NMR POLARIZATION MONITORING COILS, HYPERPOLARIZERS WITH SAME, AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE POLARIZATION LEVEL OF ACCUMULATED HYPERPOLARIZED NOBLE GASES DURING PRODUCTION

摘要

Hyperpolarizers which produce hyperpolarized noble gases include one or more on-board NMR monitoring coils configured to monitor the polarization level o f the hyperpolarized gas at various production points in the polarized gas production cycle. A dual symmetry NMR coil is positioned adjacent the optica l pumping cell and is in fluid communication with a secondary reservoir in flu id communication with the polarized gas dispensing or exit flow path. This can measure the post-thaw polarization of the gas "on-board" the polarizer. Alternately or additionally, a NMR monitoring coil is assembled to the exit port portion of the optical pumping cell to give a more reliable indication of the polarization level of the gas as it flows out of the gas optical pumping cell. Another NMR monitoring coil can be positioned in a cryogenic bath adjacent a quantity of frozen polarized 129Xe to determine the polarization level of the frozen gas.