Hyperpolarized MRSI in Ischemic Heart Disease: A Metabolic Investigation of the Heart Muscle

Before starting the hyperpolarization injection procedure, the patient will be scanned using the standard MR imaging defined in the clinical protocol and 13C prescriptions and a pre-scan will be completed. The clinical investigator will mount the administration syringe in the MR compatible power-injector with pre-adjusted injection volume calculated according to body weight (0.43 ml /kg bw). This setting is checked by the scanning operator and clinical investigator. The injection valve is set for agent delivery, and agent injected at a rate of 5 ml/s. The timings are monitored using a stopwatch on the SPINLAB. Following injection of hyperpolarized \[1-13C\]-Pyruvate , 20 ml of sterile saline in a separate syringe, already attached to the patient line, will be used to flush the IV line at the same injection rate (5 ml/s).