The present invention relates to dedicated superconductor magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) RF apparatus and method of constructing the same.
One Embodiment of the present invention provides an MRI breast imaging
apparatus comprising an examination region, a patient support, at least
one vacuum thermal isolation housing, a main magnet system, and a
cryogenic system. The vacuum thermal isolation housing comprises a low
vacuum space between at least one inner and an outer high vacuum
enclosure. The low vacuum space hosts at least one superconductor RF coil
and a heat sink assembly therein. The RF coil is in thermal contact with
the heat sink assembly that is coupled to the cryogenic system through a
heat pipe to achieve and maintain a desired low temperature at the
superconductor RF coil. The system provides a local examination region
substantially surrounded by the superconductor RF coil.