Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare, and the latest breakthrough comes from the UK. Recently, researchers have developed an AI-powered stethoscope which is capable of diagnosing serious heart conditions in just 15 seconds. The device can detect heart failure, heart valve disease, and abnormal heart rhythms by analysing tiny variations in a patient’s heartbeat and blood flow, which are subtle details that are undetectable to the human ear. The stethoscope simultaneously performs a rapid Electrocardiogram (ECG).
The stethoscope has been a trusted tool for doctors to listen to the heart and detect illness. However, it has seen very little innovation until now. By integrating AI, the stethoscope is getting a major upgrade, which will potentially speed up diagnosis and treatment for patients with serious heart problems.
Who made the AI stethoscope?
The new AI-enabled stethoscope was developed by researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, with partial funding from the British Heart Foundation and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The team shared their findings at the European Society of Cardiology annual congress in Madrid, where they explained the device’s potential as a breakthrough in cardiology.
Why early detection matters
Early diagnosis is crucial for the treatment of heart failure, heart valve disease, and atrial fibrillation. As per experts AI tools like this could help revolutionise cardiology, particularly as predictive AI technologies gain momentum during the current generative AI boom. However, researchers caution that AI devices carry risks, including the possibility of false diagnoses due to errors.
Dr Patrik Bachtiger of Imperial College London said, “The design of the stethoscope has been unchanged for 200 years until now. It is incredible that a smart stethoscope can complete a 15-second examination and deliver AI-generated results indicating heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or heart valve disease.”
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director of the British Heart Foundation and consultant cardiologist, added, “We need innovations like these to detect heart failure earlier. Often, this condition is only diagnosed at an advanced stage when patients come to the hospital as an emergency. Early diagnosis allows people to access treatment and live longer, healthier lives.”
How the AI stethoscope works
While UK researchers designed the underlying AI technology, the hardware device was manufactured by Eko Health, a California-based company. Unlike traditional stethoscopes, the chestpiece is rectangular and connects to earbuds. When placed on a patient’s chest, the device records the heart’s electrical signals as an ECG and simultaneously captures the sound of blood flow using an in-built microphone.
The collected data is sent to the cloud, where AI algorithms analyse subtle heart irregularities that may go unnoticed by a human doctor. The results are then sent back and can be accessed via smartphone, allowing doctors to quickly review and act on the information.
‘Stethoscope should be used on patients already showing symptoms of heart problems’
Researchers explain that the stethoscope should be used on patients already showing symptoms of heart problems, rather than for routine health check-ups. Still, experts believe it could be a game-changer for early detection and treatment, potentially saving lives and reducing the burden on hospitals.