John P. Mugler, III1, Talissa A. Altes1,
Iulian C. Ruset2,3, Isabel M. Dregely2, Jaime F. Mata1,
G Wilson Miller1, Stephen Ketel3, Jeffrey Ketel3,
F William Hersman2,3, Kai Ruppert1
1Radiology, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, VA, United States; 2Physics, University of New
Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States; 3Xemed, LLC, Durham, NH,
United States
This
work demonstrates the feasibility of using MRI of hyperpolarized Xe129 to
acquire images in a single, short breath-hold period that simultaneously
depict ventilation distribution and gas exchange in the human lung with
matched spatial resolution. The method
presents new opportunities for quantifying relationships among gas delivery,
exchange and transport, and shows significant potential to provide new
insights into lung disease.