Patent ID: 8753384

Claim:
An assembly for delivering a self-expanding stent into a body lumen comprising: a self-expanding stent; a catheter adapted to deliver the self-expanding stent, the catheter having a stent delivery passage adapted to contain the self-expanding stent in an at least partially radially compressed state, the catheter comprising an inner member and an outer member slidably disposed about the inner member; a stent transfer member communicating with a distal end of the outer member of the catheter, the stent transfer member having a first surrounding passage sized to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the self-expanding stent in an at least partially radially expanded state, the stent transfer member further including a tapered passage disposed between the first surrounding passage and the delivery passage to radially compress the self-expanding stent as the self-expanding stent moves from the first surrounding passage into the tapered passage; a first handle in communication with the inner member of the catheter; and a second handle in communication with the outer member of the catheter, the second member positioned distally of the first handle, wherein movement of the second handle relative to the first handle allows the inner member to slide relative to the outer member; and a thread-like member for manipulating the self-expanding stent through at least the first surrounding passage, wherein the thread-like member has a central portion and two ends, wherein the central portion is woven into the self-expanding stent and the two ends are removably attached to the first handle.