AI gives 200-year-old stethoscope a modern upgrade

International

THE centuries-old stethoscope has been reimagined with cutting-edge technology that could transform how quickly heart disease is diagnosed.

A next-generation device that uses artificial intelligence (AI) may dramatically speed up the detection of serious heart conditions, according to researchers in the UK.

The tool can identify heart failure, valve disease, and abnormal rhythms within seconds. Early results suggest it could help doctors diagnose patients faster and begin treatment sooner.

The study, led by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, tested AI-enabled stethoscopes produced by US firm Eko Health.

More than 12,000 patients across 96 GP practices in west and north-west London were examined with the device, and the outcomes were compared with patients from 109 surgeries using traditional methods.

Findings showed significant improvements in detection rates. Patients with heart failure were 2.33 times more likely to receive a diagnosis within a year when assessed with the AI tool. Abnormal heart rhythms, often symptomless but linked to higher stroke risk, were 3.5 times more likely to be spotted. Detection of heart valve disease nearly doubled.

The device replaces the traditional chest piece with a sensor about the size of a playing card. It records heart sounds and electrical signals through an electrocardiogram (ECG). These are uploaded to the cloud, where AI—trained on data from tens of thousands of patients—analyzes patterns too subtle for the human ear.

In a BBC report, Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and consultant cardiologist, called the technology “an elegant example of how the humble stethoscope, invented more than 200 years ago, can be upgraded for the 21st century.”

She noted that earlier diagnosis could prevent many patients from reaching hospital in emergency situations and allow them to access treatment that helps them live longer and healthier lives.

The results were presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Madrid, the largest global gathering of heart specialists. Researchers now plan to extend the use of the AI stethoscope to GP practices in south London, Sussex, and Wales.(MyTVCebu)