Polarized Nuclear Imaging Combines MRI and Gamma Ray
November 22, 2016 | Terry Sharrer
In medicine, xenon has largely been known as a general anesthetic, but two University of Virginia physicists are exploring its application as an imaging agent for MRI. A xenon radioactive isotope, Xe-131, emits gamma rays, and using a gamma ray detector with MRI creates an enormous increase in image definition. While this is still at an experimental stage, with patents pending, “polarized nuclear imagine” (MRI + radioactive tracers) is an entirely new means for looking inside the body. MORE
Image Credit: University of Virginia and MDTMag.com