A delivery device for implanting a prosthetic heart valve. The device includes an inner shaft assembly, an outer sheath and a connector assembly. The inner shaft assembly defines a guide wire lumen. The outer sheath is slidably received over the inner shaft assembly, and forms an exit port proximate a distal end thereof. The connector assembly establishes a guide wire passageway between the guide wire lumen and the exit port. The connector assembly is configured to permit sliding movement of the outer sheath relative to the inner shaft assembly when deploying the prosthetic heart valve. The connector assembly can include first and second tubes that are slidable relative to one another in facilitating movement of the outer sheath relative to the inner shaft assembly.
