System and Method for Microfluidic Parahydrogen Induced Polarization Hyperpolarizer for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Applications

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for producing hyperpolarized materials for use during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) process. The system and methods include the use of microfluidic and/or microreactor methods in one or more of the stages of parahydrogen production, enriched substrate production, and spin order transfer from the parahydrogen to a substrate.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A polarization delivery system comprising:
 a source of parahydrogen for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system; and   a hyperpolarization and conversion system comprising a spin transfer device that receives the parahydrogen from the microreactor and transfers spin order from the parahydrogen to a substrate, wherein the spin transfer device is a hydrogenation microreactor or signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) microreactor.   
     
     
         50 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 49  wherein the source of parahydrogen further comprises a micro hydrogen generator. 
     
     
         51 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 49  wherein the source of parahydrogen includes a tank of pressurized H 2 . 
     
     
         52 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 49  wherein the source of parahydrogen includes a parahydrogen production system comprising a microfluidic or microreactor that exposes the hydrogen to a catalyst to produce parahydrogen. 
     
     
         53 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 52  further comprising a cooling device connected between the micro hydrogen generator and the microreactor. 
     
     
         54 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 53  wherein the cooling device comprises a two-stage cooling system using hydrogen as a coolant for a second stage. 
     
     
         55 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 49 , further comprising a substrate production system connected to the spin transfer device, wherein the substrate production system includes a substrate synthesizer that converts input chemicals to the substrate. 
     
     
         56 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 49  wherein the spin transfer device receives a homogeneous catalyst from an external supply. 
     
     
         57 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 49  wherein the spin transfer device employs a heterogeneous catalyst fixed internally in the spin transfer device. 
     
     
         58 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 49  wherein the hyperpolarization and conversion system further comprises a filtering device configured to receive polarized substrate from the spin transfer device. 
     
     
         59 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 58  wherein the filtering device filters out impurities in the polarized substrate and outputs the polarized substrate to the MRI or NMR system. 
     
     
         60 . A method for producing polarized hydrogen for use during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) process, the method comprising:
 delivering parahydrogen to a spin transfer device; and   transferring, with the spin transfer device, spin order from the processed hydrogen to a substrate, wherein the spin transfer device is a hydrogenation microreactor or signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) microreactor.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising:
 generating, with a micro hydrogen generator in a polarization delivery system, hydrogen based on a request; 
 processing, with a microreactor in the polarization delivery system, the hydrogen into parahydrogen based on the request; and 
 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  further comprising cooling, by a cooling device connected between the micro hydrogen generator and the microreactor, the hydrogen to a first temperature range. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising converting, by a substrate synthesizer connected to the spin transfer device, input chemicals to the substrate. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising receiving, by the spin transfer device, a homogeneous catalyst from an external supply. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising:
 receiving, by a filtering device, polarized substrate from the spin transfer device; and 
 filtering out impurities in the polarized substrate and output the polarized substrate for use in the MRI or NMR process. 
 
     
     
         66 . A method for producing contrast agent, the method comprising:
 providing hydrogen for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system performing an MRI or NMR process;   delivering the hydrogen to spin transfer device that includes one of a hydrogenation microreactor or signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) microreactor; and   transferring, with the spin transfer device, spin order from the processed hydrogen to produce the contrast agent to be delivered to a subject when performing an MRI or NMR process.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66  further comprising:
 receiving, by a filtering device, polarized substrate from the spin transfer device; and 
 filtering out impurities in the polarized substrate and output the polarized substrate as the contrast agent to be delivered to the subject. 
 
     
     
         68 . A microfluidic or microreactor polarization delivery system comprising:
 a hyperpolarization and conversion system comprising a spin transfer device that receives parahydrogen and transfers spin order from the parahydrogen to a substrate; and   wherein the spin transfer device is a hydrogenation microreactor or signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) microreactor.   
     
     
         69 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 68  further comprising a parahydrogen production system comprising a microfluidic or microreactor that processes hydrogen and wherein the microfluidic or microreactor exposes the hydrogen to a catalyst to produce parahydrogen. 
     
     
         70 . The polarization deliver system of  claim 69  wherein the parahydrogen production system further comprises a micro hydrogen generator. 
     
     
         71 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 70  wherein the parahydrogen production system further comprises a cooling device connected between the micro hydrogen generator and the microreactor or microfluidic device. 
     
     
         72 . The polarization delivery system of  claim 68 , further comprising a microreactor or microfluidic substrate production system connected to the spin transfer device, the substrate production system comprising a substrate synthesizer that converts input chemicals into the substrate.