TORQUE FREE ASYMMETRIC GRADIENT COILS FOR ECHO-PLANAR IMAGING

In this work, we present a new torque-free asymmetric gradient coil th at is capable of generating high quality axial, sagittal, and coronal echo planar images of the human head. This gradient set was calculated using the Biot-Savart law and least square approaches to optimize the field in the region of interest and to minimize net torques. The resu lting structure has excellent shoulder-to-coil clearance and, as such, has the advantage of providing good patient access to the linear port ion of the gradient while minimizing patient discomfort from claustrop hobia.