Abstract: A stent delivery system to facilitate introduction and placement of a stent, including a catheter having an expansible distal portion constructed and arranged for expanding the outer diameter of the catheter from a contracted state to an expanded state; a stent positioned around the distal portion of the catheter, having a contracted condition and being expansible to an expanded condition, and being sized in the contracted condition to closely surround the catheter in the contracted state, the stent having an end portion defining a margin lying over the expansible portion of the catheter; a sleeve in the region of the distal portion of the catheter positioned around the catheter having a first end fixed to the catheter and a second end defining a margin lying over the margin of the stent; the sleeve fixing the end of the stent on the catheter when the catheter is in the contracted state, the catheter and stent cooperatively constructed and arranged to cause expansion of the catheter from its contracted state