Stent delivery device

A stent delivery device configured to laterally constrain a stent during deployment in order to help maintain a three dimensional shape of the stent, the stent delivery device comprising:

• an inner member including a distal region;
• a stent receiving area disposed within the distal region of the inner member, the stent receiving area including a soft durometer polymer configured to laterally constrain a stent during delivery by allowing the stent to at least partially embed itself in the soft durometer polymer when the stent is in a compressed configuration;
• and
• an outer member movable between an extended position in which the outer member extends over the stent receiving area and a retracted position in which the outer member is proximal of the stent receiving area;
• wherein the stent is able to maintain its three dimensional shape during deployment by virtue of the stent being at least partially embedded in the soft durometer polymer as the outer member is withdrawn proximally in order to allow the stent to expand into an expanded configuration.

A method of delivering a low column strength stent using a stent delivery device having a compliant stent-receiving area and a deployment sheath deployable over the stent-receiving area, the method comprising:

• advancing the stent delivery device to a stent deploying position with a low column strength stent disposed within the compliant stent receiving area, the stent in a compressed configuration in which the stent is at least partially embedded within the compliant stent receiving area;
• starting to deploy the stent by withdrawing the deployment sheath proximally, allowing a portion of the stent to expand from the compressed configuration to an expanded deployment configuration;
• continuing to deploy the stent by further withdrawing the deployment sheath proximally, allowing a further portion of the stent to expand from the compressed configuration to the expanded deployment configuration;
• and
• recapturing the partially deployed stent by advancing the deployment sheath distally over the partially deployed stent to compress the partially deployed stent back into the compressed configuration in which the stent is at least partially embedded within the compliant stent receiving area.