A carrier for retaining a plurality of implants each comprising a structurally encoded pin, the structurally encoded pin having a shape or surface characteristics discernable by an imaging modality such as x-ray, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, electromagnetic radiation, ultrasound, visible light, UV light, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and neutron imaging, from outside the carrier, the shape or surface characteristics representing structurally encoded data. The invention further discloses a carrier for viewing a plurality of implants, and associated reading systems for reading a plurality of implants. Finally, the invention discloses methods for reading a plurality of implantable devices retained within a carrier.