An apparatus (242, 342, 442), comprising: a handle assembly (344, 444) coupled to an elongate member (245, 345, 445), the handle assembly including a dial (227, 327); a docking member (346, 446) coupled to a distal end of the elongate member (245, 345, 445), the docking member (346, 446) configured to be releasably coupled to an epicardial anchor device configured to secure a tether (128, 428) extending from a prosthetic heart valve implanted within a heart at a location on an exterior of a ventricular wall of the heart; the docking member including coupling arms (236, 436) with coupling pins (238, 438) extending inwardly from the coupling arms (236, 436), the coupling arms (236, 436) having hinged joints which are coupled to a disc member (239, 439), the docking member further including a spring (216, 416) disposed between the disc member (239, 439) and the coupling arms (236, 436) that biases the coupling arms (236, 436) in a closed position in which the coupling arms (236, 436) are coupled to the epicardial anchor device; an inner driver member (217, 417) movably disposed within a lumen defined by the elongate member (245, 345, 445) and extending through the docking member (346, 446), the inner driver member (217, 417) being operatively coupled to the dial and having a distal tip (237, 437) shaped to be matingly received within an opening of the epicardial anchor device, such that rotating the dial rotates the distal tip (237, 437) to actuate a locking pin assembly of the epicardial anchor device to secure the tether to the epicardial anchor device; wherein the handle assembly (344, 444) further comprises a release button (333, 433) fixedly coupled to the elongate member (245, 345, 445, wherein distal movement of the release button (333, 433) causes distal movement of the disc member (239, 439) which compresses the spring (216, 416) and actuates the coupling arms (236, 436) to open wide enough so that the epicardial anchor device can be placed therebetween; and a force sensor device (348, 448) coupled to the handle assembly (344, 444), the force sensor device (348, 448) configured to measure a force exerted on the force sensor device (348, 448), the force associated with a tension of the tether (128, 428) extending through the elongate member (245, 345, 445) and handle assembly (344, 444). a handle assembly (344, 444) coupled to an elongate member (245, 345, 445), the handle assembly including a dial (227, 327); a docking member (346, 446) coupled to a distal end of the elongate member (245, 345, 445), the docking member (346, 446) configured to be releasably coupled to an epicardial anchor device configured to secure a tether (128, 428) extending from a prosthetic heart valve implanted within a heart at a location on an exterior of a ventricular wall of the heart; the docking member including coupling arms (236, 436) with coupling pins (238, 438) extending inwardly from the coupling arms (236, 436), the coupling arms (236, 436) having hinged joints which are coupled to a disc member (239, 439), the docking member further including a spring (216, 416) disposed between the disc member (239, 439) and the coupling arms (236, 436) that biases the coupling arms (236, 436) in a closed position in which the coupling arms (236, 436) are coupled to the epicardial anchor device; an inner driver member (217, 417) movably disposed within a lumen defined by the elongate member (245, 345, 445) and extending through the docking member (346, 446), the inner driver member (217, 417) being operatively coupled to the dial and having a distal tip (237, 437) shaped to be matingly received within an opening of the epicardial anchor device, such that rotating the dial rotates the distal tip (237, 437) to actuate a locking pin assembly of the epicardial anchor device to secure the tether to the epicardial anchor device; wherein the handle assembly (344, 444) further comprises a release button (333, 433) fixedly coupled to the elongate member (245, 345, 445, wherein distal movement of the release button (333, 433) causes distal movement of the disc member (239, 439) which compresses the spring (216, 416) and actuates the coupling arms (236, 436) to open wide enough so that the epicardial anchor device can be placed therebetween; and a force sensor device (348, 448) coupled to the handle assembly (344, 444), the force sensor device (348, 448) configured to measure a force exerted on the force sensor device (348, 448), the force associated with a tension of the tether (128, 428) extending through the elongate member (245, 345, 445) and handle assembly (344, 444).