Patent ID: 8253416

Claim:
A system for at least one of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the system comprising: a superconducting main magnet operable to generate a uniform magnetic field in an examination region; at least one superconducting gradient field coil operable to apply a respective at least one magnetic field gradient within the examination region; and at least one RF coil that is operable to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the examination region, and that is configured for cooling and comprises at least one of (i) a non-superconducting material that when cooled to a temperature below room temperature has a conductivity higher than that of copper at said temperature and (ii) a superconducting material; and wherein said at least one gradient coil and the at least one RF coil are disposed in at least one vacuum chamber having at least one non-magnetic and non-metallic wall disposed between the examination region and the gradient coil and the at least one RF coil.