Receiving surface coil for nuclear magnetic resonance measurements

A receiving surface coil for detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals from a patient, the receiving surface coil comprising:

• a housing having a central part and at least two parts extending from the central part in opposite directions, wherein an opening is defined in the central part of the housing and the central part is configured to bend in a hinged structure around the opening to form a shape that conforms to a patient anatomy in the form of a protrusion to be examined, wherein the receiving surface coil comprises at least two grooves in the central part, wherein the at least two grooves are arranged such that the lines they define cross each other in the opening of the central part;
• a set of RF loop elements housed in the central part of the housing, wherein the set of RF loop elements comprises at least a central loop element and more than two other loop elements which are arranged to increase central image quality with the central loop element running around the opening and the more than two other loop elements arranged around and adjacent to the opening.