Patent ID: 7314481

Claim:
A stent introducer apparatus comprising: a catheter having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a guide wire movably disposed within the catheter, the guide wire having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a deployable stent, the stent being disposed within the distal end portion of the catheter and being engaged by the distal end portion of the guide wire; and a handle fixedly connected to the proximal end portion of the guide wire, wherein the stent is deployed by moving the catheter in a proximal direction relative to the guide wire, the proximal end portion of the catheter being engaged by and split by the handle as the catheter is moved in the proximal direction, wherein the handle comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being axially movably connected to the second portion, further wherein the proximal end portion of the catheter is connected to the first portion and the proximal end portion of the guide wire is connected to the second portion, whereby movement of the first portion relative to the second portion causes the proximal end portion of the catheter to be split by the second portion of the handle.