Xenon Uptake Calculations for Humans

We developed a model of the build-up of inhaled, laser-polarized 129Xe in human tissues. This model assumes the steady inhalation of laser-polarized 129Xe gas mixed with air, and accounts for 129Xe depolarization in the lung, blood, and tissue of interest. With the caveat that important parameters such as the 129Xe T1 times in blood and tissues are not well known in vivo, we calculated that at 1.5 T the 129Xe NMR signal-to-noise ratio in human brain tissues is ~ 1-10% of that from proton NMR in typical water-rich tissue. At low field (< 0.01 tesla) the relative magnitudes of the 129Xe and water proton NMR signal-to-noise ratios are expected to reverse.

Note: These calculations were performed in close collaboration with scientists at the MR Division of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

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