Radiographic Identification of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Manufacturer: Smartphone Pacemaker-ID Application Versus X-ray Logo

Radiographic identification of the cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) manufacturer facilitates urgent interrogation of an unknown CIED. In the past, we relied on visualizing a manufacturer-specific X-ray logo. Recently, a free smartphone application (“Pacemaker-ID”) was made available. A photograph of a chest X-ray was subjected to an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that uses manufacturer characteristics (canister shape, battery design) for identification. We sought to externally validate the accuracy of this smartphone application as a point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tool, compare on-axis to off-axis photo accuracy, and compare it to X-ray logo visualization for manufacturer identification. We reviewed operative reports and chest X-rays in 156 pacemaker and 144 defibrillator patients to visualize X-ray logos and to test the application with 3 standard (on-axis) and 4 non-standard (off-axis) photos (20° cranial; caudal, leftward, and rightward). Contingency tables were created and chi-squared analyses (P < .05) were completed for manufacturer and CIED type. The accuracy of the application was 91.7% and 86.3% with single and serial application(s), respectively; 80.7% with off-axis photos; and helpful for all manufacturers (range, 85.4%–96.6%). Overall, the application proved superior to the X-ray logo, visualized in 56% overall (P < .0001) but varied significantly by manufacturer (range, 7.7%–94.8%; P < .00001). The accuracy of the Pacemaker-ID application is consistent with reports from its creators and superior to X-ray logo visualization. The accuracy of the application as a POC tool can be enhanced and maintained with further AI training using recent CIED models. Some manufacturers can enhance their X-ray logos by improving placement and design.