Patent ID: 6884257

Claim:
A stent delivery catheter assembly, comprising: a catheter including an elongated catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with an inner inflation lumen extending therein; an expandable member having a proximal end and a distal end, a length and a desired inflated diameter disposed near the distal end of the elongated catheter shaft which is in fluid communication with the inner inflation lumen, the expandable member being adapted to receive a stent for mounting thereon; a stent mounted on the expandable member; and a moveable sheath adapted to cover a portion of the stent during delivery and having an inner lumen with smaller diameter than the desired inflated diameter of the expandable member, the sheath being movable over a portion of the expandable member so that only a portion of the expandable member not covered by the sheath expands to the desired inflated diameter upon inflation to create a working length of the expandable member which is at least as long as the length of the stent mounted on the expandable member, the sheath possessing sufficient strength to prevent any portion of the expandable member covered by the sheath from expanding when the expandable member is inflated, wherein the sheath has a proximal and a distal portion and the inner lumen which extends within the distal portion of the sheath is provided with larger internal transverse dimensions than the inner lumen of the proximal portion thereof to facilitate receiving the stent and the expandable member.