Disclosed is a tunneling-implantation tool 1 used to carry an implantable medical device ("IMD") 2 through an incision and implant the IMD 2 therein. The system can include an IMD 2, an IMD-carrier 4, and a carriage 3. The carriage 3 may be configured to slidably receive the IMD-carrier 4 and assist with deployment of the IMD 3, as well as prevent abrasion of a surface of the IMD 3. The IMD 3 may include a flexible lead 25 comprising an electrode 26 extending from a housing, wherein a distal end 27 of the electrode 25 can exhibit a bullet nose shape. The IMD 2can be mounted on the IMD-carrier 4 and both the IMD 2 and IMD-carrier 4 may be slidably received by the carriage 3 to form a loaded state. Inserting the tunneling-implantation tool 1 through an incision while in the loaded state can cause the bullet nose shaped distal end 27 to spearhead the insertion to create a subcutaneous implant pocket concurrently with the advancement of the IMD 2 through the incision.
