MRI coil assembly with a radio frequency shield switchable between a blocking state and a transparent state

A coil assembly for radiating radio frequency energy and/or receiving radio frequency energy during the acquisition of magnetic resonance data, wherein the coil assembly has a first surface configured for being directed towards an imaging zone of a magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein the coil assembly further comprises at least one coil element, wherein the coil assembly further comprises a radio frequency shield switchable between a radio-frequency blocking state and a radio-frequency transparent state, wherein the at least one coil element is between the first surface and the radio frequency shield, wherein the radio frequency shield comprises at least two conductive elements, wherein the radio frequency shield comprises a radio frequency switch configured for electrically connecting the at least two conductive elements when the radio frequency shield is in the radio-frequency blocking state, wherein the radio frequency switch is further configured for electrically disconnecting the at least two conductive elements when the radio frequency shield is in the radio-frequency transparent state, wherein the coil assembly further comprises at least one receiver coil configured for receiving radio frequency transmissions from atomic spins within the imaging zone during the acquisition of the magnetic resonance data, wherein the at least one coil element is located between the radio frequency shield and the at least one receiver coil, wherein the coil assembly has a second surface configured for receiving a portion of the subject, wherein the second surface is directed away from the imaging zone, and wherein the radio frequency shield is between the second surface and the at least one coil element.