AI SCIENCE
Smaller than a card, smarter than your ears
Researchers say a new AI-powered stethoscope can detect heart conditions in seconds, offering a potential breakthrough in early diagnosis.
The device, about the size of a playing card, replaces the traditional chest piece with a microphone that captures subtle heartbeat and blood flow changes that the human ear can’t detect.
It also performs an ECG and sends data to the cloud, where AI trained on tens of thousands of patient records analyses the results.
In a study by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, over 12,000 patients from 96 GP surgeries were examined using AI stethoscopes, manufactured by US firm Eko Health.
These were compared to results from 109 GP surgeries without the technology.
Findings showed significant improvements:
Heart failure was 2.3 times more likely to be detected within 12 months.
Abnormal heart rhythms, often symptomless, were 3.5 times more detectable.
Heart valve disease detection improved by 1.9 times.
12,000 heartbeats, one AI brain
Experts say earlier detection could help patients access treatment sooner and prevent emergency hospital visits.
The results were presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Madrid, and plans are underway to roll out the stethoscopes to GP practices in south London, Sussex, and Wales.
Imagine being diagnosed before symptoms hit. Wild.