Patent ID: 7605588

Claim:
A radio frequency (RF) coil assembly comprising: a phased array comprising a plurality of RF coils, said plurality of RF coils comprising: a plurality of coil loops in sequence defining a circumference; and a plurality of decoupling devices configured to cancel an electromagnetic coupling between adjacent coil loops of said plurality of coil loops, said plurality of decoupling devices positioned about the circumference, wherein at least two coil loops of said plurality of coil loops are adjacent to each other across a boundary such that said at least two coil loops can be decoupled, and wherein at least one decoupling device of said plurality of decoupling devices comprises two coils connected in series to said at least two coil loops, and are opposed to each other across the boundary and form a pair of coils for decoupling; and an elliptical shaped supporting body having an exterior surface coupled to said phased array, said elliptical shaped supporting body comprising: a semi-elliptical shaped anterior supporting body portion; and a semi-elliptical shaped posterior supporting body portion that is removably coupled to said anterior supporting body portion, said anterior and posterior supporting body portions configured to support said plurality of RF coils.