A new class of stopping self-sustained waves: a factor determining the spatial dynamics of blood coagulation

Two self-sustained wave regimes newly found in blood coagulation models are discussed: (1) oscillating-amplitude self-sustained waves, and (2) waves initially propagating as classical (constant-velocity constant-amplitude) self-sustained waves and then abruptly stopping at a fairly large distance from the point of activation. Depending on model parameters the latter waves either damp out or turn into stationary, spatially localized peaks. Analysis of blood coagulation models suggests that blood is an active medium with very unusual properties. (reviews of topical problems)