Patent ID: 8092509

Claim:
A stent delivery system, comprising: an outer sheath for insertion into a body defining a lumen and including a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal tip zone at a distal end of the system, the distal tip zone being contiguous with and affixed to the distal end of the sheath, the distal tip zone tapering radially inwardly and including a stretch zone; and an inner shaft being at least partially disposed in the lumen and including a first marker band initially disposed within the lumen, wherein an outside diameter of the inner shaft distal the first marker band is less than an outside diameter of the inner shaft proximal the first marker band, wherein the outer sheath includes a second marker band disposed over the distal end of the sheath adjacent a proximal end of the distal tip zone, wherein the inner shaft includes a third marker band disposed distal of the first marker band at an initial axial location corresponding to the second marker band, and wherein the distal tip zone is configured and attached to the distal end of the sheath such that proximally withdrawing the distal end of the sheath over a stent proximally withdraws the distal tip zone over the stent.