Patent ID: 8216295

Claim:
A catheter system comprising: an introducer comprising an introducer main body and an introducer sheath projecting from the introducer main body, the introducer sheath having an introducer lumen extending therethrough; a delivery catheter comprising a delivery catheter main body, an outer sheath projecting from the delivery catheter main body having a delivery catheter lumen therethrough, and an inner core configured to advance through the delivery catheter lumen; and a stent having a lumen axially therethrough supported about an outside surface of a distal end portion of the inner core; wherein: the inner core axially supports the stent such that, in use, advancing the inner core through the delivery catheter lumen simultaneously advances the stent through the outer sheath delivery catheter lumen; the outer sheath is configured to radially restrain the stent; the introducer sheath is configured to axially receive at least the inner core therein; the catheter system is configured to prevent the outer sheath of the delivery catheter from advancing into the introducer sheath when the delivery catheter has reached a fully advanced position in the introducer; and the introducer sheath is configured to directly radially restrain the stent while the stent is positioned within the introducer sheath.