# Medical Device Identifier to Improve Emergency Triage

> **NIH NIH R44** · BRIDGESOURCE MEDICAL CORPORATION · 2024 · $978,318

## Abstract

Project Summary Abstract
Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs) like a Permanent Pacemaker or Implantable
Defibrillator are implanted in over 3 million Americans, with the average age of implantation in the 60s,
40% ≥ 70 years old, and 28% ≥ 80 years old. When a patient presents to the Emergency Department (ED)
with an unknown CIED, reprogramming of the device is often necessary for their treatment. Every patient
should know their device type and manufacturer. This information is particularly important, as every device
can be interrogated only by a programmer (a custom computer and magnetic wand) from the CIED’s
specific manufacturer. However, in emergency situations, elderly patients may not have their device
information or may be unable to communicate with hospital personnel, leading to delays in proper
treatment. Most often, ED staff use an x-ray to attempt to read the manufacturer and device type, simply to
help determine the correct manufacturer to ask for assistance. To facilitate prompt and thorough patient
treatment, CIED manufacturers typically provide personnel who are on call in or near medical facilities to
assist with any device-related issues. To solve this problem, BridgeSource Medical proposes a portable
handheld device that can identify CIEDs from any manufacturer either in the ED, or in transit to the ED,
eliminating the need for a time-consuming and unnecessary x-ray, and enabling first-line medical
personnel. The proposed device identifier works by mimicking the “wakeup call” communication of the five
major CIED programmers in sequence, and would identify each device by analyzing the response from the
CIED.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10932125
- **Project number:** 5R44AG059499-05
- **Recipient organization:** BRIDGESOURCE MEDICAL CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** John Walmsley
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $978,318
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10932125

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10932125, Medical Device Identifier to Improve Emergency Triage (5R44AG059499-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10932125. Licensed CC0.

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