An assembly for delivering a self-expanding stent into a body lumen comprising: a catheter adapted to deliver the self-expanding stent, the catheter having a stent delivery passage adapted to contain the stent in an at least partially radially compressed state, the catheter comprising a proximal inner member; a proximal handle for controlling sliding movement of the proximal inner member; an outer tubular member moveably disposed over a portion of the proximal inner member; a distal handle for controlling sliding movement of the outer tubular member; a stent transfer member having a proximal end releasably engaged to a distal end of the outer tubular member, the stent transfer member comprising: a stent holding passage sized to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the stent in an at least partially radially expanded state; a tapered passage sized to radially compress the stent as the stent moves from the stent holding passage into the tapered passage, the tapered passage positioned between the stent holding passage and the stent delivery passage of the catheter; and a thread-like loading coupling sized to extend from the proximal end of the stent to the proximal handle (80, 180); wherein: the thread-like loading coupling is removably secured to the proximal handle (80, 180) and is configured to limit relative movement of the stent away from the proximal handle (80, 180) while the distal handle is adapted to draw the stent proximally from the stent holding passage by moving the distal handle away from the proximal handle. a catheter adapted to deliver the self-expanding stent, the catheter having a stent delivery passage adapted to contain the stent in an at least partially radially compressed state, the catheter comprising a proximal inner member; a proximal handle for controlling sliding movement of the proximal inner member; an outer tubular member moveably disposed over a portion of the proximal inner member; a distal handle for controlling sliding movement of the outer tubular member; a stent transfer member having a proximal end releasably engaged to a distal end of the outer tubular member, the stent transfer member comprising: a stent holding passage sized to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the stent in an at least partially radially expanded state; a tapered passage sized to radially compress the stent as the stent moves from the stent holding passage into the tapered passage, the tapered passage positioned between the stent holding passage and the stent delivery passage of the catheter; and a stent holding passage sized to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the stent in an at least partially radially expanded state; a tapered passage sized to radially compress the stent as the stent moves from the stent holding passage into the tapered passage, the tapered passage positioned between the stent holding passage and the stent delivery passage of the catheter; and a thread-like loading coupling sized to extend from the proximal end of the stent to the proximal handle (80, 180); wherein: the thread-like loading coupling is removably secured to the proximal handle (80, 180) and is configured to limit relative movement of the stent away from the proximal handle (80, 180) while the distal handle is adapted to draw the stent proximally from the stent holding passage by moving the distal handle away from the proximal handle.