Patent ID: 7602188

Claim:
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising a system of electric coils for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency magnetic fields in an examination volume of the MRI apparatus, said system comprising at least one surface coil extending substantially in a plane for transmitting and/or receiving a RF magnetic field directed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the surface coil, in which the surface coil has a main coil axis which, in an operating state of the system, is oriented substantially parallel to the direction of a main magnetic field in the examination volume of the MRI apparatus, and in which the surface coil has an electrically conducting element group on both sides of the main coil axis, each conducting element group being disposed a first distance from the main coil axis and extending substantially parallel to the main coil axis, at least one of the electrically conducting element groups including at least two electric conductors which are positioned a shorter distance from each other than the first distance and extend substantially parallel to the main coil axis in the plane of the surface coil.