A delivery device for a stented heart valve comprising: a handle having a handle lumen extending from a back side of the handle into an interior thereof; an inner catheter shaft extending from the handle and having an enlarged bumper element at a distal end, the bumper element including a central passage which is structured to provide a pathway from a housing lumen, sized and structured for receiving the stented heart valve upon crimping, to an inner catheter shaft lumen; an outer catheter shaft extending from the handle and slidably coupled around the inner catheter shaft, the outer catheter shaft including a generally cylindrical housing at a distal side that is structured to receive the bumper element therein, wherein the generally cylindrical housing defines the housing lumen; and a retraction mechanism for controlling longitudinal movement of the outer catheter shaft relative to the inner catheter shaft; wherein the bumper element is for contacting the stented heart valve as the outer catheter shaft is retracted, wherein the central passage of the bumper element is aligned with the inner catheter shaft lumen for receiving a control suture for maintaining the stented heart valve in a crimped configuration, wherein the handle lumen, in combination with the inner catheter shaft lumen and the central passage, form the pathway, which is continuous between the distal and proximal ends of the delivery device, and wherein the pathway extends longitudinally along the length of the inner catheter shaft into the handle and is for insertion of a stylet through the bumper element to grasp the control sutures. a handle having a handle lumen extending from a back side of the handle into an interior thereof; an inner catheter shaft extending from the handle and having an enlarged bumper element at a distal end, the bumper element including a central passage which is structured to provide a pathway from a housing lumen, sized and structured for receiving the stented heart valve upon crimping, to an inner catheter shaft lumen; an outer catheter shaft extending from the handle and slidably coupled around the inner catheter shaft, the outer catheter shaft including a generally cylindrical housing at a distal side that is structured to receive the bumper element therein, wherein the generally cylindrical housing defines the housing lumen; and a retraction mechanism for controlling longitudinal movement of the outer catheter shaft relative to the inner catheter shaft; wherein the bumper element is for contacting the stented heart valve as the outer catheter shaft is retracted, wherein the central passage of the bumper element is aligned with the inner catheter shaft lumen for receiving a control suture for maintaining the stented heart valve in a crimped configuration, wherein the handle lumen, in combination with the inner catheter shaft lumen and the central passage, form the pathway, which is continuous between the distal and proximal ends of the delivery device, and wherein the pathway extends longitudinally along the length of the inner catheter shaft into the handle and is for insertion of a stylet through the bumper element to grasp the control sutures.