Open-face, dual-mode head coil for clinical imaging in ultra-high field mri scanner

Head coil apparatus, being configured for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a head of a person to be investigated, comprising

• a transmit coil array device being arranged for generating radiofrequency (RF) fields for spin state excitation to the head, wherein the transmit coil array device comprises multiple transmit coil loops, which are decoupled from each other and arranged on a transmit coil array carrier extending parallel to a longitudinal axis and surrounding an inner head coil space for receiving the head,
• a receive coil array device being arranged for receiving RF resonance signals from the head,
• an RF shield surrounding the transmit coil array device and the receive coil array device, and
• at least one head coil window providing a viewing port through the RF shield and the transmit coil array device, wherein
• the at least one head coil window has a longitudinal extension parallel to the longitudinal axis and an azimuthal extension along an azimuthal direction relative to the longitudinal axis,
• the transmit coil loops comprise at least one window coil loop surrounding the at least one head coil window, and
• the at least one window coil loop is decoupled from at least one neighbouring transmit coil loop by sharing a common loop conductor.