Realistic electro-anatomical model of the mammalian his/purkinje system

A method for simulating the delivery of a pacing lead to the His bundle of a patient's heart, the method comprising:

• providing an electro-anatomical model simulating the anatomy of at least a portion of a mammalian heart, the model including a shell with a hollow interior, first and second ports providing apertures to the interior of the shell, and a plug inserted in the first port, the plug having a face exposed to the interior of the shell;
• transmitting electrical signals to the plug to simulate electrical signals generated by the bundle of His/Purkinje system in vivo;
• providing an introducer catheter having a sheath with an axial lumen, a distal end, an electrode at the distal end, and a pacing lead disposed in the axial lumen;
• inserting the introducer catheter through the second port to the interior of the shell until the distal end of the sheath confronts the exposed face of the plug;
• moving the distal end of the sheath relative to the exposed face of the plug until the electrode at the distal end of the sheath receives at least a portion of the electrical signals transmitted to the plug;
• and
• deploying the pacing lead from the axial lumen of the sheath and implanting the pacing lead in the exposed face of the plug.