Clutch driven stent delivery system

A catheter assembly having a longitudinal axis and having an engaged state and an unengaged state when assembled, the catheter comprising:

• a distal member positioned along the longitudinal axis, the distal member including a sheath and a clutch housing secured to a proximal end of the sheath, the clutch housing configured to rotate substantially about the longitudinal axis;
• a clutch extension positioned proximal of the distal member, the clutch extension configured to move selectively in a proximal direction or in a distal direction relative to the clutch housing to selectively engage and disengage the clutch housing;
• wherein the clutch housing is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis independent of the clutch extension, even when the clutch housing is engaged with the clutch extension when the catheter assembly is arranged in the engaged state;
• wherein the clutch extension entrains the sheath to move in the proximal direction or the distal direction when the clutch extension is engaged to the clutch housing when the clutch extension is moved in the proximal direction or the distal direction.

A catheter assembly having a longitudinal axis and having an engaged state and an unengaged state when assembled, the catheter assembly comprising:

• a proximal member and a distal member, wherein a distal end of the proximal member is removably engageable to the distal member, wherein the distal member has a first distal portion and a second distal portion, the first distal portion constructed and arranged to be retractable from the second distal portion;
• wherein, when the catheter assembly is in the unengaged state, the distal member and the proximal member are substantially moveable independent of one another;
• and
• wherein, when the catheter assembly is in the engaged state, the distal end of the proximal member is engaged to at least the first distal portion of the distal member and the distal member is substantially freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis in relation to the proximal member, wherein the proximal member is constructed and arranged to be moved in a direction along the longitudinal axis such that proximal movement of the proximal member in the engaged state at least partially retracts the first distal portion of the distal member from the second distal portion.