Devices and methods for controlling and indicating the length of an interventional element

A method of deploying a stent at a target site in a patient's body, the method comprising:

• positioning a distal end of a delivery catheter near the target site, the stent being releasably coupled to the distal end, a proximal portion of the delivery catheter being disposed outside the patient's body;
• adjusting the length of a deployable portion of the stent with the delivery catheter positioned in the patient's body;
• receiving an indication of the length from the proximal portion of the delivery catheter;
• after receiving the, indication, deploying the deployable portion of the stent at the target site,
• wherein the stent comprises a plurality of separable stent segments and adjusting the length comprises constraining at least a first stent segment from expansion while leaving at least a second stent segment unconstrained from expansion;
• axially separating the first stent segment from the second stent segment prior to expansion thereof;
• and
• moving the actuator to a first position for controlling the number of stent segments in the deployable portion and moving the actuator to a second position for controlling the separation between the first and send stent segments.