Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lungs of Laboratory Animals Using Hyperpolarized 129Xe

This paper presents some stages of the preparation of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, originally designed to operate on protons, for research conducted on hyperpolarized xenon-129 nuclei. Computer applications have been developed for interacting with the equipment of the MRI system and creating pulse programs. A device has been created to produce hyperpolarized 129Xe. The technology of tracheostomy of laboratory animals has been developed to ensure their respiration when obtaining magnetic resonance images of the lungs. Experiments were conducted on the upgraded MRI system, and one of the images obtained from examining the lungs of a laboratory animal is demonstrated.