A balloon catheter stent deployment system comprising: a balloon catheter comprising: an inner tubular shaft disposed within an outer tubular shaft, the inner and outer shafts each having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the inner shaft extending distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft, and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end attached to the outer shaft near the distal end thereof and a distal end attached to the inner shaft near the distal end thereof, an expandable tubular stent mounted around the balloon, the stent having a distal end disposed proximally to the distal end of the balloon and a proximal end spaced distally from the proximal end of the balloon, the stent being crimped onto the balloon so the stent has an initial maximum outer diameter when the balloon is in an uninflated state, the balloon further comprising a proximal section extending beyond the proximal end of the stent to a point where the balloon is attached to the outer shaft, the proximal section of the balloon having an uninflated initial outer diameter greater than the initial outer diameter of the stent, and the balloon further comprises a distal section extending beyond the distal end of the stent to a point where the balloon is attached to the inner shaft, the distal section of the balloon having an uninflated initial maximum outer diameter less than or equal to the initial maximum outer diameter of the stent. a balloon catheter comprising: an inner tubular shaft disposed within an outer tubular shaft, the inner and outer shafts each having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the inner shaft extending distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft, and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end attached to the outer shaft near the distal end thereof and a distal end attached to the inner shaft near the distal end thereof, an expandable tubular stent mounted around the balloon, the stent having a distal end disposed proximally to the distal end of the balloon and a proximal end spaced distally from the proximal end of the balloon, the stent being crimped onto the balloon so the stent has an initial maximum outer diameter when the balloon is in an uninflated state, the balloon further comprising a proximal section extending beyond the proximal end of the stent to a point where the balloon is attached to the outer shaft, the proximal section of the balloon having an uninflated initial outer diameter greater than the initial outer diameter of the stent, and the balloon further comprises a distal section extending beyond the distal end of the stent to a point where the balloon is attached to the inner shaft, the distal section of the balloon having an uninflated initial maximum outer diameter less than or equal to the initial maximum outer diameter of the stent. an inner tubular shaft disposed within an outer tubular shaft, the inner and outer shafts each having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the inner shaft extending distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft, and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end attached to the outer shaft near the distal end thereof and a distal end attached to the inner shaft near the distal end thereof, an expandable tubular stent mounted around the balloon, the stent having a distal end disposed proximally to the distal end of the balloon and a proximal end spaced distally from the proximal end of the balloon, the stent being crimped onto the balloon so the stent has an initial maximum outer diameter when the balloon is in an uninflated state, the balloon further comprising a proximal section extending beyond the proximal end of the stent to a point where the balloon is attached to the outer shaft, the proximal section of the balloon having an uninflated initial outer diameter greater than the initial outer diameter of the stent, and the balloon further comprises a distal section extending beyond the distal end of the stent to a point where the balloon is attached to the inner shaft, the distal section of the balloon having an uninflated initial maximum outer diameter less than or equal to the initial maximum outer diameter of the stent.