Methods for in vivo evaluation of physiological conditions and/or organ or system function including methods to evaluate cardiopulmonary disorders such as chronic heart failure using polarized 129Xe

Abstract

In certain embodiments, methods of the present invention obtain NMR spectroscopy signal data that corresponds to the behavior of the polarized 129Xe at a selected site(s) in selected environments in vivo. The gas exchange signal data can be used to evaluate: (a) the thickness of a barrier, such as a membrane, lining, wall or width of a lumen; (b) the operational condition or function of a membrane, body system or portion thereof; (c) cerebral perfusion; and / or (c) the efficacy of a therapeutic treatment used to treat a diagnosed disorder, disease, or condition. Thus, the present invention provides methods for screening and / or diagnosing a disorder or disease, and / or methods for monitoring the efficacy of therapeutics administered to subject to treat a disorder or disease.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) and MR spectroscopy using hyperpolarized noble gases. More particularly, the present invention relates to techniques to assess certain physiology, conditions, and / or functions of organs or body systems in vivo using polarized noble gases. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Conventionally, MRI has been used to produce images by exciting the nuclei of hydrogen molecules (present in water protons) in the human body. However, it has recently been discovered that polarized noble gases can produce improved images of certain areas and regions of the body that have heretofore produced less than satisfactory images in this modality. Polarized Helium 3 (“3He”) and Xenon-129 (“129Xe”) have been found to be particularly suited for this purpose. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,396 to Albert et al., entitled “Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Hyperpolarized Noble Gases”, the disclosure of which is hereby inco...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, it has recently been discovered that polarized noble gases can produce improved images of certain areas and regions of the body that have heretofore produced less than satisfactory images in this modality.

However, in contrast to gas phase imaging, dissolved phase imaging has proven to be problematic.

Unfortunately, once the polarized gas has been dissolved (such as into the blood vessels), it has proven difficult to generate clinically useful images using the dissolved phase gas.

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