Systems and methods for gaining access around an implanted medical device

A system for gaining access into a body of a patient around an implanted body of an elongate medical device, the system comprising:

• a sheath wall surrounding an elongate lumen, the wall including a first edge and a second edge, the elongate lumen including a proximal end and a distal end and having a diameter sized to fit about the device body, and the first and second edges extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the lumen;
• and
• an insertion tool for inserting the implanted device body into the elongate lumen, the insertion tool comprising a wall that forms an open elongate groove and a protrusion that extends out from the wall of the tool, on a side of the wall that is opposite the groove, the groove being sized to receive, along a length thereof, a portion of the implanted device body and to grasp about a circumference of the portion of the received body, the protrusion being terminated by an exposed leading edge, and the exposed leading edge being spaced apart from the wall of the tool and formed to spread the first and second edges of the sheath wall apart from one another;
• wherein the protrusion is oriented to direct advancement of the sheath wall, once the first and second edges of the sheath wall have been spread apart by the leading edge, onto the wall of the insertion tool and then around the implanted device body, when the portion of the body is received in the groove.