Patent number 7,281,393
October 16, 2007
Method and apparatus for accumulating hyperpolarized xenon
A method and apparatus for the accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129Xe is described. A gas mixture comprising .sup.129Xe is flowed through a heat exchanger tube from the first end to the second end. Concurrently, the outer surface of the heat exchanger tube is controllably refrigerated, beginning with the second end, to a temperature low enough to freeze the .sup.129Xe on the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube.