Device for supporting a surgical step in a vessel, particularly for removal and implantation of heart valves

1. A device for assisting surgical operations inside a vessel, including minimally invasive explanation and implantation of cardiac valves, comprising:

an operating structure which is implanted within the vessel, which is fixedly and detachably joined to an inner wall of the vessel and is provided with at least one connector and/or support structure for a further instrument required for the surgical operation; and wherein

the operating structure unfolds or uncoils and assumes a shape of a cylinder in an unfolded or uncoiled condition, the cylinder having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the vessel, the operating structure is configured as a coiled sheet element presenting two edges extending in parallel with an axis of the cylinder, and a respective lock seam or fold is formed on the two edges so that opposing lock seams are mutually engaged and contribute to a dimensionally stable cylinder shape of the operating structure.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating structure comprises a windable sheet or an extensible mesh.

3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating structure is a shape-memory metal.

4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating structure has an outer surface facing the inner wall of the vessel, on which anchoring elements are provided for being anchored in the surface of the vessel.

5. A device according to claim 4 , wherein the anchoring elements are arranged at an angle α different than 90° from the surface of the operating structure so that the operating structure is displaceable in a preferred direction inside the vessel but not in an opposite direction thereof.

6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating structure has an inside surface on which the connector and/or support structure is provided.

7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector and/or support structure is a cut-out in a wall of the cylinder, as a recess or a knop.

8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector structure is a plug-in or bayonet-catch connector for fixing or connecting thereon further surgical instruments or for connecting at least one further operating structure.

9. A device according to claim 1 , wherein in a folded or coiled condition, the operating structure is inserted into a sleeve-type or hollow catheter for carrying the operating structure into a vicinity of a vesicular site to be treated.

10. A device according to claim 9 , wherein a ram-like pusher device is provided for ejecting the operating structure from a sleeve-type or hollow catheter, which the ram-like pusher device carries the operating structure out of the catheter into the vessel.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein the operating structure has an outer surface facing the inner wall of the vessel, on which anchoring elements are provided for being anchored in the surface of the vessel.

12. A device according to claim 11 , wherein the anchoring elements are barbs.

13. A device according to claim 11 , wherein the anchoring elements are arranged at an angle α different than 90° from the surface of the operating structure so that the operating structure is displaceable in a preferred direction inside the vessel but not in an opposite direction thereof.

14. A device according to claim 11 , wherein the operating structure is configured as coiled sheet element presenting two edges extending in parallel with an axis of the cylinder; and

a respective lock seam or fold is formed on edges so that opposing lock seams are mutually engaged and contribute to a dimensionally stable cylinder shape of the operating structure.

15. A device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one connector and/or support structure is a cut-out in a wall of the cylinder as a recess or a knop.