Skip to Content

Lighting up Lungs

To get crystal clear MRI pictures of the lungs, just take a deep breath–of helium.

Magnetic-resonance imaging has dramatically improved doctors’ views of the body. But obtaining clear pictures of the lungs has been a struggle. Now researchers at Harvard Medical School have found a way to make these MRIs crystal clear.

In an experimental procedure for performing lung MRIs, a patient takes a breath of polarized helium, which naturally spreads through the lungs’ branching airways to the oxygen-filtering sacs at their ends. The gas becomes magnetized and highlights the airways in the scan-but the sacs light up, too, which largely blocks the view. The Harvard researchers have improved upon this method: hyperpolarized helium is administered as the patient inhales for several seconds, while the MRI scanner records a series of images of the gas spreading through the airways. Radio-frequency pulses from the scanner also depolarize the helium that reaches the air sacs-producing clear images of just the airways. The technique could aid diagnoses of asthma and cystic fibrosis. Durham, NC-based startup Polarean is commercializing polarization systems that will enable these types of MRIs; the company plans to pursue FDA approval starting in 2005.

Keep Reading

Most Popular

DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.

“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.

What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines

New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.

Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats

With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure

Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation

From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.