A gradient coil system suitable for use in an MRI system, the gradient coil system comprising: a gradient body having a bore extending therethrough, at least one frustoconical portion arranged about the bore and one or more cylindrical portions arranged about the bore wherein at least one of the one or more cylindrical portions adjoins one or more of the at least one frustoconical portions, wherein a diameter of a first end of the bore is greater than a diameter of a second end of the bore, wherein the diameter of the first end of the bore is greater than 500mm to allow shoulder access; and a gradient coil assembly arranged about the bore, the gradient coil assembly having at least one frustoconical section substantially conforming to the at least one frustoconical portion of the gradient body, the gradient coil assembly is configured to generate gradient fields in a Diameter of Spherical Volume (DSV) for medical imaging, characterised in that the gradient coil assembly includes two frustoconical sections and an angle of a first of the two frustoconical sections is between 0 and 10 degrees and an angle of the second of the two frustoconical sections is between 5 and 30 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the gradient body, wherein the bore comprises two frustoconical sections corresponding to the two frustoconical sections of the gradient coil assembly and a length of the second of the two frustoconical sections of the gradient coil assembly is greater than a length of the first of the two frustoconical sections of the gradient coil assembly to increase efficiency and linearity of the magnetic field gradient. a gradient body having a bore extending therethrough, at least one frustoconical portion arranged about the bore and one or more cylindrical portions arranged about the bore wherein at least one of the one or more cylindrical portions adjoins one or more of the at least one frustoconical portions, wherein a diameter of a first end of the bore is greater than a diameter of a second end of the bore, wherein the diameter of the first end of the bore is greater than 500mm to allow shoulder access; and a gradient coil assembly arranged about the bore, the gradient coil assembly having at least one frustoconical section substantially conforming to the at least one frustoconical portion of the gradient body, the gradient coil assembly is configured to generate gradient fields in a Diameter of Spherical Volume (DSV) for medical imaging, characterised in that the gradient coil assembly includes two frustoconical sections and an angle of a first of the two frustoconical sections is between 0 and 10 degrees and an angle of the second of the two frustoconical sections is between 5 and 30 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the gradient body, wherein the bore comprises two frustoconical sections corresponding to the two frustoconical sections of the gradient coil assembly and a length of the second of the two frustoconical sections of the gradient coil assembly is greater than a length of the first of the two frustoconical sections of the gradient coil assembly to increase efficiency and linearity of the magnetic field gradient. <EOS>