Use of spherical receiver coils in MR imaging of the brain

Spherical receiver coils suitable for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain are described. Spherical geometry permits high field uniformity with close proximity of the coil to the patient's head giving a good filling factor. Patient acceptability has been good in more than 800 examinations of the brain. Spherical receiver coils of appropriate size can provide a simple and worthwhile improvement over conventional saddle designs for low field MR imaging.