While a hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI-derived fractional ventilation is a valuable metric for assessing lung function, currently implemented schemes use enriched xenon and rely on static images acquired over breath holds to derive FV. In order to probe pulmonary ventilation under more physiologically natural conditions while keeping costs low, we acquired images during continuous controlled breathing in a mechanically ventilated rat using natural-abundance xenon. In addition to FV, we were able to derive the additional physiologically relevant metrics of tidal volume, functional residual capacity, and phase.
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