Positioning of radiofrequency coils in magnetic resonance imaging devices

A method for generating images by magnetic resonance imaging, the method comprising:

• (a) positioning at least two coil elements of at least one coil with relative overlap (R) to each other on a movable table, the at least one coil comprising a first coil and a second coil, first coil comprising a first outer cover and a first inner core corresponding to at least one first coil element of the at least two coil elements, and the second coil comprising a second outer cover and a second inner core corresponding to at least one second coil element of the at least two coil elements, wherein at least one of the first inner core and the second inner core is configured to slide laterally in two dimensions within at least one of the first outer cover and the second outer cover respectively;
• (b) detecting the relative overlap (R) of the coil elements;
• (c) determining whether the detected relative overlap (R) is within a predefined critical range;
• (d) repeating steps (a) to (c), when the detected relative overlap (R) is outside the predefined critical range;
• and
• (e) starting an image generating process, when the detected relative overlap (R) is within the predefined critical range and the movable table is in a final position for generating images.

A program element configured to be stored on non-transitory computer readable medium of a control unit of a magnetic resonance imaging system wherein execution of the program element causes the system to:

• (a) position at least two coil elements of at least one coil with relative overlap (R) to each other on a movable table, the at least one coil comprising a first coil and a second coil, the first coil comprising a first outer cover and a first inner core corresponding to at least one first coil element of the at least two coil elements, and the second coil comprising a second outer cover and a second inner core corresponding to at least one second coil element of the at least two coil elements, which comprises the wherein at least one of the first inner core and the second inner core is configured to slide laterally in two dimensions within at least one of the first outer cover and the second outer cover respectively;
• (b) detect the relative overlap (R) of the coil elements;
• (c) determine whether the detected relative overlap (R) is within a predefined critical range;
• (d) repeat (a) to (c), when the detected relative overlap (R) is outside the predefined critical range;
• and
• (e) start an image generating process, when the detected relative overlap (R) is within the predefined critical range and the movable table is in a final position for generating images.