Apparatus for improving magnetic resonance imaging

A method of magnetic resonance imaging a specimen, the method comprising:

• providing an MRI machine having a bore and a working frequency;
• placing the specimen within the bore;
• placing, in the bore with the specimen, an array of unit cells, the unit cells configured such that they magnetically couple with one another, the array sized to be disposed within a bore of the MRI machine along with a specimen in the bore, and capable of passive operation to increase signal-to-noise ratio of signals emitted by the specimen when the MRI machine is imaging the specimen, wherein:
• each unit cell has a resonant frequency, and
• the array has a resonance frequency at or near the working frequency, operating the MRI machine to image the specimen.

An apparatus for improving operation of an MRI machine having a bore and characterized by a working frequency, by improving the signal-to-noise ratio of received signals, the apparatus comprising:

• an array of unit cells, the array sized to fit within the bore of an MRI machine and capable of passive operation to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of signals emitted by the specimen;
• each unit cell comprising means for resonating in response to a signal applied by the MRI machine;
• and
• the array has a resonance frequency at the working frequency of the MRI machine,
• the unit cells disposed such that they magnetically couple with one another,
• the array producing, in the signals measured by the MRI machine, a signal-to-noise ratio increase of at least 50.