Study of Airflow in the Lungs Using Helium MRI

Flow Quantification in the Human Airways Using Hyperpolarized Helium 3 MRI

Computer simulations are being developed to predict air flow abnormalities in the airways of patients with lung disease. The purpose of this study is to obtain actual gas flow measurements in the lungs of healthy patients and patients with lung disease and use these measurements to validate the computer models.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy; COPD; Constrictive Bronchitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: hyperpolarized helium-3 gas with MRI of the chest

Detailed Description

The Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute (BHSAI) of the Department of Defense (DoD) is studying airflow in the lungs using computational fluid dynamics in order to characterize disease-specific airflow patterns and provide useful information for medical applications. To validate these models, they are seeking to obtain experimental data of airflow in human lungs, both healthy and diseased. An assessment of airflow can be obtained by using hyperpolarized noble gas (HNG) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or, more specifically, hyperpolarized helium-3 (HHe) MRI in conjunction with flow-encoding schemes that are well-established in conventional proton MRI

Four chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and four healthy subjects will undergo pulmonary function tests (PFTs), computed tomography (CT) scan covering the mouth, neck, and chest, and hyperpolarized helium 3 MRI. Before and after the MRI scans, three spirometry readings will be taken while the subject is lying in the same position as in the MR scanners. Data will be analyzed by the BHSAI. UVa will provide the de-identified raw image data and the de-identified results of the spirometry and other tests to BHSAI

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 24
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Virginia
    • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22908
      • University of Virginia Health System
    • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22908
      • Snyder Translation Fontaine Research Center 480 Ray C. Hunt Drive

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy subjects:

  • Normal PFT values: FEV1 > 90% predicted; and Forced vital capacity (FVC) > 90% predicted
  • Normal chest x-ray (CXR)
  • Medical history: No active pulmonary symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, sputum); Negative history of pulmonary disease; Negative smoking history (never smoked)

• Pulmonary Disease Subjects:

  • PFT values: FEV1/FVC < 70% (indicative of obstruction); and 30% < FEV1 < 50% predicted
  • CXR normal except hyperinflation
  • Symptoms - chronic shortness of breath

• All test subjects, healthy and with COPD should have similar physical anthropometric characteristics:

  • Similar age with age difference less than 3 years
  • Similar height (within 3-4 inches)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any condition for which a MRI procedure is contraindicated.
• Presence of any non-MRI compatible metallic material in the body, such as pacemakers, metallic clips, etc.
• Likelihood of claustrophobia
• Chest circumference greater than that of the helium MR coil.
• Pregnancy, by report of subject. Clinically in the Department of radiology at UVA, self report is used when screening patients for MR scans as well as CT scans and fluoroscopy studies. If the subject reports there is any chance of their being pregnant a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to any imaging.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Hyperpolarized helium MRI of the chest; The purpose of this study is to look at the airflow in the lungs of healthy subjects and subjects with lung disease using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with inhaled hyperpolarized helium-3 gas.	Drug: hyperpolarized helium-3 gas with MRI of the chest; Using hyperpolarized helium as an inhaled gaseous contrast agent for MRI, we will measure the velocity of inhaled breath in the trachea.; Other Names: 3He hyperpolarized MRI

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hyperpolarized helium MRI flow velocity map	Using hyperpolarized helium as an inhaled contrast agent for MRI, we will measure the velocity of inhaled breath in the trachea.	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hyperpolarized helium MRI flow velocity map	Spirometry (FEV1)	Day1
Hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI flow velocity map	Spirometry (FVC)	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Virginia
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Yun M Shim, MD, University of Virginia Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 7, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 26, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 26, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 30, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 30, 2014
• First Posted (Estimated): June 3, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 14, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Hyperpolarized gas MRI
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
• Other Study ID Numbers: 16885; W81XWH-09-2-0027 (Other Grant/Funding Number: US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity)