title: Scroll waves in the presence of slowly varying anisotropy with application to the heart.
abstract: We consider the dynamics of scroll waves in the presence of rotating anisotropy, a model of the left ventricle of the heart in which the orientation of fibers in successive layers of tissue rotates. By choosing a coordinate system aligned with the fiber rotation and studying the phase dynamics of a straight but twisted scroll wave, we derive a Burgers' equation with forcing associated with the fiber rotation rate. We present asymptotic solutions for scroll twist, verified by numerics, using a realistic fiber distribution profile. We make connection with earlier numerical and analytical work on scroll dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA. simas@math.princeton.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Setayeshgar
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bernoff
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular