Fig. 2

Photograph of the idealised implantation model. This device was made of a rigid polymeric tube to allow the insertion of a guide catheter mimicking the route from the inferior vena cava to the interatrial septum (IAS). At the end of the tube, a membrane with three holes mimicked the access through the IAS. A rigid elliptical plastic ring holds two silicone membranes to simulate the mitral valve leaflets. Downstream, rigid U-shaped arms are connected to the MV ring to define the left ventricle contour