AI stethoscope trial shows promise for early heart disease detection

Large UK trial shows the AI-enabled stethoscope can detect heart failure, atrial fibrillation and valve disease in advance, but experts caution it still needs better integration into medical practices

The stethoscope has long been a symbol of medicine and healthcare professionals. Now it is entering the digital age.

 

Researchers at Imperial College London and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London have conducted a study using an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled stethoscope and found it can spot heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms almost instantly.

This smart tool uses a microphone to analyse subtle differences in heartbeat and blood flow that the human ear cannot detect.

 

How it works: Sound, ECG and AI

This smart stethoscope, developed by US-based Eko Health, performs dual functions. It captures heart sounds (a phonocardiogram) via a sensitive microphone array, and simultaneously records a single-lead ECG (Electrocardiogram). The data is sent to the cloud for AI analysis, with results being delivered to a smartphone. The AI has been trained using data from thousands of existing patients.

 

A separate algorithm can detect atrial fibrillation, which often has no symptoms, but can be managed with blood-thinning medications.