to negotiate junctions between the lumens and the tortuous pathways presented by the lumens for many applications the catheter will be constructed so that it is as flexible as possible consistent with having sufficient longitudinal rigidity to be manipulated as shown in fig2 a stent 32 with its delivery device 34 are positioned in a catheter 8 at the distal end thereof the delivery device fits within the catheter the end of the delivery device being flush with the end of the catheter the use of a delivery device in the catheter can avoid deformation of the catheter by the stent as a result of the outward force exerted by the stent as it attempts to recover towards the configuration from which it was compressed transversely this factor can be exacerbated when the polymeric material for the catheter is selected for its flexibility since the desired flexibility can often be accompanied by softness the stent is discharged from the delivery device and the catheter once the catheter has been directed through one or more lumens such as blood vessels to an appropriate location the stent is discharged by application of force along the catheter against the stent relative to the catheter and delivery device generally as known for the discharge of stents from catheters this can be achieved by means of a wire 10 which extends through the catheter which has a plunger 12 on its distal end of appropriate dimensions to ensure that an axially applied force can be imparted to the stent preferably the wire is formed from a shape.