Patent ID: 8439961

Claim:
A catheter comprising: a medical device receiving region; a stent disposed about the medical device receiving region in a reduced state for delivery; and a stent retaining device which is activatable to release the stent, wherein the retaining device comprises an electroactive polymer, the retaining device having different first and second shapes corresponding to activated and inactivated states of the electroactive polymer, and the retaining device configured to effect release of the stent as a result of a shape change induced by activation or inactivation of the electroactive polymer therein; wherein the retaining device is at least one sheath having a first portion and a second portion; wherein, in the inactivated state, the first portion of the at least one sheath is disposed about a length of the stent and, in the activated state, the first portion of the at least one sheath is curled back such that the first portion of the at least one sheath is disposed about the second portion of the at least one sheath.