Magnetic resonance gradient coils with interstitial gap

摘要

A patient support (40) has lower sections (50a, 50b) of first and second gradient coil assembly portions (42a, 42b) affixed thereto. Upper sections (52a, 52b) of the gradient coil assembly portions are selectively removable from the lower gradient coil assembly sections. The gradient coil assembly sections are mounted such that an interstitial gap is defined therebetween. The gradient coil assembly portions are configured to fit snugly around the patient's torso below the shoulders and around the patient's head, but are too small in diameter to pass around the patient's shoulders. The radio frequency coil (44) has a lower portion (60) disposed below the patient's shoulders and an upper portion (62) removably positionable above the patient's shoulders. The gap between the two gradient coil assembly portions is preferably between 1/2 and 3/4 of a diameter of the gradient coil portions. An invasive medical instrument, such as a biopsy gun (100), is mounted to the patient support adjacent the gap between the gradient coil portions for performing invasive medical procedures on a portion of the patient through the gap between the gradient coil portions.