Imaging Hyperpolarized Xe Changes in the Lung Over a Breathing Cycle Using a Dynamic CSI

We demonstrated a new imaging technique capable of quantifying Xe gas uptake into airways and parenchyma over the course of a breathing cycle. Current imaging techniques acquire entire images at a single breathing point. These methods may not replicate organ function during tidal breathing, and could potentially miss diagnostically important dynamic information depending on the time of acquisition. This sequence traverses the k-space over a series of 576 breaths to produce 12 images at different time points. Three healthy rats were imaged, and Xe signal was found to fluctuate at different times and amplitudes depending on respective lung compartment.