A stent and catheter for implanting or removing a helical-shaped stent
within a body passageway; the catheter having an elongate sheath with a
socket or means for securing one end of the stent at a distal region of
the sheath and an inner member extending from the sheath, and also having
a socket or means at a distal region of the inner member for securing the
other end of the stent. The inner member is rotatable relative to the
sheath to transmit torque to the stent to permit unwinding of the helical
stent at its limiting strain to expand the stent. Also discussed are
methods for performing procedures for implanting or removing a helical
stent from a body passageway.