Patent ID: 7453264

Claim:
A magnet for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus, said magnet comprising: at least two pole pieces, between which pole pieces a cavity is formed for containing at least one body under examination, wherein said cavity is open on at least one side; two parallel magnetically permeable yoke elements; and a transverse yoke element for connection of said two parallel elements, said magnet thus having a C shape, wherein in both parallel elements, an end portion associated with said transverse connection element has a transverse wall for connecting the two parallel elements with the transverse element, the transverse wall having an end step for engagement of a corresponding end of said transverse element; and wherein each pole piece includes at least one magnetized layer, and at least one magnetically permeable layer or plate, wherein said magnetically permeable plate has a substantially circular shape and said magnetized layer is formed by a plurality of adjacent and/or superimposed magnetized blocks which form a polygon essentially approximating the circular shape of said magnetically permeable plate.