Hyperpolarized gas transport device

摘要

A compact portable transport unit (10) for shipping hyperpolarized noble gases and shielding same from electromagnetic interference and/or external magnetic fields includes a means for shifting the resonance frequency of the hyperpolarized gas outside the bandwidth of typical frequencies associated with prevalent time-dependent fields produced by electrical sources. Preferably the transport unit (10) includes a magnetic holding field which is generated from a solenoid (20) in the transport unit. The solenoid (20) includes a plurality of coil segments (21, 22, 23) and is sized and configured to receive the gas chamber of a container (30). The gas container (30) is configured with a valve, a spherical body, and an extending capillary stem (35) between the valve and the body. The gas container or hyperpolarized product container (30) can also be formed as a resilient bag (30b). The distribution method includes positioning a multi-bolus container (30) within the transport unit (10) to shield it and transporting same to a second site remote from the first site and subsequently dispensing into smaller patient sized formulations which can be transported (shielded) in another transport unit (10) to yet another site.