Apparatus for delivering and deploying an intravascular device into the vessel including an outer (3) and inner (5) tubes that are axially linked by a housing structure (8) at the proximal end of the catheter, and a retractable sleeve structure (2) having a middle tube (4) and sleeve tip (16). The sleeve tip is sealed to the inner tube at the distal end, and continuously extends into the middle tube. At the proximal end of the sleeve structure, the middle tube is sealed to either a housing structure or slideable proximal ring (7), forming a sealed chamber (15) between the inner tube and the sleeve structure. A radial space (W) is formed between the sleeve tip and the inner tube optimized for intravascular device placement. During retraction of the sleeve structure, the fold (17) of the sleeve tip peels away from the device, which expands to its deployed state while minimizing axial forces and friction.
