Patent ID: 7274192

Claim:
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet, comprising: a lower first section of a magnet having a first housing and a first set of magnet coils arranged about a common axis, the first set of magnet coils including coils proximate the common axis; and an upper second section of the magnet having a second housing and a second set of magnet coils arranged about the common axis, the second set of magnet coils being radially displaced from the common axis; wherein the upper second section of the magnet is connected to but axially displaced a distance “d” from the lower first section of the magnet; wherein the lower first section of the magnet is a closed magnet; and wherein the upper second section of the magnet is an open magnet; wherein the upper second section of the magnet is ring-shaped thereby providing an axial opening in order to allow unobstructed end access to an object disposed between the lower first and upper second sections of the magnet; and wherein the upper second section of the magnet is connected to the lower first section of the magnet via a set of supports that provide openings in order to allow unobstructed side access to an object disposed between the lower first and upper second sections of the magnet.