Suture esophageal stent introducer

A method of implanting a stent in a patient's lumen, the method comprising:

• inserting a distal portion of a stent delivery system into a lumen of a patient, the stent delivery system comprising:
• an elongate shaft including a proximal portion, a distal portion, at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a stent receiving portion on the distal portion of the elongate shaft;
• a stent positioned on the stent receiving portion of the elongate shaft, the stent having a first configuration and a second configuration;
• a sheath positioned longitudinally around the elongate shaft, the elongate shaft extending coaxially at least partially within the lumen of the sheath, the sheath moveably positionable relative to the elongate shaft;
• a proximal constraining arrangement engaged with a proximal end of the stent, the proximal constraining arrangement comprising a first proximal constraining member having a proximal portion, a second proximal portion, and a distal portion, and a second proximal constraining member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the first proximal constraining member engaged with a first proximal portion of the stent and the distal portion of the second proximal constraining member engaged with a second proximal portion of the stent;
• a distal constraining arrangement engaged with a distal end of the stent, the distal constraining arrangement comprising a first distal constraining member having a proximal portion, a second proximal portion, and a distal portion, and a second distal constraining member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the first distal constraining member engaged with a first distal portion of the stent and the distal portion of the second distal constraining member engaged with a second distal portion of the stent;
• a handle assembly comprising an axially moveable outer shuttle, a first inner shuttle operably connected to the proximal constraining arrangement and a second inner shuttle operably connected to the distal constraining arrangement and the sheath, the first inner shuttle and the second inner shuttle engaged with the outer shuttle;
• holding the stent in the first configuration with longitudinal tensile force applied to the stent by the proximal constraining member and the distal constraining member and tensioning the stent for delivery of the stent to the implant site;
• positioning the stent at the implant site;
• and
• expanding the stent by manipulating the first inner shuttle and the second inner shuttle in a distal direction and releasing longitudinal force on the stent.