Stent body sock

1. A stent delivery system comprising:

a stent delivery catheter, the stent delivery catheter having a stent mounting region, the stent mounting region having an inflatable portion;

a stent disposed about the stent mounting region, the stent having an unexpanded state and an expanded state;

a stent retaining sleeve having first and second ends and a body extending therebetween, the first end being attached to the stent delivery catheter adjacent to a first end of the stent mounting region, at least a portion of the stent retaining sleeve disposed about and covering the entire stent in its unexpanded state so that the second end of the stent retaining sleeve is adjacent a second end of the stent mounting region, the stent retaining sleeve being constructed and arranged to retract toward the attached first end when the stent is expanded, wherein the at least a portion of the stent retaining sleeve disposed about and covering the entire stent having an inner surface comprising first portions and second portions wherein the first portions of the inner surface are positioned closer to the outer surface of the stent than the second portions, wherein the stent retaining sleeve has a plurality of openings.

2. The stent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the stent retaining sleeve is accordion shaped.

3. The stent delivery system of claim 2 , wherein, when the stent retaining sleeve is fully extended over the stent, the second end is longitudinally adjacent to the stent.

4. The stent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the stent retaining sleeve is comprised of at least two materials.

5. The stent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the stent retaining sleeve is attached proximally of the stent.

6. The stent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is ribbed.

7. The stent delivery system of claim 1 , the first end being longitudinally fixed relative to the stent mounting region, wherein, when the retaining sleeve retracts toward the attached first end when the stent is expanded, the distance between the first and second ends of the stent retaining sleeve is shortened.

8. The stent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the inner surface alternate with one another.

9. A stent delivery system comprising:

a stent delivery catheter, the stent delivery catheter having a stent mounting region, the stent mounting region having an inflatable portion;

a stent disposed about the stent mounting region, the stent having an unexpanded state and an expanded state;

a stent retaining sleeve having a circumference and first and second ends with a body extending between the first and second ends, the first end being attached to the stent delivery catheter adjacent to a first end of the stent mounting region, at least a portion of the stent retaining sleeve disposed about and covering the entire stent in its unexpanded state so that the second end of the stent retaining sleeve is adjacent a second end of the stent mounting region, the stent retaining sleeve being constructed and arranged to retract toward the attached first end when the stent is expanded, wherein the at least the portion of the stent retaining sleeve comprises a plurality of pleats when disposed about and covering the stent, wherein each pleat extends about the circumference of the sleeve, wherein the stent retaining sleeve has a plurality of openings.

10. The stent delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the first end of the stent retaining sleeve is attached proximally of the stent.

11. The stent delivery system of claim 9 , the at least a portion of the stent retaining sleeve disposed about and covering the entire stent having an inner surface comprising first portions and second portions, and an outer surface, wherein the first portions of the inner surface are positioned closer to the outer surface of the stent than the second portions.

12. The stent delivery system of claim 9 , the first end being longitudinally fixed relative to the stent mounting region, wherein, when the retaining sleeve retracts toward the attached first end when the stent is expanded, the distance between the first and second ends of the stent retaining sleeve is shortened.

13. A stent delivery system comprising:

a stent delivery catheter, the stent delivery catheter having a stent mounting region, the stent mounting region having an inflatable portion;

a stent disposed about the stent mounting region, the stent having an unexpanded state and an expanded state;

a stent retaining sleeve having first and second ends, wherein the stent retaining sleeve is a single layer, the first end being attached to the stent delivery catheter adjacent to the stent mounting region, the stent retaining sleeve disposed about and covering the entire stent in its unexpanded state, the stent retaining sleeve being constructed and arranged to retract toward the attached first end when the stent is expanded, wherein the stent retaining sleeve is comprised of at least two materials, wherein the stent retaining sleeve is comprised of alternating strips of the at least two materials, and wherein each strip of material extends from the first end of the sleeve to the second end of the sleeve, wherein the stent retaining sleeve has a plurality of openings.

14. The stent delivery system of claim 13 , wherein the first end of the stent retaining sleeve is attached proximally of the stent.

15. The stent delivery system of claim 13 , the first end being longitudinally fixed relative to the stent mounting region, wherein, when the retaining sleeve retracts toward the attached first end when the stent is expanded, the distance between the first and second ends of the stent retaining sleeve is shortened.