Abstract: A magnet for MRI systems having a first pair of spaced apart oppositely disposed walls with a first pole piece extending from one wall of said first pair of walls towards a second pole piece extending from the other wall of the pair of walls with an air gap between the first and the second pole pieces. A superconducting coil mounted on at least one of the first and the second pole pieces to generate a magnetic field between the pole pieces with the air gap between the pole pieces large enough for receiving a patient therein fop magnetic resonance imaging purposes; and a second pair of oppositely disposed walls closing said magnetic circuit; there being sufficient room between the walls to enable medical personnel to be between the walls of the second pair of walls and the pole pieces providing substantially complete access to the patient in the air gap.