Surgical instrument for implanting prosthetic heart valves or the like

Claim 1

.1. Instrument intended to be used in surgery for implanting a valvular bioprothesis in mitralic position, in the mitralic annulus of a patient's heart, which bioprothesis comprises:a special support (CR) of a synthetic material, substantially consisting of an annular base (BA) and three cusps (CP) with pointed tops (PT) integral therewith, and of three flaps or limbs of a valve of animal origin operatively supported by the support (CR) and is intended to be functionally united to the mitralic annulus, deprived of its own mitralic valve, by means of sewing threads, (FL), previously inserted both in the annulus edge and in a flange integral with the base (BA), which instrument comprises: a tubular body (10) having a first (13) and a second end (15); a supporting means (23) for the bioprothesis adapted to vary its position axially of the first end (13) according to the axial dimensions of the bioprothesis; a member (11) having a circular cross section mounted on the first end (13) and adapted to assume a radially retracted condition when the end (13) has to be fitted in the bioprothesis and taken out thereof, and a radially ex panded one wherein the member (11) has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the supporting head (23) during the operation of introducing the bioprothesis in place in the patient heart (CC), so that the member (11) engage and keeps away said threads (FL) to avoid that the same get entangled in any part of the bioprothesis and especially in its support (CR); and controlling means for the member (11) mounted on the second end (15) of the body (10) for controlling the conditions of the member (11).