Method and apparatus for production of spin-polarized medical- grade xenon .sup.129 gas by laser optical pumping

摘要

Spin-polarized xenon gas is provided in medical-grade purity for use as a contrast medium in MRI studies by use of collision-induced transfer of spin energy to the xenon gas from laser-pumped spin- polarized Rb gas. The Rb gas is provided by thermally vaporizing solid Rb at low pressure in a container having an inside surface coated with a siliconizing agent and exposed to the Rb gas. The combined xenon and Rb gases are separated after transfer of the spin energy in order to provide a sufficient purity of the xenon gas by use of a cryogenic separation process. The Rb gas is removed from the xenon gas and is returned cryogenically to a solid stated to an acceptable level of purity for the xenon gas. The gas may be analyzed optically to measure the remaining Rb concentration.