The invention is a method for deploying a stent including the steps of providing a sheath (10) containing a plurality of stents (21); locating the distal end (11) of the sheath (10) at a treatment site (12) in a passage (14); and moving the sheath (10) and a first stent (21) relative to each other a distance sufficient to expose the first stent to the passage by actuating a stent deployment mechanism disposed at the proximal end of the sheath, the distance being determined solely by the structure of the stent deployment mechanism. The invention also includes a stent assembly comprising a sheath (10); a stent stop (24) within the sheath (10) at the distal end (11) of the sheath (10); a stent disposed against the stent stop (24); an actuator; and an actuator limit stop. Also included within the invention is a stent loading mechanism.