The teams are working on several projects focused around 3 main topics : 

• Characterisation of the myocardial structure using state-of-the-art imaging equipment.

Ultra-high field (9.4 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as a multimodal imaging platform (EquipEX MUSIC) enabling ex vivo acquisition and processing of 3D data with high resolution similar to histology.    

This equipment makes it possible to get to the centre of the cardiac tissue to identify particularly fine structures or to characterise heart damage. It's important because these damages, even the small ones, can show a risk of serious ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death.

• The development or assessment of new concepts of cardiac pacing.

Several MRI (1.5 Tesla) scanners are used to treat patients whose heart structure is analysed at the same time as electrical signals.    These devices also help to develop the concepts of contactless, focused ultrasound, MRI-guided and heart-rate synchronised pacing.

• The development of interventional imaging and thermometry.

The aim is to be able to guide the surgeon’s actions in real time, by means of the acquisition of fast sequences measuring tissue temperature by MRI.

The measurement of tissue temperature in clinical practice would improve the effectiveness, but also, the safety of shots with radiofrequency catheter ablation.