A stent delivery system (104, 204, 304) comprising: a self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322); and an elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) defining an outer member lumen through which the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) is deliverable, the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) being configured to self-expand from a compressed configuration when the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) is positioned in the outer member lumen to an expanded configuration after the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) is advanced out of the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308), the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) comprising: an anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306), the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) being radially elastic and longitudinally inelastic, the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) being positioned radially inward of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) of the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) in a compressed configuration, the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) of the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) being at least as long as the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, and the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) comprising flared proximal and distal ends in the compressed configuration, parts of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, a diameter of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration being greater than that of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) not surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, and a rigid portion (118, 218, 318) proximal to the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306), the rigid portion (118, 218, 318) being radially inelastic and longitudinally inelastic; and a pusher assembly (136, 236, 336) in the outer member lumen. a self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322); and an elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) defining an outer member lumen through which the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) is deliverable, the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) being configured to self-expand from a compressed configuration when the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) is positioned in the outer member lumen to an expanded configuration after the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) is advanced out of the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308), the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) comprising: an anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306), the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) being radially elastic and longitudinally inelastic, the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) being positioned radially inward of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) of the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) in a compressed configuration, the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) of the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) being at least as long as the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, and the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) comprising flared proximal and distal ends in the compressed configuration, parts of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, a diameter of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration being greater than that of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) not surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, and a rigid portion (118, 218, 318) proximal to the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306), the rigid portion (118, 218, 318) being radially inelastic and longitudinally inelastic; and an anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306), the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) being radially elastic and longitudinally inelastic, the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) being positioned radially inward of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) of the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) in a compressed configuration, the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) of the elongate outer member (108, 208, 308) being at least as long as the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, and the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) comprising flared proximal and distal ends in the compressed configuration, parts of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, a diameter of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration being greater than that of the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306) not surrounding the flared ends of the self-expanding stent (122, 222, 322) in the compressed configuration, and a rigid portion (118, 218, 318) proximal to the anisotropic portion (106, 206, 306), the rigid portion (118, 218, 318) being radially inelastic and longitudinally inelastic; and a pusher assembly (136, 236, 336) in the outer member lumen.