Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

• patient support means adapted to support a patient in a sitting posture;
• a magnet assembly means including two pole pieces, one on each side of the support means so as to apply a magnetic field directed substantially horizontally and perpendicularly to the forward looking direction of a patient seated in the support means, said pole pieces being connected by a yoke so disposed as not to impede access to the support means from said direction;
• a first radio frequency coil means for application of radio frequency signals to a patient in said support means comprising one coil means positioned adjacent a back support part of said support means, and another coil means adapted for movement between a corresponding position in front of a patient in the support means and a position removed therefrom to allow access to the support means from said direction;
• and a second radio frequency coil means for detection of radio frequency NMR signals produced in a patient in the support means and adapted for mounting adjacent the part of a patient to be imaged.