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A magnet assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system includes a vacuum vessel including an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder and a pair of tapered flanges connecting the inner and outer cylinders. The inner cylinder is made of a composite material. The outer cylinder and flanges are compo

A magnet assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system includes a vacuum vessel including an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder and a pair of tapered flanges connecting the inner and outer cylinders. The inner cylinder is made of a composite material. The outer cylinder and flanges are composed of several magnetic segments that provide a magnetic flux return path with low eddy currents. The segments are bonded together and electrically insulated from each other. A container, a thermal shield and a superconducting magnet coil assembly are disposed within the vacuum vessel. The superconducting magnet coil assembly includes a non-conductive cylindrical structure and superconducting coils. A thermally conductive cable is wrapped around the cylindrical structure and coils to form a thermally conductive envelope.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A magnet assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a vacuum vessel comprising an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder concentrically disposed about the inner cylinder, and a pair of flanges for connecting the inner and outer cylinders, the outer c

The invention claimed is: 1. A magnet assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a vacuum vessel comprising an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder concentrically disposed about the inner cylinder, and a pair of flanges for connecting the inner and outer cylinders, the outer cylinder and the pair of flanges comprising a plurality of segments made of a magnetic material that are bonded together and electrically insulated from each other; a superconducting magnet coil assembly disposed within the vacuum vessel; and a thermal shield disposed within the vacuum vessel. 2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a container disposed within the vacuum vessel for providing cooling to the superconducting magnet coil assembly. 3. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising a cryocooler connected to the container for providing a cryogen to the container. 4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gradient coil assembly, a polarizing magnet and a whole-body RF coil. 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal shield is made of a composite material. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner cylinder of the vacuum vessel is made of a composite material. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vacuum vessel further includes an outer lining, an inner lining, and two annular end lining flanges that form a closed, leak tight structure. 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the superconducting magnet coil assembly further comprises a non-conductive cylindrical structure having at least one recess, a superconducting coil disposed in the at least one recess, and a metallic cable wrapped around the cylindrical structure and the superconducting coil to form a thermally conductive envelope. 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the superconducting magnet coil assembly comprises a number of superconducting coils axially positioned and supported by electrically non-conductive cylindrical spacers, and a thermally conductive cable wrapped around the cylindrical spacers and the superconducting coils to form a thermally conductive envelope. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each segment is an isosceles trapezoid in cross-sectional shape. 11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each flange has an inner surface, an outer surface, an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface, and wherein the inner surface abuts the inner and outer cylinders, and wherein the inner surface is substantially perpendicular to the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface, and wherein the outer surface is not substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the inner and outer diameter surfaces. 12. A magnet assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a vacuum vessel comprising an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder concentrically disposed about the inner cylinder, and a pair of flanges for connecting the inner and outer cylinders; a thermal shield disposed within the vacuum vessel; and a superconducting magnet coil assembly disposed within the vacuum vessel, wherein the superconducting magnet assembly comprises a number of superconducting coils axially positioned and supported by electrically non-conductive cylindrical spacers, and a thermally conductive cable wrapped around the cylindrical spacers and the superconducting coils to form a thermally conductive envelope. 13. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a container disposed within the vacuum vessel and configured to contain a cryogen having at least one cooling tube connected thereto, the at least one cooling tube being disposed about the superconducting magnet coil assembly for providing cooling to the superconducting coils. 14. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising a cryocooler for providing the cryogen to the container. 15. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a gradient coil assembly, a polarizing magnet and a whole-body RF coil. 16. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the thermal shield is made of a composite material. 17. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the inner cylinder of the vacuum vessel is made of a composite material. 18. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the vacuum vessel further includes an outer lining, an inner lining, and two annular end lining flanges that form a closed structure. 19. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the outer cylinder and the pair of flanges comprises a plurality of segments made of a magnetic material that are bonded together and electrically insulated from each other. 20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein each segment is an isosceles trapezoid in cross-sectional shape. 21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein each flange has an inner surface, an outer surface, an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface, and wherein the inner surface abuts the inner and outer cylinders, and wherein the inner surface is substantially perpendicular to the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface, and wherein the outer surface is not substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the inner and outer diameter surfaces. 22. A magnet assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a vacuum vessel comprising an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder concentrically disposed about the inner cylinder, and a pair of flanges for connecting the inner and outer cylinders; a thermal shield disposed within the vacuum vessel; a superconducting magnet coil assembly disposed within the vacuum vessel, the superconducting magnet coil assembly comprising a number of superconducting coils; and a container disposed within the vacuum vessel having at least one cooling tube connected thereto, the at least one cooling tube being in close proximity to the superconducting magnet coil assembly for providing cooling to the superconducting coils. 23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the number of superconducting coils are axially positioned and supported by electrically non-conductive cylindrical spacers, and a thermally conductive cable wrapped around the cylindrical spacers and the superconducting coils to form a thermally conductive envelope. 24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the outer cylinder and the pair of flanges comprises a plurality of segments made of a magnetic material that are bonded together and electrically insulated from each other.