A blood flow regulator (100) for creating a shunt in the heart, comprising； a proximal element (101) having a general disc-shape, defined by a braid of one or more wires extending about a central aperture (103) of the proximal element； a distal element (102) having a general disc-shape, defined by a braid of one or more wires extending about a central aperture (104) of the distal element； and a third element (105) defining a neck section intermediate the proximal and distal elements and forming a cavity (106) having a diameter no greater than a diameter of each of the distal and proximal elements, wherein said distal element comprises at least one loop (107) of a wire extending radially outwardly from a center (108) of the distal element and returning towards said center of said distal element.
