Patent ID: 7175650

Claim:
A self-expanding stent delivery system for delivering a self-expanding stent to a predetermined location in a body lumen, the self-expanding stent delivery system comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body being configured and arranged to carry the stent near the distal end of the catheter body for transporting the stent to the predetermined location in the body lumen for deployment; a retractable outer sheath configured and arranged to surround the stent and contain the stent in a delivery configuration such that the stent has a reduced radius along its entire axial length; and a proximal retraction handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body, the retractable outer sheath comprising, an outer tube having a distal end portion configured and arranged to surround the stent along the entire length of the stent and further having a proximal end portion connected to the retraction handle, and a separate inner tube disposed concentrically within the outer tube and having a distal end portion configured and arranged to surround the stent only along a proximal part of the entire length of the stent, the inner tube having a proximal end portion housed in the retraction handle, retraction of the handle causing the distal end portion of the outer tube to recede from the stent and from the distal end portion of the inner tube.