Patent ID: 7202668

Claim:
A microstrip-based RF coil for use in an MRI apparatus constructed to perform human head imaging, comprising: a cylindrical non-magnetic core module having an outer surface, an inner surface and a longitudinal axis, a cylindrical bore extending through the core module along the longitudinal axis and defining an inner surface; a plurality of conductive strip lines, the strip lines extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and being disposed on the outer surface of the core module; a pair of circuit boards carried at or near the ends of the core module; a plurality of resonating elements, each of the resonating elements including one of the strip lines and at least one tuneable capacitor, the core module being attached at one end to a front end plate and at another end to a rear end plate, the front end plate having openings formed therein that are axially aligned with openings formed in the rear end plate for receiving guide members that permit the volume coil to be slidably moved along the longitudinal axis along the guide members associated with a frame.