A team of doctors in the United Kingdom has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)–powered stethoscope capable of detecting major heart conditions in just 15 seconds.
The device, created by researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, can identify heart failure, heart valve disease, and abnormal rhythms by analysing subtle changes in heart sounds and blood flow that are undetectable to the human ear. It also performs a rapid electrocardiogram (ECG) at the same time.
The innovation, presented this week at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Madrid, was funded in part by the British Heart Foundation and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
“The design of the stethoscope has been unchanged for 200 years – until now,” said Dr. Patrik Bächtiger of Imperial College London’s National Heart and Lung Institute. “A smart stethoscope can be used for a 15-second examination, and then AI can quickly deliver a test result indicating whether someone has heart failure, atrial fibrillation or heart valve disease.”
The hardware was manufactured by a U.S. company, Eko Health. Unlike traditional round stethoscopes, its rectangular chestpiece records ECG signals and heart sounds, transmitting the data to the cloud where AI algorithms analyse it before sending results back to a doctor’s smartphone.
Researchers cautioned that the device is intended only for patients with suspected heart issues, not for routine check-ups.
Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director of the British Heart Foundation, said the tool could help ensure early detection. “So often, heart failure is diagnosed only at an advanced stage when patients attend the hospital as an emergency,” she said. “Given an earlier diagnosis, people can access the treatment they need to help them live well for longer.”
