Patent ID: 8487618

Claim:
A radio frequency coil unit compatible with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and configured for use in a magnetic field formed by superimposing a gradient field on a static field in a gantry, wherein the gantry comprises: a static field magnet unit which generates the static field, a gradient coil unit which generates the gradient field, and an airflow generating unit which causes a flow of cooling air, the radio frequency coil unit comprising: a Self-contained cooling airflow chassis which has a) a tubiform inner cylinder, b) a plurality of flanges arranged apart from each other, each of the plurality of flanges protruding outwards from the inner cylinder while in contact with a whole outer circumference surface of the inner cylinder, c) a tubiform external cylinder in which each of the plurality of flanges contacts an inner surface thereof, and d) at least one ring like inner partition member disposed around the inner cylinder between said flanges, wherein the Self-contained cooling airflow chassis forms a flow path for the cooling air in a space surrounded by the inner cylinder, the plurality of flanges, the at least one inner partition member, and the external cylinder; and a radio frequency coil mounted on the inner cylinder or the external cylinder in the space surrounded by the inner cylinder, the plurality of flanges and the external cylinder, wherein the internal partition member is configured to form an opening between the external cylinder and the internal partition member itself.