Magnetic Resonance Imaging

He-3 and xenon-129 are noble gases, hence chemically inert, and can be safely inhaled. When these spin ½ nuclei are polarized, they can be used to take wonderful pictures of human and animal lungs. In addition, xenon-129 can be dissolved in blood and has the potential to image blood. Our group is active in the field of polarized noble gas for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In particular, we collaborate with a cardiac imaging group at Stanford University. Here we have been engaged in studies combining the spin-polarized noble gas from our group and imaging in a low-field MRI scanner, built by the Stanford group.

A recent article reviewing our MRI related activities has been published in Caltech's Engineering and Science. "From High Energy Physics to Medical Research......It Happens"