Self-expanding stent and stent and delivery system with distal protection

A self-expanding stent and stent delivery system are provided for treating vascular diseases such as partially occluded blood vessels within the brain. The self-expanding stent is preferably mounted on an elongated core wire including proximal, intermediate and distal cylindrical members disposed about the core wire. The proximal, intermediate, and distal cylindrical members are spaced apart such that first and second gaps are formed. The stent, which includes anchor members, is mounted on the intermediate cylindrical member such that the anchor members interlock within the gaps between the cylindrical members. The self-expanding stent and elongated core wire are disposed within a delivery lumen of a balloon catheter such that the balloon catheter compresses and constrains the stent about the intermediate cylindrical member to thereby interlock the stent onto the core wire. The elongated core wire further includes an expandable capture basket attached to the distal end of the elongated core wire in order to capture embolic debris released during the angioplasty of the blood vessel and the deployment of the self-expanding stent.