Patent ID: 8314615

Claim:
An MRI apparatus comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images, wherein the magnet comprises: a main coil former arranged radially around the bore of the magnet; a shield coil former arranged radially around the bore of the magnet, wherein a radius of the shield coil former is greater than a radius of the main coil former; at least one main coil affixed to the main coil former; at least one shield coil affixed to the shield coil former; and at least one structural member affixed to the main coil former and to the shield coil former to provide structural support and enable longitudinal alignment adjustment between the main coil former and the shield coil former.