A protective device for open heart aortic valve replacement surgery in a patient, comprises a base element (2) having, on its proximal side (4), a first coupling member (10) and, on its distal side (6), a second coupling member (12). Moreover, the device comprises a longitudinally slidable elongated actuator member (14) distally provided with a third coupling member (18), a tip element (20) comprising a fourth coupling member (22) releasably connectable with the second coupling member (12) and a fifth coupling member (24) releasably connectable with the third coupling member (18). A flexible strut arrangement (26) forms a radially external connection between the base element (2) and the tip element (20), with a screen element (28) surroundingly attached to the strut arrangement (26). An elongated handling member (30) has a distal end (32) provided with a sixth coupling member (34) releasably connectable with the first coupling member (10), the handling member (30) having a longitudinal passageway (36) configured to slidingly receive the actuator member (14). In a deployed state of the device, the fourth coupling member (22) is connected with the second coupling member (12) and the strut arrangement (26) is radially expanded, thereby forming an anchoring support for attachment to a surrounding arterial wall segment (W) of the patient. In a movable state of the device, the fourth coupling member (22) is released from the second coupling member (12) and the tip element (20) is maintained distally displaced from the base element (2), whereby the strut arrangement (26) is longitudinally expanded so as to be movable within the surrounding arterial wall segment (W) and through the aortic valve of the patient.
