Patent ID: 8604795

Claim:
A magnetic resonance scanner comprising: a generally cylindrical set of coil windings defining an axial direction and including primary coil windings and shield coil windings at a larger radial position than the primary coil windings, the generally cylindrical set of coil windings having an arcuate or annular central gap that is free of coil windings, the central gap having an axial extent of at least ten centimeters and spanning at least a 180° angular interval, the generally cylindrical set of coil windings further including connecting conductors disposed at each edge of the central gap that electrically connect selected primary and shield coil windings; and a main magnet disposed outside of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings and operable to generate an axially oriented static magnetic field in a region of interest surrounded by the generally cylindrical set of coil windings, the generally cylindrical set of coil windings being operable to superimpose a transverse magnetic field gradient on the axially oriented static magnetic field in the region of interest.