A radio-frequency (RF) coil acts as a transmitter, receiver, or both a transmitter and receiver of RF pulses necessary for diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. It is used to enhance image resolution by improving signal to noise characteristics. There are two main kinds of RF coils: volume coils (which surround the part of the body being imaged) and surface coils (which are placed and secured directly on or under an area of interest). This group of devices includes a variety RF coil designs and configurations including, e.g., surface coils, phased array coils, paired saddle coils, Hemholtz pair coils or bird cage coils.
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