US Patent 9232998 Trans-apical implant systems, implants and methods

A trans-apical implant includes a spacer defining spacer cavity configured to be expanded from a retracted position, a shaft extending from the spacer, the shaft defining an inflation lumen fluidly coupled to the spacer cavity and configured to be fluidly coupled to an expansion medium source, and a spacer valve assembly disposed within at least one of the spacer or shaft, the spacer valve assembly configured to allow selectively allow an expansion medium to flow into the spacer cavity to be selectively expand the spacer from a retracted position to an expanded position.