US Patent 11751995 Apparatus and methods for minimally invasive transapical access

A delivery catheter system includes an anchor catheter, a collapsible and expandable anchor, a balloon catheter, and a needle. The anchor may be for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve in a native heart valve. The anchor may be configured to be received within the anchor catheter. The balloon catheter may be positioned radially inward of the anchor catheter, and may include an inflatable balloon at a distal end thereof. The balloon may be in fluid communication with the balloon catheter. The needle may be positioned radially inward of the balloon catheter and may be translatable relative to the balloon, the needle having a sharp distal tip.