Method of carrying out dynamic nuclear polarization

1. A method of carrying out Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) on a sample with a molecular structure containing at least two J-coupled non-integer spin nuclear species, the method comprising the steps of:

hyperpolarizing the sample in a cooled, solid form while it is exposed to a homogeneous magnetic field of suitable strength;

dissolving or melting the hyperpolarized sample;

subjecting the sample to a polarization holding RF pulse sequence while the sample is exposed to a suitably homogeneous magnetic field of sufficient strength to ensure the spin's chemical shift is greater than the J-coupling, where the pulse sequence causes the nuclear spin populations in the sample to be redistributed between a plurality of energy levels in a non-equilibrium manner; and

causing the nuclear spin populations to transfer adiabatically to stable, equilibrium levels, following a time less than the T 1 relaxation time constant of the molecular species.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the sample is subjected to the polarization holding RF pulse sequence after it has been dissolved in a solvent.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the sample is subjected to the polarization holding RF pulse sequence while the sample is still in its solid form.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of causing the nuclear spin population to transfer adiabatically to stable, equilibrium levels comprises exposing the sample to a low strength or zero magnetic field.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the step of exposing the sample to a low strength or zero magnetic field comprises moving the sample to a region where a low strength magnetic field is generated.

6. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the step of exposing the sample to a low strength or zero magnetic field comprises moving the sample out of the influence of the high strength magnetic field.

7. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the magnetic field strength during the nuclear spin population transfer step is less than 0. 1T.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of causing the nuclear spin population to transfer adiabatically to stable, equilibrium levels comprises subjecting the sample to a continuous wave RF pulse.

9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the CW RF pulse is applied while the sample is exposed to a magnetic field.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the magnetic field has a high strength, similar to that applied during the polarization stage.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field applied during the hyperpolarizing step has a strength of at least 1T.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field applied during the hyperpolarizing step has a homogeneity of less than 300 ppm preferably less than 100 ppm.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field applied during the polarization holding RF pulse sequence has a magnitude greater than 0.1T.

14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field applied during the polarization holding RF pulse sequence has a field strength substantially the same as the magnetic field applied during the hyperpolarizing step.

15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field applied during the polarization holding RF pulse sequence has a homogeneity of less than 300 ppm.

16. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the dissolving or melting step occurs while the hyperpolarized sample is exposed to a magnetic field.

17. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the magnetic field applied during the dissolving or melting step has a strength greater than 1T.

18. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the hyperpolarizing process is dynamic nuclear polarization.

19. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises subjecting the stabilized sample to a relatively high, homogeneous field and applying a readout pulse sequence to obtain NMR signals.

20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein during the readout step, the magnetic field strength is greater than 0.2T.

21. A method according to claim 19 , wherein the homogeneity of the field applied during the readout step is less than 300 ppm.

22. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the stabilized sample is conditioned whilst subjected to a low strength or zero magnetic field so as to make it biologically acceptable.

23. A method according to claim 22 , wherein the conditioning step comprises one or more of filtering, buffering and equilibrating to body temperature.

24. A method according to claim 22 , further comprising supplying the conditioned, stabilized sample to a subject where it acts as a contrast agent.

25. A method according to claim 24 , wherein the subject is a human or an animal.