Pacemaker or ICD? Narrow it down from the chest X-ray.
Educational identifier for cardiac implantable electronic devices. CaRDIA-X shape algorithm + radiopaque manufacturer-stamp lookup, plus an optional passive BLE companion. Never a substitute for the patient's device ID card.
Patient rolls in. Family doesn’t have the device ID card. The chest X-ray is up and you can see something cardiac and electronic in there — pacemaker? ICD? CRT? S-ICD? Leadless? Implanted port pretending to be a CIED? You need a starting answer before the cardiology consult arrives.
CIED Identifier applies the published CaRDIA-X shape algorithm (which uses silhouette + lead anatomy to narrow the device class) and looks up the radiopaque manufacturer stamp against the public database. Optional passive BLE companion listens for nearby CIED-manufacturer broadcast signatures (hint only — never reads data). Reviewed by the clinical advisory team specifically because the common mimics (VNS, SCS, implanted port, LVAD) get confused with pacemakers in the heat of the moment.
What RN PocketPal does
- Photo the chest X-ray. AI runs CaRDIA-X shape detection and offers top-N likely device classes with a confidence score.
- Radiopaque stamp reader. Most CIEDs carry a manufacturer stamp on the generator. OCR + manufacturer-database lookup narrows from device class to manufacturer family.
- Mimic flagger.Explicitly calls out the common non-CIED look-alikes (vagus nerve stimulator, spinal-cord stimulator, implanted port, LVAD controller) so a VNS doesn’t get called a pacemaker.
- BLE companion (optional). Passive scan for nearby manufacturer-broadcasting CIEDs (LINQ II, Confirm Rx, Aveir, BIOMONITOR, etc.). Hint only — never reads patient data.
- Field guide. Browse the major device families offline (Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Abbott / St. Jude, Biotronik) for the rare-X-ray reference.
Who it’s for
ED RNs, ICU RNs, telemetry charge nurses, and cardiology floor staff who admit patients without device-ID cards. Cardiology providers still own the formal device interrogation; this tool gives the bedside RN a defensible starting point for the handoff.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this FDA-cleared?
- No. RN PocketPal is not a medical device. CIED Identifier is an educational reference — the device ID card and a formal cardiology interrogation remain the source of truth.
- Does the BLE scan read patient device data?
- No. The scan listens passively for manufacturer broadcast signatures (the same packets the manufacturer's reader app would use to find a device). It never connects, never pairs, never reads patient data.
- What if the AI gets it wrong?
- Top-N output (typically top 3) with confidence. Below ~70% confidence, the tool refuses to commit and returns "device class uncertain — request the ID card." Refusal is by design.
- Does it identify leadless pacemakers and S-ICDs?
- Yes — those are the cases CaRDIA-X is most useful for (no transvenous leads, easy to miss). The bundled field guide includes leadless / S-ICD / CRT variants.
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What's new
Recent updates to the RN PocketPal nurse toolkit across iOS, Android, and web — new features, improvements, and what shipped when.
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Every RN PocketPal feature in one place. Built by working bedside RNs.
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For Charge Nurses
Assignment boards, acuity tools, handoff, and break planning for charge nurses.
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Reviewed by RN PocketPal Clinical Team, RN. Last reviewed .