Free-breathing lung scans using hyperpolarized xenon gas
Dynamic imaging of lung function in free-breathing subjects
This project tries a method to take detailed 3D pictures of lung ventilation and gas exchange during normal breathing using a tiny amount of hyperpolarized xenon for people who cannot hold their breath, such as young children or patients with severe lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192818 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear a sealed facemask that delivers a tiny, fixed amount (~50 ml) of hyperpolarized 129Xe gas with each breath so no breath-holding or special training is needed. While you breathe normally, a new 3D spiral MRI sequence will capture dynamic images showing how air and gas move through different parts of your lungs. The delivery system automatically times and proportions the xenon to each inhale and uses navigator signals and spectral processing to improve signal and regional resolution. Because it images during free-breathing, the method aims to make detailed lung MRI possible for young children and patients with advanced lung disease who cannot do breath-holds.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children (including ages 0–11) and adults with poor breath-hold tolerance or advanced lung disease who can safely undergo MRI and inhalation of a small amount of xenon.
Not a fit: People who can comfortably complete standard breath-hold lung MRI or those with contraindications to MRI (e.g., incompatible implants, severe claustrophobia) or to inhaled gases may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide more physiologic, region-specific lung imaging for patients unable to hold their breath, improving diagnosis and monitoring of lung disease in children and severe cases.
How similar studies have performed: Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI during breath-holds has produced useful regional ventilation and gas-exchange images, but dynamic free-breathing 3D imaging is a novel extension with limited prior human data.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rizi, Rahim R — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Rizi, Rahim R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.