Respiration Monitoring with Remote Pneumatic Dose Administration for 129Xe MRI

Motivation: Repeatability of hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI measurements is dependent on lung inflation volume. Currently, there is no standard for respiration coaching or dose delivery. Goal(s): Determine the variables that affect lung inflation during 129Xe MRI to standardize best practices for coaching and dose delivery and maximize scan repeatability. Approach: Create a device to measure subject respiratory patterns and remotely deliver hyperpolarized 129Xe in the MRI bore. Determine the aspects of coaching and dose delivery that affect lung inflation. Results: Subjects appear to change their inhalation volumes and flow rates when dose coaching begins, resulting in variable starting lung volumes. Impact: Monitoring subject respiration prior to hyperpolarized 129Xe administration reveals altered respiration patterns. This work will inform new approaches for consistent subject coaching and dose delivery to improve repeatability of lung inflation during imaging.