Figure 1:

Annular and leaflet modelling. (A) and (B) demonstrate a lateral and oblique view of a data point cloud in a patient with ischaemic mitral regurgitation. The annulus appears flattened and dilated prior to repair. (C) and (D) depict a lateral and oblique view of the same patient after repair with a saddle-shaped annuloplasty ring. The three-dimensional ring (marked by yellow points) helps to restore non-planarity of the annulus and reduce the annular area. (E) and (F) show a second patient after repair with a flat annuloplasty ring (marked by yellow points) for comparison. Although the undersized ring reduces the annular area, the flat ring fails to restore annular non-planarity.