An assembly of a delivery catheter and apparatus for loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into the delivery catheter, said apparatus comprising: a main body having a lengthwise axis, a proximal end defining a proximal opening, a distal end defining a distal opening, and a main body passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings, the main body passageway defining a proximal chamber having a first inner diameter, a distal chamber having a second inner diameter, and a transition chamber disposed between the proximal and distal chambers, the second inner diameter being greater than the first inner diameter and the transition chamber having an inner diameter that transitions along the lengthwise axis from the second inner diameter to the first inner diameter, the main body having proximal and distal portions connected to each other at a separable connection; an inner sleeve comprising a tubular body and a distal flange, the tubular body disposed within the main body passageway and the distal flange extending outwardly relative to the lengthwise axis of the main body and disposed between the proximal and distal portions of the main body; a proximal cap disposed on the proximal portion of the main body, the cap defining a cap passageway in communication with the passageway of the main body; and at least one pull wire attached to the cap and extending into the passageway of the main body; wherein said delivery catheter includes a distal tip member comprising a distal tip body having a distal tip outer diameter; and wherein the separable connection provides a separating line on a plane that orthogonally intersects the main body passageway relative to the lengthwise axis of the main body at a point where the inner diameter of the transition chamber is greater than said distal tip outer diameter. a main body having a lengthwise axis, a proximal end defining a proximal opening, a distal end defining a distal opening, and a main body passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings, the main body passageway defining a proximal chamber having a first inner diameter, a distal chamber having a second inner diameter, and a transition chamber disposed between the proximal and distal chambers, the second inner diameter being greater than the first inner diameter and the transition chamber having an inner diameter that transitions along the lengthwise axis from the second inner diameter to the first inner diameter, the main body having proximal and distal portions connected to each other at a separable connection; an inner sleeve comprising a tubular body and a distal flange, the tubular body disposed within the main body passageway and the distal flange extending outwardly relative to the lengthwise axis of the main body and disposed between the proximal and distal portions of the main body; a proximal cap disposed on the proximal portion of the main body, the cap defining a cap passageway in communication with the passageway of the main body; and at least one pull wire attached to the cap and extending into the passageway of the main body; wherein said delivery catheter includes a distal tip member comprising a distal tip body having a distal tip outer diameter; and wherein the separable connection provides a separating line on a plane that orthogonally intersects the main body passageway relative to the lengthwise axis of the main body at a point where the inner diameter of the transition chamber is greater than said distal tip outer diameter.