Design of a novel class of open MRI devices with nonuniform Bo, field cycling, and RF spatial encoding

This work describes a novel approach to the design of MRI systems that combines 4 existing developments in order to create a new class of MRI devices. The developments to be described include combining parallel RF receive, Bloch-Siegert phase encoding, nonlinear spatial encoding, and field cycling. Together these methods allow for open magnets with nonuniform main fields greatly increasing design opportunities for small magnets with specific applications. The relatively low cost of this class of MR devices will allow for the placement of MRIs in doctor’s offices where they could be built into an examination table.