MRI Electromagnet Coil Segmentation for Weight Reduction

The patent divides the single large circular current coil into multiple smaller circular current coils arranged in specific patterns (e.g., hexagonal, triangular arrangements). These segmented coils generate magnetic fields that collectively cover a wide area while each individual coil maintains manageable size and weight, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and coil weight.

The patent strategically positions ferromagnetic materials only in specific locations where they are most effective for field uniformity, rather than distributing them uniformly throughout the entire device. This localized approach maintains the necessary magnetic field uniformity while significantly reducing the total amount of ferromagnetic material required, thereby reducing overall device weight.

By segmenting the coil system into multiple smaller coils, each coil can be independently supported with simpler mechanical structures. The modular arrangement allows for distributed support mechanisms rather than requiring a single complex rigid structure to hold one large heavy coil, thereby reducing mechanical rigidity complexity while maintaining the required magnetic field intensity through collective contribution of all coils.