Respiratory function imaging
Bioxydyn offers imaging biomarkers for respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial disease and COPD. We have extensive expertise in quantitative MRI methods for assessing regional lung function, including measurements of ventilation and perfusion.
Overview
Bioxydyn has been at the forefront of the development and deployment of quantitative MRI methods for assessing lung disease. Our focus is on the use of proton MRI methods that can be deployed on most hospital MRI scanners without substantial investment in specialist hardware or consumables.
OE-MRI
Oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI) is a non-invasive and non-ionising imaging method that uses oxygen as an MR imaging agent, which is delivered to the patient in the scanner. OE-MRI can be deployed on most hospital scanners.
Lung OE-MRI monitors the delivery of oxygen to patients' lungs. The acquired quantitative imaging biomarkers relate to regional lung ventilation and gas diffusion. Bioxydyn has extensive experience in deploying OE-MRI in diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), lung cancer, and asthma.
The images show ventilation maps from different coronal slices in an adult cystic fibrosis patient. Blue indicates regions receiving oxygen; black regions indicate defects.
DCE-MRI
Bioxydyn is also a leader in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in the lung, providing information on lung perfusion and other microvascular function, including endothelial permeability and leakage space in diseases such as pulmonary embolism, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial disease and COPD.
Motion MRI
Bioxydyn also provides imaging biomarkers of lung ventilation based on the respiratory motion of the lung over time. These measurements provide ventilation-weighted imaging in a short scan without administration of gases or contrast agents.
129Xe MRI
In addition to conventional (proton) MRI, Bioxydyn provides services to support the use of hyperpolarised 129Xe MRI in studies of lung function. Working with established academic partners, we offer services to support single and multi-site 129Xe studies investigating ventilation, gas transfer, and pulmonary microstructure.
Validation
Bioxydyn offers a range of imaging biomarkers of regional lung function for the assessment of treatment benefit and harm. All can be performed single- or multi-centre using a range of vendors' equipment. Bioxydyn’s imaging methods have been validated in multiple studies, including as part of the Innovative Medicines Initiative TRISTAN project.
