Methods of safely expanding prosthetic heart valves

A method of delivery and implant of a prosthetic heart valve at a valve annulus, comprising:

• providing a delivery system including:
• a shaft having a lumen therethrough;
• and
• a balloon catheter extending through the shaft having a balloon on a distal end and a proximal luer connector, the balloon catheter being capable of linear movement relative to the shaft from a retracted position to an advanced position;
• providing a heart valve including a prosthetic valve having an expandable frame, the expandable frame having a contracted state for delivery to an implant position and an expanded state configured for outward connection to the annulus, the heart valve being mounted on a distal end of the shaft;
• advancing the distal end of the shaft so that the heart valve with the expandable frame in its contracted state is located at the implant position adjacent the annulus;
• ensuring that the balloon cannot expand until the balloon catheter is displaced distally to the advanced position by covering the luer connector with a safety member;
• displacing the balloon catheter distally to the advanced position and the balloon is located within the expandable frame of the heart valve;
• removing the safety member from covering the luer connector;
• and
• inflating the balloon within the expandable frame.