A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes a primary magnet and a secondary magnet operable to produce magnetic fields within a sample being imaged. The MRI system further includes at least one RF coil (50) that is operable to receive electromagnetic frequencies from the sample. The RF coil is formed from tubing (221) that serves as a cooling conduit through which flows a cooling fluid provided by a cooling source. The cooling fluid cools the RF coils to improve imaging of the sample.