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A stent cover for enclosing a compressible stent during a stent crimping process, the stent cover having an outer sheath with a proximal end, a distal end, an end portion at the distal end of the sheath having a first diameter, and a stent-retaining portion adjacent to the end portion and having an

A stent cover for enclosing a compressible stent during a stent crimping process, the stent cover having an outer sheath with a proximal end, a distal end, an end portion at the distal end of the sheath having a first diameter, and a stent-retaining portion adjacent to the end portion and having an uncompressed diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the end portion for retaining a stent in its uncompressed condition.

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1. A stent cover for enclosing a compressible stent during a stent crimping process, the stent cover comprising an outer sheath having a single-piece construction and comprising: a proximal end;a closed distal end;a generally cylindrical end portion extending from the closed distal end of the sheath

1. A stent cover for enclosing a compressible stent during a stent crimping process, the stent cover comprising an outer sheath having a single-piece construction and comprising: a proximal end;a closed distal end;a generally cylindrical end portion extending from the closed distal end of the sheath toward the proximal end and having an inner diameter for at least partially surrounding a tip of a catheter;a generally cylindrical stent-retaining portion adjacent to the end portion and having an uncompressed inner diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the end portion for retaining a stent in an uncompressed condition;a locating portion adjacent to the stent-retaining portion and having a larger inner diameter than the uncompressed inner diameter of the stent-retaining portion; and a flange extending from a proximal end of the locating portion, wherein the flange extends beyond an outer diameter of the locating portion at the proximal end of the sheath. 2. The stent cover of claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a wall adjacent to a proximal end of the end portion, wherein the wall extends generally perpendicular to an outer cylindrical surface of the end portion. 3. The stent cover of claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a wall adjacent to a proximal end of the end portion, wherein the wall extends at an angle from the end portion toward the stent-retaining portion. 4. The stent cover of claim 1, wherein the stent-retaining portion is radially deformable under pressure from its uncompressed diameter to a compressed diameter that is smaller than the uncompressed diameter while retaining a stent. 5. The stent cover of claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises an inner area that is substantially sterile. 6. The stent cover of claim 1, further comprising an end cover removably attached to a face surface of the flange at the proximal end of the sheath for preventing contamination of an inner area of the sheath. 7. The stent cover of claim 6, wherein the end cover further comprises an extending tab that extends beyond and is spaced from the outer edge of the flange. 8. The stent cover of claim 6, further comprising a sterile solution contained within the inner area of the sheath. 9. The stent cover of claim 1, wherein the flange comprises a generally planar ring that extends circumferentially around the proximal end of the sheath. 10. The stent cover of claim 9, further comprising an end cover releasably attached to at least a portion of the generally planar ring of the flange. 11. The stent cover of claim 10, wherein the end cover is adhered to at least a portion of the flange. 12. The stent cover of claim 10, wherein the end cover further comprises an extending tab that extends beyond the planar ring of the flange in at least one location. 13. The stent cover of claim 1, in combination with a stented valve positioned within the stent-retaining portion, wherein the stented valve comprises a valve segment secured within a stein frame. 14. The stent cover of claim 13, wherein the valve segment comprises a polymer valve. 15. The stent cover of claim 13, wherein the valve segment comprises a nitinol mesh valve. 16. The stent cover of claim 1, further comprising at least one locator feature for positioning the stent-retaining portion of the sheath relative to a crimping device. 17. The stent cover of claim 16, wherein the at least one locator feature comprises a locating portion of the sheath extending outwardly from the stent-retaining portion, wherein the locating portion of the sheath has a diameter that is larger than the uncompressed diameter of the stent-retaining portion. 18. The stent cover of claim 16, wherein the at least one locator feature comprises a locator tab extending from an outer surface of the stent-retaining portion. 19. The stent cover of claim 16, wherein the at least one locator feature comprises a locator ring extending around the circumference of an outer surface of the stent-retaining portion. 20. The stent cover of claim 16, wherein the at least one locator feature is depressible into an interior space of the stent-retaining portion for positioning a proximal end of a stent within the stent-retaining portion of the sheath. 21. The stent cover of claim 16, wherein the at least one locator feature comprises an area of the stent cover that is visually distinct from the remainder of the stent cover. 22. The stent cover of claim 16, wherein the at least one locator feature comprises an area of the stent cover that is tactilely distinct from the remainder of the stent cover. 23. The stent cover of claim 1, further comprising a locator feature for positioning a stent within the stent-retaining portion of the sheath. 24. The stent cover of claim 1, wherein the stent-retaining portion is radially deformable from an uncompressed diameter to a smaller diameter in response to at least one external force. 25. The stent cover of claim 1, in combination with a catheter system for percutaneously inserting a stent in an implantation site, the catheter system comprising an elongated catheter with an inflatable balloon located adjacent to its distal end, a stent positioned to at least partially surround the inflatable balloon, and a protective shield slideably mounted for movement between a position where it can cover the balloon and stent to a position where the balloon and stent can be expanded, wherein the stent cover is positioned so that the stent-retaining portion of the sheath at least partially surrounds the stent.