title: Reply to the editor.
authors.affiliation: Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting, Philadelphia, Pa; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Siefert
authors.affiliation: Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre M
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rabbah
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, Mich.
authors.forename: Steven F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Bolling
authors.affiliation: Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
authors.forename: Ajit P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Yoganathan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058386:Mitral Valve Annuloplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*