title: Application unit for the administration of contrast gases for pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging: optimization of ventilation distribution for (3) He-MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  MRI of lung airspaces using gases with MR-active nuclei ((3) He, (129) Xe, and (19) F) is an important area of research in pulmonary imaging. The volume-controlled administration of gas mixtures is important for obtaining quantitative information from MR images. State-of-the-art gas administration using plastic bags (PBs) does not allow for a precise determination of both the volume and timing of a (3) He bolus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A novel application unit (AU) was built according to the requirements of the German medical devices law. Integrated spirometers enable the monitoring of the inhaled gas flow. The device is particularly suited for hyperpolarized (HP) gases (e.g., storage and administration with minimal HP losses). The setup was tested in a clinical trial (n = 10 healthy volunteers) according to the German medicinal products law using static and dynamic ventilation HP-(3) He MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The required specifications for the AU were successfully realized. Compared to PB-administration, better reproducibility of gas intrapulmonary distribution was observed when using the AU for both static and dynamic ventilation imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new AU meets the special requirements for HP gases, which are storage and administration with minimal losses. Our data suggest that gas AU-administration is superior to manual modes for determining the key parameters of dynamic ventilation measurements.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güldner
authors.affiliation: ic-automation GmbH, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: St
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Düber
authors.affiliation: ic-automation GmbH, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friesenecker
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Gast
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Heil
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karpuk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Otten
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Section of Medical Physics, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivoire
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Salhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Section of Medical Physics, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Section of Medical Physics, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Section of Medical Physics, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terekhov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004867:Equipment Design; D006371:Helium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007554:Isotopes; D006371:Helium
keywords: 3He; administration; gas; hyperpolarization; lung; ventilation