The body coil is installed in the magnet and functions both as transmit than also as a receiver coil. This coil has a large measurement field, but does not have the high SNR of special coils. When specific receiver only coils are used (the most surface coils), the body coil serves as the transmit coil.

From GE Healthcare;
The Signa SP 0.5T™ is an open MRI magnet that is designed for use in interventional radiology and intra-operative imaging. The vertical gap configuration increases patient positioning options, improves patient observation, and allows continuous access to the patient during imaging. The magnet enclosure also incorporates an intercom, patient observation video camera, laser patient alignment lights, and task lighting in the imaging volume.

Radio frequency coil that surrounds either the whole body, or one specific region, such as the head or a knee. Volume coils have a better RF homogeneity than surface coils, which extends over a large area. The most commonly used design is a (birdcage) bird cage coil. This consists of a number of wires running along the z-direction, arranged to give a cosine current variation around the circumference of the coil. It is possible to use the same coil to transmit and receive, or to use two separate coils. The largest volume coil, the body coil is typically a transmit and receive coil. If two separate coils are used, works the body coil as the transmitter and a smaller coil as the receiver.

See also the related poll result: '3rd party coils are better than the original manufacturer coils'

From Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc.;
the AIRIS made its debut in 1995. Hitachi followed up with the AIRIS II system, which has proven equally successfully. 'All told, Hitachi has installed more than 1,000 MRI systems in the U.S., holding more than 17 percent of the total U.S. MRI installed base, and more than half of the installed base of open MR systems,' says Antonio Garcia, Frost and Sullivan industry research analyst. Now Altaire employs a blend of innovative Hitachi features called VOSI™ technology, optimizing each sub-system's performance in concert with the other sub-systems, to give the seamless mix of high-field performance and the patient comfort, especially for claustrophobic patients, of open MR systems.

A means for optimizing the tuning and matching of RF coils under different loading conditions without operator intervention. For large high-power coils such as body coils, autotuning involves the adjustment of variable capacitors using electric or hydraulic motors. For low power coils, the tuning elements are most often variable capacitance diodes (varactors) fed by a computer-generated variable voltage.