Apparatus for insertion into a body lumen

Apparatus for supporting an instrument for insertion into a body lumen, said apparatus comprising:

• an outer frame supportable relative to the body lumen;
• an inner frame connected to said outer frame, said inner frame being rotatable about a first axis relative to said outer frame;
• and
• an advance assembly connected to said inner frame, said advance assembly being pivotable about a second axis relative to said inner frame, said second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis, said advance assembly comprising a sleeve for receiving said instrument and advancing means operative to impart advancement of said instrument in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis of said instrument.

A method for placing a stent within a body lumen, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an instrument comprising an elongate member, at least one clamping arm including a first end having a pivotal connection with a distal end of said elongate member, said at least one clamping arm extending away from said pivotal connection toward a proximal end of said elongate member, said least one clamping arm being actuatable between an open position and a closed position;
• providing a radially expandable stent having an inner lumen;
• sliding the stent over the distal end of the elongate member;
• clamping a leading end of the stent between the at least one clamping arm and the elongate member by actuating the at least clamping arm to the closed position;
• inserting the distal end of the elongate member into the body lumen and pulling the stent clamped thereto to a desired placement location;
• actuating the at least one clamping arm to the open position, which thereby releases the stent for radial expansion into engagement with the body lumen;
• advancing the distal end such that the at least one clamping arm clears the stent;
• actuating the at least one clamping arm back to the closed position;
• and
• removing the distal end of the elongate member from the body lumen by pulling the distal end and the at least one clamping arm back through the inner lumen of the stent.