Interleaved gradient coil for magnetic resonance imaging

1. A gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

a plurality of turns positioned such that the gradient coil is generally shaped as a figure-eight comprising a first turn disposed on an outer periphery of one lobe of the figure-eight and on an inner periphery of the other lobe of the figure-eight, wherein subsequent turns are disposed progressively towards an inner periphery of the one lobe and progressively towards an outer periphery of the other lobe.

2. The coil of claim 1 , wherein the figure-eight forms a first section configured to overly a section of a first adjacent coil, a second section configured to underly another section of the first adjacent coil, a third section configured to overly a section of a second adjacent coil, and a fourth section configured to underly another section of the second adjacent coil.

3. The coil of claim 1 , wherein all turns extend from one lobe of the figure-eight to the other lobe of the figure-eight.

4. The coil of claim 1 , wherein at least one turn is formed only in one lobe of the figure-eight and at least one additional turn is formed only in the other lobe of the figure-eight.

5. The coil of claim 1 , wherein the turns are formed of a hollow conductor capable of routing coolant through the coil.

6. The coil of claim 1 , wherein each turn has approximately the same length.

7. A gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

four coils, each coil having a plurality of turns formed generally in a figure-eight;

wherein the coils are interleaved in a generally cylindrical configuration with a first section of each coil overlying a corresponding underlying section of a preceding coil and a second section underlying a corresponding overlying section of the preceding coil.

8. The coil of claim 7 , wherein first diametrically opposed coils form an X coil of a gradient coil system, and second diametrically opposed coils form a Y coil of a gradient coil system.

9. The coil of claim 8 , wherein the X coil and the Y coil have the same effective radial distance from a center of an imaging volume when installed into a magnetic resonance system scanner.

10. The coil of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of turns of the four coils comprises a plurality of hollow conductors configured to hold coolant for cooling the coils.

11. The coil of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of turns is approximately the same length.

12. A gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

first and second X coils disposed at diametrically opposite locations in a generally cylindrical configuration; and

first and second Y coils disposed at diametrically opposite locations in the generally cylindrical configuration and displaced at 90 degrees with respect to the X coils;

wherein the coils are interleaved with an overlying section of each X coil overlying a corresponding underlying section of each adjacent Y coil and an underlying section of each X coil underlying a corresponding overlying section of each adjacent Y coil.

13. The gradient coil of claim 12 , wherein the X and Y coils have the same effective radial distance from a center of an imaging volume when installed into a magnetic resonance system scanner.

14. The gradient coil of claim 12 , wherein each coil is wound as a Golay coil.

15. The gradient coil of claim 12 , wherein each coil is wound to form a figure-eight.

16. The gradient coil of claim 12 , wherein each coil is wound to form a figure-eight with at least one central winding of each lobe of the figure-eight forming a loop on the same lobe of the figure-eight.

17. The gradient coil of claim 12 , wherein each coil is wound with successive turns such that each turn is approximately the same length.

18. The gradient coil of claim 12 , wherein each coil is wound such that a plurality of adjacent turns are electrically connected in parallel to control circuitry.