A birdcage coil for use with a magnetic resonance (MR) system comprises a
first ring at one thereof, a second ring at the other end thereof, and a
plurality of rods electrically interconnecting the first and second
rings. The first ring is electrically conductive and has a first
diameter. The second ring is electrically conductive and has a second
diameter. The rods and first and second rings are configured to form
about the birdcage coil a plurality of partially-overlapped primary
resonant substructures. Each primary resonant substructure includes two
of the rods and the corresponding sections of the first and second rings
interconnecting them.
