Patent ID: 8069814

Claim:
An apparatus for supporting a stent comprising: a first support rod disposed within a proximal end of a stent, the first support rod coupled to a first collet opposite the proximal end of the stent; a second support rod disposed within a distal end of the stent, the second support rod coupled to a second collet opposite the distal end of the stent; and a third support rod for supporting the first collet and the second collet, the first collet being coupled to a proximal end of the third support rod, the second collet being coupled to a distal end of the third support rod, wherein the third support rod extends between the first collet and the second collet outside of and free of any contact with the stent, wherein the first collet is coupled to the third support rod by a spring-loaded connecting rod that allows the first support rod to be retracted to provide for stent loading and unloading.