a stent delivery system 10 includes a balloon catheter 12 having a balloon 16 fixed to the catheter for remote inflation as is known in the art the catheter includes an elongate cannula 46 and may include marker bands 44 balloon 16 is shown in a somewhat contracted state a stent 36 is positioned about balloon 16 on catheter 12 and held by two overlying retaining sleeves a proximal one 40 and a distal one 42 stent 36 may be of any known type in this instance for example it may be a balloon expandable stent of stainless steel such as the known types which are cut or etched from hypotubes sleeves 40 and 42 may be axially fixed along catheter 12 as by an adhesive not shown the sleeves overlap stent 36 at each of the stent ends or margin 36 a and 36 b as shown additionally further securement of stent 36 is provided by balloon folds 32 a and 32 b similar to those shown in fig2 and 3 sleeves 40 and 42 are comprised of elastomeric polymeric material such as rubber urethane styrenes silicone polyurethane polyethylene pet abs and polyimides a lubricant additive such as silicone may be included in or on the sleeves additionally further securement of stent 16 is provided by balloon folds 32 a and 32 b similar to those shown in fig2 and 3 referring to fig5 7 and 8 the stent delivery system 10 of fig4.