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Abstract

A quadrature multiple coil array (30) includes a plurality of quadrature coil pairs (50.sub.1, 50.sub.2, . . . , 50.sub.n). Each coil pair includes a loop coil (50) or other coil which is sensitive to radio frequency signal components that are perpendicular to the coil and a flat Helmholtz coil (54) or other coil which is sensitive to radio frequency components parallel to the plane of the coil. The coils of each of the quadrature coil pairs are overlapped (56) by an amount which minimizes coupling between the coils. This enables resonance signals to be picked-up concurrently in quadrature by each of the quadrature pairs and be demodulated by a corresponding series of receivers (32.sub.1, 32.sub.2, . . . , 32.sub.n). The data from the overlapping regions to which each quadrature pair is sensitive are reconstructed (36) into image representations (38). The image representations are aligned either automatically (40) or by the operator and displayed on a video monitor (44). The overlapping quadrature pairs can be arranged along a planar substrate or along curved substrates which conform to contours of the anatomy of the subject.

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First Claim