Patent ID: 6515479
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A switchable gradient coil for use in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, said gradient coil comprising:a switchable longitudinal gradient coil for producing a Z-gradient field in an XYZ coordinate system, said longitudinal gradient coil having a plurality of windings forming a cylindrical structure having an end face and a longitudinal axis, said plurality windings being symmetrically arranged around said longitudinal axis; said windings in said plurality being selected from the group consisting of discrete individual turns proceeding once around said cylindrical structure, packets of said discrete individual turns, continuous windings formed by multiple, fewer than said plurality, turns each proceeding once around said cylindrical structure, and packets of said continuous windings; a plurality of separate supply lines respectively connected to said windings and proceeding from the respective windings to said end face of said cylindrical structure and terminating at said end face at respective supply line terminals of said longitudinal gradient coil; and said respective supply line terminals being selectively connectable to each other in connections selected from the group consisting of individual connections and group connections, to produce a selected performance feature of said windings, in combination.