
monitoring a pressure associated with the cryogenically collected hyperpolarized gas sample held in the cold finger;
thawing at least a portion of the quantity of frozen hyperpolarized gas sample in the cold finger;
increasing the pressure in the cold finger, thereby facilitating the phase transition of the hyperpolarized gas from a substantially frozen sample into a thawed fluid sample; and
releasing the thawed fluid hyperpolarized sample as a gas from the cold finger responsive to when the hyperpolarized sample achieves a predetermined pressure based on the pressure determined during said monitoring step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of releasing post-thaw cryogenically accumulated hyperpolarized gas from a cold finger collection container associated with exit flow path plumbing, comprising the steps of:
-
cryogenically accumulating a quantity of hyperpolarized gas as a frozen sample in a cold finger;
monitoring a pressure associated with the cryogenically collected hyperpolarized gas sample held in the cold finger;
thawing at least a portion of the quantity of frozen hyperpolarized gas sample in the cold finger;
increasing the pressure in the cold finger to facilitate the phase transition of the hyperpolarized gas from a substantially frozen sample into a thawed sample;
storing the thawed sample in fluid connection with the cold finger;
measuring the pressure associated with the cryogenically collected hyperpolarized gas during the thawing and storing steps, said measuring step measuring the pressure at a location in the exit flow path plumbing which is located downstream of the cold finger; and
releasing the thawed sample as a gas from the cold finger when the measured pressure reaches a predetermined value as determined by said step of measuring. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
Specification