An intraluminal apparatus for delivering a self-expanding stent which extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal side to a distal side. It comprises in delivery configuration (a) a retracting sheath having a lumen along its longitudinal axis and slidably covering a stent receiving region at the distal end of the lumen,(b) an inner shaft longitudinally disposed in the intraluminal apparatus, at least a distal portion of the inner shaft being disposed within the sheath, (c) the self-expanding stent in a compressed state disposed within the stent receiving region of the lumen, (d) a holding means delimitating an inner cavity, disposed adjacent to a proximal side of the stent in the sheath, the proximal end of the holding means being permanently joined to the inner shaft, and (e) a handling means placed towards the proximal side of the intraluminal apparatus, able to displace longitudinally the retracting sheath with respect to the inner shaft.When the intraluminal apparatus is in a delivery configuration, the distal portion of the holding means is disposed around the proximal portion of the stent and defines an overlapping region of the holding means and the stent. The ratio L(10)/L(2)Comp of the length of the overlapping region, L(10), to the length of the self-expanding stent, L(2)Comp, in their compressed state is at least 5% and at most 30%.
