Method and apparatus for producing contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

摘要

The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for providing contrast agent for e.g. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) applications. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of obtaining ( 100 ) a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of a substrate compound, hydrogenating ( 110 ) the substrate with hydrogen gas (H₂) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-¹H₂) to form a hydrogenated contrast agent and exposing ( 120, 305 ) the contrast agent to a sequence of pulses of magnetic field. The apparatus comprises a magnetic treatment unit ( 240 ) equipped with means for producing pulses of magnetic field.