A delivery device for delivering a stented prosthesis to a target site; the delivery device comprising: an elongate tension member that can compressively retain the stented prosthesis to the delivery device; and a shaft assembly (16, 216) having a distal portion (22, 122, 222, 322, 322', 422, 522, 822, 922, 1022, 1122, 1222, 1322, 1422, 1522, 1622, 1722, 1822, 1922, 2022, 2922, 3022, 3122, 3222, 3322, 3422, 3522) configured to retain the stented prosthesis; the shaft assembly (16, 216) further having a transition element (140, 240, 240', 340', 440, 540, 640, 740, 840, 926, 1026, 1240, 1340, 1440a-b, 1540, 1640a-f, 2940, 3040, 3250, 3350, 3450, 3550a-c) secured to the distal portion (22, 122, 222, 322, 322', 422, 522, 822, 922, 1022, 1122, 1222, 1322, 1422, 1522, 1622, 1722, 1822, 1922, 2022, 2922, 3022, 3122, 3222, 3322, 3422, 3522), the transition element (140, 240, 240', 340', 440, 540, 640, 740, 840, 926, 1026, 1240, 1340, 1440a-b, 1540, 1640a-f, 2940, 3040, 3250, 3350, 3450, 3550a-c) at least partially defining a lumen (241', 1125a-c); wherein the elongate tension member extends in a first direction distally along a length of the distal portion (22, 122, 222, 322, 322', 422, 522, 822, 922, 1022, 1122, 1222, 1322, 1422, 1522, 1622, 1722, 1822, 1922, 2022, 2922, 3022, 3122, 3222, 3322, 3422, 3522), the elongate tension member is then routed through the lumen (241', 1125a-c) and then extends in a second direction that is different than the first direction; characterized in that the transition element (140, 240, 240', 340', 440, 540, 640, 740, 840, 926, 1026, 1240, 1340, 1440a-b, 1540, 1640a-f, 2940, 3040, 3250, 3350, 3450, 3550a-c) provides a rounded edge (144, 744, 844, 926, 1344, 3352) over which the tension member contacts as the tension member extends from the first direction to the second direction. an elongate tension member that can compressively retain the stented prosthesis to the delivery device; and a shaft assembly (16, 216) having a distal portion (22, 122, 222, 322, 322', 422, 522, 822, 922, 1022, 1122, 1222, 1322, 1422, 1522, 1622, 1722, 1822, 1922, 2022, 2922, 3022, 3122, 3222, 3322, 3422, 3522) configured to retain the stented prosthesis; the shaft assembly (16, 216) further having a transition element (140, 240, 240', 340', 440, 540, 640, 740, 840, 926, 1026, 1240, 1340, 1440a-b, 1540, 1640a-f, 2940, 3040, 3250, 3350, 3450, 3550a-c) secured to the distal portion (22, 122, 222, 322, 322', 422, 522, 822, 922, 1022, 1122, 1222, 1322, 1422, 1522, 1622, 1722, 1822, 1922, 2022, 2922, 3022, 3122, 3222, 3322, 3422, 3522), the transition element (140, 240, 240', 340', 440, 540, 640, 740, 840, 926, 1026, 1240, 1340, 1440a-b, 1540, 1640a-f, 2940, 3040, 3250, 3350, 3450, 3550a-c) at least partially defining a lumen (241', 1125a-c); wherein the elongate tension member extends in a first direction distally along a length of the distal portion (22, 122, 222, 322, 322', 422, 522, 822, 922, 1022, 1122, 1222, 1322, 1422, 1522, 1622, 1722, 1822, 1922, 2022, 2922, 3022, 3122, 3222, 3322, 3422, 3522), the elongate tension member is then routed through the lumen (241', 1125a-c) and then extends in a second direction that is different than the first direction; characterized in that the transition element (140, 240, 240', 340', 440, 540, 640, 740, 840, 926, 1026, 1240, 1340, 1440a-b, 1540, 1640a-f, 2940, 3040, 3250, 3350, 3450, 3550a-c) provides a rounded edge (144, 744, 844, 926, 1344, 3352) over which the tension member contacts as the tension member extends from the first direction to the second direction.