Methods and devices for moisturizing hyperpolarized noble gases and associated moisturized pharmaceutical grade inhalable hyperpolarized gas products

1. An apparatus for adding moisture to hyperpolarized noble gas product suitable for in vivo administration, comprising:

a hyperpolarized noble gas supply source providing the dose of hyperpolarized noble gas required for an imaging session;

an enclosed gas flow path extending between the hyperpolarized noble gas supply source and an oral cavity for a subject;

means for flowing, under pressure, a quantity of hyperpolarized noble gas along the gas flow path;

means for introducing moisture to a quantity of gaseous phase hyperpolarized noble gas in fluid communication with the hyperpolarized noble gas supply source, said means for introducing moisture being located between the hyperpolarized noble gas supply source and the subject; and

means for generating a moisturized pharmaceutical grade gaseous hyperpolarized noble gas product which is suitable for inhalation or ventilation administration to a subject, wherein said introducing means is configured so as to moisturize in situ while the hyperpolarized gas is flowing along the gas flow path, so that the moisture is introduced at or in advance of the oral cavity of the subject;

said apparatus configured such that said enclosed gas flow path only conducts the moisture and the hyperpolarized noble gas therealong.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said means for introducing moisture is configured such that the pharmaceutical hyperpolarized gas product has a relative humidity of between about 5-80%.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the relative humidity is between about 10-30%.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the means for introducing comprises a moisturizer cartridge positioned in the gas flow path, wherein the cartridge includes a liquid vapor permeable membrane with an outside wall holding a quantity of captured liquid therein, and wherein, in operation, moisture is introduced to the hyperpolarized noble gas through the permeable membrane as the gas travels along the gas flow path.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said introducing means is configured to flow water vapor into the flow path of the hyperpolarized gas in advance of the subject end of the gas flow path such that the hyperpolarized gas is flowably moisturized in advance of the oral cavity of the subject.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said introducing means comprises a liquid filled reservoir tank having a gas entry port and a gas exit port, the gas entry port being in fluid communication with the hyperpolarized gas supply source, wherein, in operation, the hyperpolarized gas is directed to enter the reservoir through the entry port, to then bubble up through the liquid held in the liquid reservoir tank, and exit the gas exit port.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the introducing means employs moisture generated from water vapor.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the introducing means employs an aqueous mixture comprising deoxygenated water.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising heating means for heating the hyperpolarized gas prior to flowing it into the subject.