Automated dynamic pressure-responsive dispensing systems, and associated methods and computer program products

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for dispensing hyperpolarized gas include or operate a plurality of spaced apart individually operable valves positioned in fluid communication with and located along a gas flow path. The gas flow path that is intermediate the spaced apart valves defines at least one meted holding space with an associated volume that can be selectively isolated from the remainder of the gas flow path. The system and methods include a pressure sensor operably associated with the gas flow path and a control module operably associated with the plurality of spaced apart valves and the pressure sensor, the control module being configured to direct the operational sequence of the opening and closing of the valves, wherein, in operation, the control module directs a plurality of capture and release cycles, the cycles being successively carried out so to temporally isolate a predetermined portion of the gas flow path to capture and then release discrete amounts of gas therein.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to equipment and methods used to remove or dispense hyperpolarized gases. The invention is particularly suitable for dispensing meted quantities of hyperpolarized gases for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (“MRI”) or NMR spectroscopy applications. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It has been discovered that polarized inert noble gases can produce improved MRI images of certain areas and regions of the body that have heretofore produced less than satisfactory images in this modality. Polarized helium-3 (“3He”) and xenon-129 (“129Xe”) have been found to be particularly suited for this purpose. Unfortunately, as will be discussed further below, the polarized state of the gases is sensitive to handling and environmental conditions and can, undesirably, decay from the polarized state relatively quickly. [0003] Hyperpolarizers are used to produce and accumulate polarized noble gases. Hyperpolarizes artificially enhance the polarizati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer programs for automatically adjusting the quantity and blend formulation of hyperpolarized gas in real-time at the dispensing site. The systems include an enclosed gas flow path with multiple valves, a pressure sensor, and a control module that directs the operation of the valves to capture and release discrete amounts of gas in a predetermined enclosed space, which can then be rapidly opened to release the gas and proceed downstream. The systems can also include means for evacuating and purging the gas flow path of contaminants, and means for dynamically adjusting the amounts of buffer gas and hyperpolarized gas desired to yield a patient bolus amount of pharmaceutical product formulation. The methods and computer programs allow for the efficient and effective dispensing of hyperpolarized gas formulations."

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, as will be discussed further below, the polarized state of the gases is sensitive to handling and environmental conditions and can, undesirably, decay from the polarized state relatively quickly.

Unfortunately, the hyperpolarized state of the gas can deteriorate or decay relatively quickly and therefore must be handled, collected, transported, and stored carefully.

The handling of the hyperpolarized gas is critical because of the sensitivity of the hyperpolarized state to environmental and handling factors and the potential for undesirable decay of the gas from its hyperpolarized state prior to the planned end use, i.e., delivery to a patient for imaging.

Therefore, it can be problematic, especially when blending hyperpolarized gas with a buffer gas, to provide reliable repeatable concentrations, quantities, or adjustable hyperpolarized blends of the hyperpolarized gas or gas mixtures over a plurality of doses.

Images