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Unpinning and Removal of a Rotating Wave in Cardiac Muscle

S. Takagi, A. Pumir, D. Pazó, I. Efimov, V. Nikolski, and V. Krinsky
Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 058101 – Published 26 July 2004
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Abstract

Rotating waves in cardiac muscle may be pinned to a heterogeneity, as it happens in superconductors or in superfluids. We show that the physics of electric field distribution between cardiac cells permits one to deliver an electric pulse exactly to the core of a pinned wave, without knowing its position, and even to locations where a direct access is not possible. Thus, unpinning or removal of rotating waves can be achieved. The energy needed is 2 orders of magnitude less than defibrillation energy. This opens a way to new manipulations with pinned vortices both in experiments and in cardiac clinics.

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  • Received 5 January 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.058101

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

S. Takagi1, A. Pumir1,*, D. Pazó1, I. Efimov2,†, V. Nikolski2, and V. Krinsky1

  • 1Institut Non Linéaire de Nice, 1361 route des Lucioles, F-06560, Valbonne, France
  • 2Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7207, USA

  • *Electronic address: alain.pumir@inln.cnrs.fr
  • Electronic addresse: ire@cwru.edu

See Also

Physics for ER

David Lindley
Phys. Rev. Focus 14, 7 (2004)

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Issue

Vol. 93, Iss. 5 — 30 July 2004

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