A NOVEL, OPEN ACCESS, ELLIPTIC CROSS-SECTION MAGNET FOR PEDIATRIC MRI

Almost all clinical magnetic resonance imaging systems are based on ci rcular cross-section magnets. Recent advances in elliptical cross-sect ion RF probe and gradient coil hardware raise the question of the poss ibility of using elliptical cross-section magnet systems, This paper p resents a methodology for calculating rapidly the magnetic fields gene rated by a multi-turn coil of elliptical cross-section and incorporate s this in a stochastic optimization method for magnet design, An open magnet system of elliptical cross-section is designed that both reduce s the claustrophobia for the patients and allows ready access by atten ding physicians, The magnet system is optimized for paediatric use, Th e coil geometry produced by the optimization method has several novel features.