RF coil and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

Abstract

For the purpose of changing the geometry of and spacing between loop coils incorporated into an RF coil without moving the RF coil, loops 200-220 having a geometry optimized for a square sum method employing a phased array, and second small loops 202-222 having a geometry optimized for a sensitivity encoding method are switched by switching elements 24-54 and 25-55 for an open/close operation using a diode 330, and at the same time, first decoupling means 230 and 231 and second decoupling means 240 and 241 are switched. Thus, an operator is not required to replace the RF coil positioned on a cradle, and the loops 200-220 for the square sum method employing a phased array and the second small loops for the sensitivity encoding method can be switched by electronic switching and can be used as RF coils.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.