RF instrumentation for same-breath triple nuclear lung MR imaging of 1 H and hyperpolarized 3 He and 129 Xe at 1.5T

Purpose: The hyperpolarized gases 3 He and 129Xe have distinct properties and provide unique and complementary functional information from the lungs. A triple-nuclear, same-breath imaging examination of the lungs with 1 H, 3 He, and 129Xe can therefore provide exclusive functional information from the gas images. In addition, the 1 H images provide complementary co-registered structural information in the same physiological time frame. The goal of this study was to design an RF system for triple nuclear lung MRI at 1.5T, consisting of a dual-tuned transceiver coil for 3 He and 129Xe, RF switches and a nested 1 H receiver array. Methods: A dual-tuned transmit-receive dual-Helmholtz RF coil for 3 He and 129Xe was designed and constructed to work in unison with a nested 1 H receiver array. Results: Triple-nuclear imaging (structural and ventilation) and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of the human lungs was performed in the same breath-hold using the integrated RF system. B1 maps and volumetric ventilation imaging using a three-dimensional, balanced steady-state free precession pulse sequence performed with both hyperpolarized 3 He and 129Xe indicate good stand-alone performance of the coil for the respective nucleus. Conclusion: Triple-nuclear same-breath lung imaging with a dualtuned coil (3 He and 129Xe) and a nested 1 H array has been demonstrated with a custom RF system. M