Apparatus for delivering and releasing a self-expanding stent through a catheter to a treatment site in a patient's vasculature, comprising: a core wire having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion located between said proximal and distal portions (22, 24) of said core wire; a self-expanding stent having a proximal end, a proximal portion and an inner lumen, said distal portion of said core wire extending through at least a portion of said inner lumen of said self-expanding stent, with said proximal portion of said self-expanding stent disposed over said intermediate portion of said core wire; a tubular capture sleeve having a lumen, a proximal portion, a distal portion and a distal end, said distal portion of said tubular capture sleeve disposed over said proximal portion of said self-expanding stent, and said distal portion of said tubular capture sleeve being configured to removably retain said proximal portion of said self-expanding stent within said lumen of said tubular capture sleeve and on said intermediate portion of said core wire, said tubular capture sleeve including at least one aperture extending through said distal portion of said tubular capture sleeve at a location aligned with the proximal end of said self-expanding stent; and at least one elongated member having first and second ends (46, 48) and an intermediate portion between said first and second ends (46, 48) of said elongated member, said intermediate portion of said at least one elongated member extending through said at least one aperture of said tubular capture sleeve and through said lumen of said tubular capture sleeve and out said distal end of said tubular capture sleeve, said first and second ends (46, 48) of said at least one elongated member extending proximally from said tubular capture sleeve, and said at least one elongated member being configured to split said tubular capture sleeve when said first and second ends (46, 48) of said at least one elongated member are pulled proximally to release said proximal end of said self-expanding stent from said tubular capture sleeve and said intermediate portion of said core wire. a core wire having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion located between said proximal and distal portions (22, 24) of said core wire; a self-expanding stent having a proximal end, a proximal portion and an inner lumen, said distal portion of said core wire extending through at least a portion of said inner lumen of said self-expanding stent, with said proximal portion of said self-expanding stent disposed over said intermediate portion of said core wire; a tubular capture sleeve having a lumen, a proximal portion, a distal portion and a distal end, said distal portion of said tubular capture sleeve disposed over said proximal portion of said self-expanding stent, and said distal portion of said tubular capture sleeve being configured to removably retain said proximal portion of said self-expanding stent within said lumen of said tubular capture sleeve and on said intermediate portion of said core wire, said tubular capture sleeve including at least one aperture extending through said distal portion of said tubular capture sleeve at a location aligned with the proximal end of said self-expanding stent; and at least one elongated member having first and second ends (46, 48) and an intermediate portion between said first and second ends (46, 48) of said elongated member, said intermediate portion of said at least one elongated member extending through said at least one aperture of said tubular capture sleeve and through said lumen of said tubular capture sleeve and out said distal end of said tubular capture sleeve, said first and second ends (46, 48) of said at least one elongated member extending proximally from said tubular capture sleeve, and said at least one elongated member being configured to split said tubular capture sleeve when said first and second ends (46, 48) of said at least one elongated member are pulled proximally to release said proximal end of said self-expanding stent from said tubular capture sleeve and said intermediate portion of said core wire.