Challenges of short magnet design.

The desire to improve patient comfort and acceptance of high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems results in new approaches to magnet and other critical MRI component design. One such approach, based upon an anatomical field of view analysis, is presented in this paper. The approach is utilized to define imaging volume requirements for short, high field, solenoid magnet designs that maintain whole body imaging capability. A short magnet design with excellent magnetic field homogeneity is presented accordingly. Combined with a novel flared gradient coil the overall system achieves improvements in openness.