Patent ID: 8092510

Claim:
A delivery system for a self-expanding stent, comprising: a retention sheath comprising an outer diameter and an inner lumen extending therethrough, said inner lumen forming an opening at a distal end of said retention sheath; an inner catheter comprising a stop extending radially outward from a portion of said inner catheter, wherein said inner catheter is disposed within said inner lumen of said retention sheath; a self-expanding stent disposed between said inner catheter and said retention sheath, said retention sheath thereby restraining said self-expanding stent in a collapsed configuration, wherein a proximal end of said stent is disposed adjacent said stop; and a metal wire comprising a portion releasably attached to a distal end of said stent and adapted to restrain said distal end of said stent inward toward said inner catheter when said retention sheath is withdrawn thereby preventing said distal end from contacting a vessel wall, a middle portion of said stent being unrestrained and allowed to contact said vessel wall, wherein said metal wire is fixed attached to said inner catheter at a location distal from said stop and is releasable from said stent by withdrawing said inner catheter after said stent self-expands to allow said distal end to contact said vessel wall, said releasably attached portion of said metal wire thereby being withdrawn with said inner catheter.