Patent ID: 8587311

Claim:
A modular radio frequency (RF) coil system for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus comprising: a rigid fitted coil former constructed to have a shape and size so as to substantially conform to a breast of a patient to be imaged the rigid fitted coil former completely surrounding the breast when the breast is positioned therein so as to enclose the breast in the fitted coil former; and a modular receiver coil array selectively attachable to, and on the rigid fitted coil former and comprising a plurality of receiver coils arranged to form a coil array, with at least one of a size of each of the plurality of receiver coils and a number of the plurality of receiver coils being based on a size of the fitted coil former wherein the size and number of the plurality of receiver coils in the modular receiver coil array is such that modular receiver coil array has a generally breast-shaped configuration that substantially covers and conforms to the shape of the breast positioned in the fitted coil former; and wherein the receiver coil array is capable of receiving MR data for parallel imaging.