Tunable rf coil for magnetic resonance imaging

A method for tuning a radio frequency (RF) body coil, wherein the RF body coil includes an RF shield, an RF coil element, distantly arranged from the RF shield, and at least one distance setting element, arranged and designed in such a way that the relative distance between the RF shield and the RF coil element is locally adjustable via the distance setting element by locally deforming the RF coil element and/or the RF shield, wherein the distance setting element is configured to mechanically connect the RF coil element and the RF shield to each other,

• wherein the RF body coil is arranged in a MRI system, the method comprises:
• measuring the frequency of the RF coil element and/or the homogeneity of the RF field;
• and
• adjusting the distance between the RF coil element and the RF shield via the distance setting elements by locally deforming the RF coil element and/or the RF shield.