Intracranial stent

A stent delivery system comprising:

• an insertion catheter having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a self-expanding stent mounted on the distal end of the insertion catheter, said self-expanding stent having a small diameter configuration and a large diameter configuration;
• tear-away sheath means for retaining the stent on the distal end of the insertion catheter, the tear-away sheath means is detachable from the insertion catheter;
• and
• sheath release means for releasing the stent from the tear-away sheath means to allow the stent to expand;
• wherein release is accomplished without requiring that the tear-away sheath move axially over the stent in order to release the stent;
• wherein removal of the insertion catheter is accomplished without requiring that the tear-away sheath move axially over the stent.

A catheter delivery system comprising:

• an insertion catheter having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a stent mounted on the distal end of the insertion catheter;
• stent retaining sheath means which holds the stent on the distal end of the insertion catheter, the stent retaining sheath means is detachable from the insertion catheter;
• an elongate member operably connected to the stent retaining sheath means, said elongate member being operable from the proximal end of the insertion catheter to tear the stent retaining sheath means to release the stent, the elongate member acts to release the stent retaining sheath means from the stent without causing the inner surface of the sheath means to slide over the stent after release;
• and
• a linear translator located at the proximal end of the insertion catheter and engaging the elongate member for moving the elongate member axially in relation to the insertion catheter, the elongate member acts to release the stent retaining sheath means from the stent without causing the inner surface of the sheath means to slide over the stent.

A stent delivery catheter comprising:

• an insertion catheter having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a self-expanding stent mounted on the distal tip of the insertion catheter, said self-expanding stent having a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• tear-away means for retaining the stent on the distal tip of the insertion catheter in the compressed configuration;
• and
• means for releasing the stent from the distal tip of the insertion catheter and allowing the stent to expand to the expanded configuration, wherein said means for releasing the stent from the distal tip of the insertion catheter permits the stent to be released and the insertion catheter to be withdrawn without causing the retaining means to slide over the surface of the stent.