Berthault and, Patrick, and Gaspard Huber. “Methods Based on Solution Flow, Improved Detection, and Hyperpolarization for Enhanced Magnetic Resonance.” In Magnetic Resonance Microscopy, 133–54. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2022.
https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527827244.ch6.
Compared with other analytical or imaging techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a modality with an inherently low sensitivity, regardless of which spectroscopy (magnetic resonance spectroscopy, MRS) or imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) is considered. At a given magnetic field and sample temperature, instrumental ways to achieve NMR sensitivity gain can be grouped into three categories: spin flow, cryo- and/or micro-detection, and hyperpolarization. This chapter focuses on the MRI methods designed to optimally manage the out-of-equilibrium nature of hyperpolarization. It describes the instrumental developments using both flow and coil optimization, and those introducing hyperpolarization in complement to one of these two methods or both. It is highly likely that the use of systems integrating hyperpolarization, solution flow, and optimized detection will be expanded in the near future to exceed the current capabilities of liquid-state NMR. Next, methods and setups for efficient dissolution of hyperpolarized species are reviewed.