Patent ID: 7850724

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 the combination of: an outer tube having a distal end portion configured and arranged to surround the stent along the entire length of the stent and contain the stent in the delivery configuration, the outer tube having a proximal end portion being connected to the retraction handle, and a separate inner tube being disposed concentrically within the outer tube and having an end portion configured and arranged to surround the stent only along a part of the entire length of the stent.