System and Method for Portable Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using a Rotating Array of Magnets

A portable magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system, comprising:

• a magnet assembly comprising:
• a plurality of magnets, each extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the magnet assembly;
• a support configured to hold the plurality of magnets in an annular arrangement so as to define a region configured to receive an object to be imaged and such that the magnets generate a magnetic field that varies with spatial locations in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the magnet assembly;
• rotator coupled to the magnet assembly and configured to rotate the magnet assembly about its longitudinal axis through a plurality of different rotation angles;
• a radio frequency (RF) coil for generating RF energy and receiving magnetic resonance signals from an object positioned in the magnet assembly;
• and
• a controller configured to direct the rotator to rotate the magnet assembly through the plurality of different rotation angles and to direct the RF coil to generate RF energy and receive responsive magnetic resonance signals at each rotation angle.