3He lung imaging in an open access, very-low-field human magnetic resonance imaging system.
The human lung and its functions are extremely sensitive to gravity; however, the conventional high-field magnets used for most laser-polarized (3)He MRI of the human lung restrict subjects to lying horizontally. Imaging of human lungs using inhaled laser-polarized (3)He gas is demonstrated in an open-access very-low-magnetic-field (<5 mT) MRI instrument. This prototype device employs a simple, low-cost electromagnet, with an open geometry that allows variation of the orientation of the imaging subject in a two-dimensional plane. As a demonstration, two-dimensional lung images were acquired with 4-mm in-plane resolution from a subject in two orientations: lying supine and sitting in a vertical position with one arm raised. Experience with this prototype device will guide optimization of a second-generation very-low-field imager to enable studies of human pulmonary physiology as a function of subject orientation.
Mair
R W
RW
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, MS 59, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. rmair@cfa.harvard.edu
Hrovat
M I
MI
Patz
S
S
Rosen
M S
MS
Ruset
I C
IC
Topulos
G P
GP
Tsai
L L
LL
Butler
J P
JP
Hersman
F W
FW
Walsworth
R L
RL
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006371:Helium; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture
D007554:Isotopes; D006371:Helium