Patent ID: 8046047

Claim:
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil configured to be positionable by a catheter that is operably connectable to an MRI apparatus, the coil comprising: one or more capacitors configured to facilitate one or more of, tuning the MRI coil to the Lamor frequency, and matching the MRI coil to a receiver in the MRI apparatus; one or more detuning elements; two opposed-solenoid imaging elements positioned along the longitudinal axis of the catheter and being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the two opposed-solenoid imaging elements being separated by a gap region with a current being driven in opposite directions in the opposed-solenoid imaging elements on either side of the gap region; and one or more single loop imaging elements positioned along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and outside the gap region; the two opposed-solenoid imaging elements, the one or more single loop imaging elements, and the one or more capacitors forming a circuit, the two opposed-solenoid imaging elements and the one or more single loop imaging elements being positioned relative to each other and with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter to produce a sensitivity profile that is radially homogenous.