title: New head gradient coil design and construction techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To design and build a head insert gradient coil to use in conjunction with body gradients for superior imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  The use of the boundary element method to solve for a gradient coil wire pattern on an arbitrary surface allowed us to incorporate engineering changes into the electromagnetic design of a gradient coil directly. Improved wire pattern design was combined with robust manufacturing techniques and novel cooling methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The finished coil had an efficiency of 0.15 mT/m/A in all three axes and allowed the imaging region to extend across the entire head and upper part of the neck.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability to adapt an electromagnetic design to necessary changes from an engineering perspective leads to superior coil performance.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, Physics and Astronomy Building, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Handler
authors.forename: Chad T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Scholl
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: K Craig
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Goodrich
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dalrymple
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Sass
authors.forename: Blaine A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Chronik
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014159:Transducers
keywords: boundary element method; cooling; electromagnetics; gradient coil; head imaging; vacuum pot