Stent deployment catheter with collapsible sheath

A stent delivery system comprising:

• a catheter with a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter having a stent receiving portion adapted to receive a stent near the distal end of the catheter and a distal tip arranged distal to the stent receiving portion;
• a stent concentrically arranged around the catheter within the stent receiving portion;
• a proximal outer sheath covering a portion of the catheter, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the catheter is left exposed by the proximal outer sheath;
• a retractable distal sheath surrounding at least a portion of the stent and containing the stent in its reduced delivery configuration, the retractable distal sheath being collapsible;
• and
• a pull back means having a distal end connected to the retractable distal sheath, the pull back means being longitudinally movable;
• whereby when the pull back means is pulled proximally the distal sheath collapses upon itself in accordion fashion, freeing the stent for delivery.

A stent delivery system comprising:

• a catheter with a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter including a guide wire lumen and a pull back lumen;
• a stent concentrically arranged around the catheter near the distal end;
• a retractable distal sheath surrounding at least a portion of the stent;
• a pull back means, a portion of the pull back means housed in the pull back lumen, the pull back means having a distal end connected to the retractable distal sheath for retraction of the retractable distal sheath,
• an anchoring device fixedly attached to the catheter, and
• a collapsible sheath having proximal and distal ends and concentrically arranged around the catheter, the proximal end of the collapsible sheath being attached to the anchoring device and the distal end of the collapsible sheath being attached to the retractable distal sheath;
• whereby when the pull back means is retracted proximally the distal sheath is retracted, causing the collapsible sheath to collapse and freeing the stent for delivery.