A stent (10) for reinforcing a damaged wall in a body passage such as a vascular passage. The stent (10) takes the form of a sheet (11) of metal foil wound tightly around a spool (12) in a multiple layer roll (13) and held in a contracted state by a sheath (20) sleeved around the roll (13). The spool (11) is inserted into the body passage until the stent (10) is adjacent to the area of the damaged wall. The spool (11) and stent (10) are then advanced while the sheath (20) is held stationary. This pushes the stent (10) out the end of the sheath (20) and releases the stent (10) such that the roll (13) unwinds and expands against the damaged vessel wall.
