A method and apparatus for inserting a self expanding stent into a delivery device
and delivering the stent into a body lumen. The apparatus comprises an outer tube;
an inner tube; a capturing element slidably mounted on the inner tube and including
a foldable sleeve, a blocking element fixed to the inner tube adapted to block
a stent from being inserted into the sleeve proximally of the blocking element
and to block the capturing element from becoming situated distally of a predetermined
point relative to said inner tube, the capturing element carried on the inner tube
so that the distal end of the sleeve can extend beyond the distal end of the outer
tube in an unfolded condition and be drawn into the outer tube by the blocking
element. A stent having an end inserted into the sleeve is drawn into the outer
tube, thereby becoming captured within the outer tube. The stent is deployed by
inserting the delivery apparatus into a body lumen to position the distal end of
the tube adjacent the stent deployment site and drawing the outer tube proximally
relative to the stent, so as to release the stent from its radially constricted condition.
