A diagnostic general-purpose magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system designed to scan any targeted area of the body (full-body imaging). It includes a resistive magnet assembly and can be fixed-location, mobile, or transportable. In addition to producing conventional MR images, it can be modified through the addition of software/hardware modules to perform MR spectroscopy and various real-time imaging procedures necessary for physiologically gated imaging procedures, or MRI mammography and other MRI guided interventional, therapeutic, or surgical applications. It is available in various gantry configurations, e.g. Closed bore, open bore, open-sided or other patient accessible designs.