title: MagnetoHemoDynamics in the aorta and electrocardiograms.
abstract: This paper addresses a complex multi-physical phenomenon involving cardiac electrophysiology and hemodynamics. The purpose is to model and simulate a phenomenon that has been observed in magnetic resonance imaging machines: in the presence of a strong magnetic field, the T-wave of the electrocardiogram (ECG) gets bigger, which may perturb ECG-gated imaging. This is due to a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect occurring in the aorta. We reproduce this experimental observation through computer simulations on a realistic anatomy, and with a three-compartment model: inductionless MHD equations in the aorta, bi-domain equations in the heart and electrical diffusion in the rest of the body. These compartments are strongly coupled and solved using finite elements. Several benchmark tests are proposed to assess the numerical solutions and the validity of some modeling assumptions. Then, ECGs are simulated for a wide range of magnetic field intensities (from 0 to 20 T).
authors.affiliation: LMAC, GI, University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC), Royallieu, BP 20529, 60205 Compiègne, France. INRIA Paris-Rocquencourt, BP 105, 78153 Le Chesnay, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drochon
authors.forename: Odette
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fokapu
authors.forename: Jean-Frédéric
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gerbeau