The diagnostic consists of a new hyperpolarised contrast agent based on xenon 129 gas, with a chest coil device used to enhance the MRI signal within the lungs and image processing software in order to provide a visual representation of lung ventilation.
It has been approved for evaluation of lung ventilation in adults and paediatric patients aged 12 years and older and, according to Polarean, is the first and only inhaled MRI hyperpolarised contrast agent to reach the market. It provides an alternative to other lung ventilation assessment technologies that use potentially harmful ionising radiation, like computed tomograph (CT) scanning.
