An implantable medical device includes a carrier element having a distal holding member (60) which includes a proximal connecting element (64) which is attached to a guidewire catheter (24) and a distal connecting element (68) which is attached to a dilator tip (20). A proximal connecting element (64) includes a plurality of ribs (74) which have a perpendicular shoulder (80) spaced from an enlarged head (82). The shoulder (80) supports and endmost stent (92) of a device held by the distal holding member (60). Guide wires (98) pass through lumens (86, 88) in the ribs (74) and enlarged head (82), these guidewires (98) being substantially straight. The ribs (74) support an implantable medical device both in the longitudinal direction and in the radial direction. The device (90) can also be pulled rather than pushed by means of the introducer assembly.
