Fig. 7: Mean ovine mitral annular dynamics at preoperative baseline and after ring annuloplasty repair using the novel, rigid, or flexible ring (n = 6).

a Mean ovine annular dynamics at preoperative baseline and after novel ring repair. b Mean ovine annular dynamics at preoperative baseline and after rigid ring repair. c Mean ovine annular dynamics at preoperative baseline and after flexible ring repair. Novel ring demonstrates similar annular height and annular height to intercommissural distance ratio (AHICR) compared to preoperative baseline, suggesting the saddle shape geometry of the novel ring. These two metrics also show similar trends in variation compared to preoperative baseline throughout a cardiac cycle, suggesting the geometry changes over time. The flexible ring demonstrates a slightly decreased annular height and AHICR, thus a slightly lessened saddle shape geometry compared to preoperative baseline, but with dynamic geometric changes over time. The rigid ring demonstrates primarily a flat geometry, illustrated by the decrease in annular height and AHICR compared to preoperative baseline. This geometry remains relatively stable throughout a cardiac cycle. Intercommissural distance, anteroposterior distance, and 2D annular area decrease after ring annuloplasty repair compared to preoperative baseline. Shaded areas represent standard error. Blue—preoperative baseline; green—novel ring repair; red—rigid ring repair; purple – flexible ring repair.