A stent delivery system includes an inner tubular member on which a stent is loaded, an outer jacket extending over said inner tubular member, the retraction of which causes deployment of the stent, and a handle adapted to move the jacket relative to the inner tubular member. The outer jacket has a tri-layer construction. The constructions of the inner tubular member and outer jacket and the handle provide increased control of the relative movement of the outer jacket relative to the inner tubular member, and prevention of premature release of the stent from the deployment instrument, and greater control over stent deployment among other advantages.