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Systems designed to increase the spin polarization of nuclear magnetic resonance-active atomic nuclei to a level many times that normally present at thermal equilibrium in a static magnetic field (i.e., hyperpolarize nuclear spin). Because the signal generated in magnetic resonance (MR) procedures is directly proportional to the level of nuclear spin polarization, hyperpolarization substantially increases the signal generated by polarizable nuclei in MR-based imaging methods. Hyperpolarization is typically applied ex vivo to small molecules containing NMR-active nuclei (e.g., carbon-13, helium-3). The hyperpolarization effect is transient and, therefore, the hyperpolarized agent must be rapidly administered to a patient and undergo imaging. Hyperpolarization systems may use one of several spin polarization methods, including dynamic nuclear polarization, parahydrogen-induced polarization, or spin-exchange via optical pumping.
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