Fig. 1

Cryoinjury (CI) or ameroid constrictor (AC)-induced coronary artery disease (CAD) models. a A micro-mini pig (MMP) is a very small swine that weighs 10–20 kg when mature. Here, a MMP is shown together with a smartphone as a comparison of size. b Ameroid constrictors (AC) (inner diameter: 2 mm) were used to create a ischemia model. c The AC was placed in the proximal region of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). d The metallic probe for inducing cryoinjury (CI) to a MMP’s heart. e Major diagonal branches were ligated under open thoracic surgery. The yellow arrows indicate the ligation site. f A cold metallic probe was placed at the anterior wall of the porcine heart. The anterior wall was completely ablated by CI after 120 s