Method and system for producing polarized 129 Xe gas
June 7, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesLaser-induced photochemical enrichment of boron isotopes Method for separating isotopes by means of lasers Ion laser isotope enrichment by photo-predissociation of formaldehyde Isotope separation by photodissociation of Van der Waal's molecules Method of separating isotopes from a gas mixture Isotope separation with an infrared laser Isotope separation by standing waves Isotopic separation process Photochemical method for the separation of mixtures of xenon and krypton High mass isotope separation arrangement InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 487137 filed on 06/07/1995US Classes:600/420, Using detectable material placed in body432/262, Crucible600/431Detectable material placed in bodyExaminersPrimary: Lateef, Marvin M.Assistant: Casler, Brian L. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassA61B 005/055AbstractA method and system for producing polarized 129 Xe gas in an economical manner, allowing the polarized 129 Xe gas to be used commercially in research and clinical applications. The production system of the present invention includes a holding tank for holding an unpolarized xenon gas/nitrogen gas mixture. The holding tank is in communication with a temperature controlled polarization chamber. A wide spectrum high power light source such as a diode laser array is in communication with the polarization chamber. The alkali metal vapor is optically pumped by the light source. The polarization chamber, which contains a given quantity of an alkali metal and its associated vapor, receives the gaseous mixture from the holding tank. The optically pumped alkali metal vapor atoms then collide with the xenon gas atoms, thus polarizing the xenon atoms. The entire gaseous mixture expands out of the polarization chamber into a device that separates the alkali metal vapor atoms from the polarized 129 Xe atoms. The polarized 129 Xe atoms are then controllably output to a system/user interface for application purposes.Other References
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