Shielding gradient assembly

A shielded gradient coil assembly (10) for generating a gradient magnetic field, the assembly comprising a plurality of radially inner coaxial cylindrical surfaces (11) and an outer coaxial cylindrical surface (12), a gradient field coil arrangement (13) on the radially inner cylindrical surfaces, the gradient field coil arrangement comprising a longitudinal gradient field coil system (131) and a transverse gradient field coil system (132), a longitudinal gradient field coil system having one or more axially circumferential conductive hollow z-field windings having a smaller transverse cross-section, a transverse gradient field coil system having a hollow (x, y) field electrical conductor, the hollow (x, y) field electrical conductor having a longitudinal gradient field coil system having one or more axially circumferential conductive hollow z-field windings having a smaller transverse cross-section, and a transverse gradient field coil system having one or more axially circumferential conductive hollow z-fie