Assembly comprising a stabiliser and an instrument to be positioned in or around a passage surrounded by body tissue

Abstract

An assembly having a stabiliser and an instrument to be positioned in or around a passage surrounded by body tissue, in particular vascular tissue. The stabiliser is provided with one or more suction mouths running in the shape of a loop, which suction mouths can be operationally connected to suction means in order to suck tightly to tissue close to and around said passage, which may still have to be made. The instrument has a head section for performing operations on vascular tissue. The stabiliser and the instrument are provided with, respectively, an instrument stop provided on the stabiliser and a stabiliser stop provided on the instrument, which, in the stop position when they are in contact with one another, unambiguously define the position of the head section with respect to the position of the loop shape. The instrument can be an applicator for positioning and fixing a fixing device in or around the passage, the head section being equipped for carrying and releasing the fixing device.

1 . A fixing device to be anchored in surrounding tissue, the fixing device having an annular member, which member is provided with distal and proximal flange fingers arranged distributed around the periphery of the annular member, wherein the distal flange fingers are reversibly bendable, against a resilient force, from a position projecting outwards with respect to the annular member into a straightened position in which the projection of the distal flange fingers on a radial transverse surface of the tubular member is essentially on or within the periphery of said annular member, wherein the flange fingers are open. 
     
     
         2 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein both the distal and proximal flange fingers are bendable against a resilient force, from a position projecting outwards with respect to the annular member into a straightened position in which the projection of the distal and proximal flange fingers on a radial transverse surface of the tubular member is essentially on or within the periphery of said annular member. 
     
     
         3 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange fingers are formed by a wire like edging enclosing an opening. 
     
     
         4 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal and proximal flange fingers are positioned opposite one another as mirror images with respect to the plane defined by the annular member. 
     
     
         5 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal and proximal flange fingers are arranged alternately so that a flange finger peak on one side lies opposite a flange finger trough on the other side. 
     
     
         6 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular member has openings. 
     
     
         7 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular member is interrupted at one or more locations. 
     
     
         8 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is a fixing device for fixing a heart valve prosthesis or heart valve ring prosthesis. 
     
     
         9 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is a vessel fixing device for joining to one another natural and or synthetic blood vessels. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly comprising a fixing device according to  claim 1  and a heart valve ring prosthesis or a heart valve prosthesis having a valve housing completely or partially contained by the fixing device. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the annular member is provided with facilities that contain a heart valve prosthesis or heart valve ring prosthesis, and with cut-outs and/or protuberances which fit in corresponding protuberances and/or cut-outs of said prosthesis contained by the fixing device. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the annular member is provided with a said protuberance facing radially inwards, said protuberance comprising two horizontal and/or vertical slits cut out of the wall of the annular member in one or more locations, wherein the wall section of the annular member between two said locations is movable in radial inward direction to clamp in a corresponding cut-out in the housing of heart valve prosthesis. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the heart valve prosthesis can be turned within the annular member. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the assembly further comprises a sleeve, wherein the fixing device is arranged in the sleeve with the flange fingers straightened against a resilient force, and wherein the sleeve is movable in its axial direction with respect to the fixing device to allow the flange fingers to flip under influence of the resilient force into said outwardly position projecting outwards. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly comprising a fixing device according to  claim 1  and a sleeve, wherein the fixing device is arranged in the sleeve with the flange fingers straightened against a resilient force, wherein the sleeve is movable in its axial direction with respect to the fixing device to allow the flange fingers to flip under influence of the resilient force into said outwardly position projecting outwards. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly comprising a fixing device according to  claim 1 , a cap for closing off the annular member, and a working duct or cannula arranged for coupling to the fixing device.