A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system , the system comprising: a magnetic field device configured to generate a magnetic field within a measurement volume and to generate a magnetic fringe field external to the measurement volume , wherein the measurement volume is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a patient; a ferromagnetic housing configured to envelop the magnetic field device , the housing having a first portion and a second portion wherein: the housing includes a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the MRI system , the housing further includes a housing opening at the proximal end for enabling insertion of at least a portion of a patient within the measurement volume , the second portion of the housing includes at least a portion of the proximal end of the housing , the first portion of the housing includes at least a portion of the distal end of the housing ; and a plate , having a plate opening , positioned external to the housing adjacent the second portion of the housing at a predetermined non-zero distance from the proximal end of the housing , wherein the plate opening is aligned with a corresponding housing opening in the housing to allow insertion of at least a portion of the patient therethrough, and wherein the plate comprises a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprises a ferromagnetic material and wherein thickness of the first portion of the housing is less than the thickness of the second portion of the housing , such that the plate and different thicknesses of the first and second portions cause the magnetic fringe field to be reduced in a region adjacent the plate opening compared to an opposite region adjacent the distal end of the housing such that the generated magnetic fringe field is asymmetric with respect to a center of the measurement volume . a ferromagnetic housing configured to envelop the magnetic field device , the housing having a first portion and a second portion wherein: the housing includes a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the MRI system , the housing further includes a housing opening at the proximal end for enabling insertion of at least a portion of a patient within the measurement volume , the second portion of the housing includes at least a portion of the proximal end of the housing , the first portion of the housing includes at least a portion of the distal end of the housing ; and the housing includes a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the MRI system , the housing further includes a housing opening at the proximal end for enabling insertion of at least a portion of a patient within the measurement volume , the second portion of the housing includes at least a portion of the proximal end of the housing , the first portion of the housing includes at least a portion of the distal end of the housing ; and a plate , having a plate opening , positioned external to the housing adjacent the second portion of the housing at a predetermined non-zero distance from the proximal end of the housing , wherein the plate opening is aligned with a corresponding housing opening in the housing to allow insertion of at least a portion of the patient therethrough, and wherein the plate comprises a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprises a ferromagnetic material and wherein thickness of the first portion of the housing is less than the thickness of the second portion of the housing , such that the plate and different thicknesses of the first and second portions cause the magnetic fringe field to be reduced in a region adjacent the plate opening compared to an opposite region adjacent the distal end of the housing such that the generated magnetic fringe field is asymmetric with respect to a center of the measurement volume . <EOS>