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Version
française
Many other research teams contribute to progress in the medico-biological
field. Indeed, INRIA's very flexible structure makes it possible to
gather together the skills of different teams in the framework of cooperative
research initiatives (ARC). Thus, CAIMAN, Epidaure, MACS and SOSSO
have
been working for a few years on the development of new models for the
functioning of the cardiovascular system, in the framework of the ICEMA ARC. REO will join them for the continuation of this initiative.
CAIMAN, EPIDAURE, GAMMA, ODYSSEE and ONDE have launched HEADEXP, whose
goal is to develop a global realistic model of the interaction between
electromagnetic fields and the tissues of the human head.
Research in connection with medicine has numerous operational applications.
These applications almost always involve medical or hospital teams. In
this field, the pioneers who where still isolated a few years ago, opened
up the way to a new generation of medical doctors who are better trained
in new technologies and keen on scientific partnerships. INRIA welcomes
many interns and future doctors within its research teams, as well as
doctoral candidates who will then participate in the industrial development
of new
tools.
Cardiovascular diseases involve diverse and complex biological
systems. How to reflect this system as a whole-heart, blood flow in the arterio-venous
networks, energy balance-through a model that help advance understanding,
prevention and therapy?
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© INRIA /Electromechanical |
Several INRIA teams have gotten together for several years in this research.
Two successive cooperative research initiatives resulted in a dynamic representation
of the electromechanical activity of the heart. Using this work, research
scientists, doctors and biologists can now work on cardiac activity simulators
to better understand rhythm troubles, cardiac insufficiency and improve
pacemakers, for example.
To go beyond this and propose more efficient models that take into account
the coupling between blood flow and heart movements in particular, several
teams have chosen a new approach, a transversal project that makes the
most of INRIA's multidisciplinary richness. The objective of this approach
is to mobilize the most advanced research in medical imaging (project Epidaure),
scientific computing (project MACS), automatic control (project SOSSO)
and fluid mechanics (project REO), around a common project.
Numerous medical applications are concerned by this work: pacemaker improvement,
surgical operation preparation (especially for akinetic scars), taking
into account anomalies in cardiac activity control by the autonomic nervous
system, etc. New therapeutic directions may also be tested, especially
cell therapy that consists in implanting stem cells to renew the structure
of the organ.
Beyond the richness of the model, research scientists also want to improve
its efficiency and power by applying new mathematical tools. The more parameters
there are, the longer computations will be. Due to progress in the algorithms
used, it is now possible to simulate a cardiac rhythm in less than an hour.
Thus, by associating imaging visualization and computing power, ICEMA intends
to put a genuine work tool at the disposal of doctors and research scientists,
that can contribute to advances in the fight against cardiovascular diseases.
Scientific Head
Hervé Delingette
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© INRIA /
Modeling the impact |
Questions concerning the radiations of relay antennas and cell phones are
such that numerous studies are being currently conducted around the world
to evaluate their impact on human health. As of today, most of these studies
are experimental and the available models are based on a crude head geometry.
Are these studies still adapted to brutal technological changes?
The HEADEXP
ARC stemmed from the intent to put different specialized INRIA works together
in order to propose a more relevant model. These works include scientific
computing and modeling (project CAIMAN), medical imaging (project EPIDAURE),
automatic mesh generation (project GAMMA), neurosciences (project ODYSSEE)
and electromagnetic wave propagation modeling and simulation (project ONDE).
HEADEXP works combine two types of models: more precise geometrical models
of the head based on new research in medical imaging and visual information
modeling (especially MRI) on the one hand, and new numerical models on
the other hand. The latter make it possible in particular to better take
into account heterogeneity. At the same time, new algorithms are capable
of processing important amounts of data faster. A global for the interaction
between electromagnetic radiation and head tissues will be proposed at
the end of the work and compared with classical models.
Numerous partners are interested in this research, especially the France
Telecom research and development team in charge of electromagnetic radiation
and researchers from the National Institute for Industrial Environment
and Risks. HEADEXP is also working with the National Network for Research
in Telecommunications, in the framework of project ORPPER (Reference
tools for predicting people exposure in the vicinity of radio-electrical
sources).
This modeling work opens up interesting prospects in other fields of
medicine, in particular in the treatment of tumors by radiation. A precise
modeling
tool could help improve such therapies. Other applications could be envisaged
in the field of telephony. In effect, the only radiation effects that
are modeled today are the thermal effects. By bringing in specialists
from
other disciplines (doctors, etc.) a more global analysis of radiation
effects will come within reach.
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© INRIA /Modeling the impact |
Practical Information
An INRIA cooperative research initiative including EPIDAURE, ONDE, CAIMAN,
ODYSSEE, GAMMA.
2003-2004
Partners: France Telecom, RNRT, INERIS
Scientific Head
Stéphane Lanteri
