Systems and methods for implanting a medical device using an active guidewire

A system for implanting a lead, comprising:

• an active guidewire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end configured to be located proximate to a target site of interest (SOI) within or proximate to a chamber of the heart, the distal end including a guidewire anchor configured to be attached to the target SOI:
• an external programmer device configured to be connected to the active guide wire and to electrically map the target SOI by at least one of:
• delivering a pacing pulse, as stimulation energy through the active guide wire, to the target SOI;
• or
• sensing an evoked response at the target SOI from the guidewire;
• and
• a lead having a lead body with proximal and distal ends and with a lumen extending along the lead body between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the lead body configured to receive the proximal end of the active guidewire, the lumen configured to permit the lead body to be advanced over the active guidewire until the distal end of the lead body is proximate the target SOI.