Magnetic resonance apparatus.

摘要

A magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a primary gradient coil assembly (22) which is mounted in the bore of a vacuum dewar (18) that surrounds a toroidal superconducting magnet assembly (10). A pair of end ring assemblies (38) are supported by the gradient coil assembly (22). A plurality of removable radio frequency coil element assemblies (40) are selectively attachable to and removable from the gradient coil assembly. Each of the RF coil element assemblies has a dielectric housing (50), a longitudinally extending conductor element (52), electrical connectors (44), and circuit components (54) which connect the longitudinal conductor element with the electrical connectors. The connectors are electrically connected, at radio frequencies, with the ring assemblies. A mechanical interlock (60) mechanically locks and selectively releases the removable RF coil element assemblies to the gradient coil assembly. Sets of different removable RF coil element assemblies may be provided with different effective radii, i.e. different physical displacements of the electrical conductor elements from the gradient coil assembly, and/or different resonance frequencies to adapt the different sets of removable RF coil element assemblies for different imaging applications. The removable RF coil element assemblies may be completely removed when specialty RF coils, such as a head coil, biplanar gradient coil, or surface coil are to be used. <IMAGE>