Stent deployment device and method for deploying a stent

A device for retaining and releasing a stent circumferentially compressed on the distal end of an endoscope, comprising:

• a protective cap adapted for mounting on said distal end of said endoscope;
• a sheath adapted to be releasably wrapped around said stent to hold said stent in a compressed configuration over said protective cap;
• and
• a flexible, elongated member extending through a working channel of said endoscope and having one end attached to said sheath to permit release thereof and deployment of said stent in a substantially linear transverse alignment within said body cavity by withdrawing said elongated member through the working channel of said endoscope.

A stent deployment device for deploying a stent within a body cavity used with an endoscope having a distal end and a working channel, the stent deployment device comprising:

• a protective cap having a perimeter, the protective cap being mounted on said distal end of said endoscope;
• a flexible stent circumferentially compressed over the perimeter of said protective cap;
• a sheath releasably wrapped around said stent to hold said stent in a compressed configuration over said protective cap;
• and
• a flexible, elongated member extending through the working channel of said endoscope and having one end attached to said sheath to permit removal thereof from said protective cap and enable deployment of said stent in a substantially linear transverse alignment within said body cavity.

A method of deploying a stent within a body cavity, comprising the steps of:

• mounting a protective cap on a distal end of an endoscope;
• compressing a stent circumferentially over the perimeter of said protective cap;
• releasably wrapping a sheath around said stent to hold said stent in a compressed configuration over said protective cap, said sheath having a flexible, elongated member engaged with said sheath extending through a working channel of said endoscope;
• and
• withdrawing said flexible, elongated member through said working channel of said endoscope to release said sheath from said cap, thereby causing said stent to deploy.

A method of deploying a stent within a body cavity, comprising the steps of:

• disposing a stent over a distal end of an endoscope;
• releasably wrapping a holding device around said stent to hold said stent over the distal end of the endoscope;
• and
• actuating a member coupled to said holding device and extending through a working channel of the endoscope to release said holding device and deploy the stent.