A method for enhancing the performance of an imaging system that includes providing a magnetic resonance imaging system； providing an object to be imaged, wherein the object has a shape, includes a region of interest therein, and has a first dielectric constant； providing a pad that conforms to the shape of the object and contains a material having a second dielectric constant that is higher than the first dielectric constant； surrounding the pad and the object being imaged with at least one radio frequency coil； using the at least one coil to generate a magnetic field having an intensity of 3 T that extends through the material of the pad and into the region of interest of the object being imaged, and wherein positioning the at least one coil to surround the pad and the object increases the intensity of the magnetic field produced by the at least one coil within the region of interest of the object； using the at least one coil to detect the magnetic field generated in the region of interest of the object being imaged and to convert the detected magnetic field into detectable electrical signals； and increasing signal to noise ratio of detected electrical signals and decreasing required power input to the at least one coil through the placement of the at least one coil around the pad.
