Mri apparatus and method with moving field component

46) A method for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the imaging system being for generating a magnetic imaging field in an imaging region, and including:

• a) at least one coil for at least one of transmitting, receiving or transceiving an electromagnetic field;
• b) a field component;
• and,
• c) a drive coupled to the field component, wherein the method includes moving the field component relative to the imaging region to thereby modify the electromagnetic field.

57) Apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the imaging system being for generating a magnetic imaging field in an imaging region, the apparatus including:

• a) at least one coil for at least one of transmitting, receiving or transceiving an electromagnetic field;
• b) a field component including at least one of:
• i) the at least one coil;
• and,
• ii) a shield for partially shielding the at least one coil from the imaging region;
• and,
• c) a drive coupled to the field component, wherein the method includes moving the field component relative to the imaging region using the drive.

58) A method for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the imaging system being for generating a magnetic imaging field in an imaging region, and including:

• i) at least one coil for at least one of transmitting, receiving or transceiving an electromagnetic field;
• ii) a field component including at least one of:
• (1) the at least one coil;
• and,
• (2) a shield for partially shielding the at least one coil from the imaging region;
• and,
• iii) a drive coupled to the field component, wherein the method includes moving the field component relative to the imaging region using the drive.

59) Apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the imaging system being for generating a magnetic imaging field in an imaging region, the apparatus including:

• a) at least one coil for at least one of transmitting, receiving or transceiving an electromagnetic field;
• b) a body including at least one of:
• i) the at least one coil;
• and,
• ii) a shield for partially shielding the at least one coil from the imaging region;
• and,
• c) a drive coupled to the body for moving the body relative to the imaging region, in use.

60) A method for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the imaging system being for generating a magnetic imaging field in an imaging region, the apparatus including:

• a) at least one coil for at least one of transmitting, receiving or transceiving an electromagnetic field;
• b) a body including at least one of:
• i) the at least one coil;
• and,
• ii) a shield for partially shielding the at least one coil from the imaging region;
• and,
• c) a drive coupled to the body, and wherein the method includes moving the body relative to the imaging region, in use.

61) Apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the imaging system being for generating a magnetic imaging field in an imaging region, the apparatus including:

• a) a body;
• b) at least one coil mounted on the body, the at least one coil being for transmitting or receiving an RF field;
• and,
• c) a drive coupled to the body for rotating the coil relative to the imaging region, in use.

62) A method for use in imaging a sample provided in an imaging region of a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method including, in a processing system:

• a) causing at least one coil to be moved relative to the imaging region, the at least one coil being for transmitting or receiving an RF field;
• and,
• b) at least one of:
• i) causing a sequence of electrical signals to be applied to the coil;
• and,
• ii) determining measurements of electrical signals in the coil.