RF detector array for magnetic resonance imaging

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:

• a computer;
• a magnet assembly for generating a polarizing magnetic field;
• a gradient coil assembly for applying gradient waveforms to said polarizing magnetic field along selected gradient axes;
• and
• a detector array for applying RF energy to excite nuclear spins of an object to be imaged, and for thereafter detecting signals generated by excited nuclei of said object to be imaged, said detector array comprising:
• a plurality of conductive array elements being substantially parallel to a conductive ground plane;
• a plurality of capacitors, wherein at least one capacitor is shunted from each array element to the ground plane configured to selectively adjust a corresponding electrical length of each conductive array element;
• and,
• wherein a combination of each respective array element, at least one corresponding capacitor and the ground plane forms a resonator that resonates at a selected frequency and the combination being adaptable for a plurality of field strengths;
• and,
• wherein signals detected by said detector array are processed by said computer to produce MR images of said object to be imaged.