Open up and say “AI”: New stethoscope can detect 3 heart conditions in 15 seconds

Doctors at Imperial College London have developed an AI-powered stethoscope that can diagnose three major heart conditions—heart failure, heart valve disease, and atrial fibrillation—in just 15 seconds. The breakthrough technology represents the first major upgrade to the traditional stethoscope since its invention in 1816, potentially transforming early cardiac diagnosis by detecting subtle heart problems that human ears cannot perceive.

What you should know: The AI stethoscope analyzes heartbeat patterns and blood flow while simultaneously taking an ECG, sending data to cloud-based algorithms for instant analysis.

• The device, about the size of a playing card and manufactured by Eko Health, a California-based company, places on a patient’s chest to record electrical signals and heart sounds.
• AI algorithms analyze the data in the cloud and send results back to a smartphone, indicating whether patients should be flagged as at-risk for the three conditions.
• The tool is designed for patients with symptoms like breathlessness or fatigue, not for routine screening of healthy individuals.

The results speak volumes: A trial involving 12,000 patients across 200 UK GP surgeries demonstrated dramatically improved diagnostic rates compared to traditional methods.

• Patients examined with the AI stethoscope were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure.
• They were three times more likely to receive an atrial fibrillation diagnosis—a dangerous irregular heartbeat that increases stroke risk.
• Heart valve disease diagnoses nearly doubled among patients examined with the technology.

Why this matters: Early detection of these conditions is crucial for preventing life-threatening complications and reducing healthcare costs.

• “Most people with heart failure are only diagnosed when they arrive in A&E seriously ill,” said Dr. Mihir Kelshiker from Imperial College.
• The technology could enable GPs to “spot problems earlier, so patients can get the right treatment sooner.”
• Earlier diagnosis allows patients to access lifesaving medications before becoming dangerously unwell.

What they’re saying: Researchers and medical experts are calling the development a potential game-changer for primary care.

• “The design of the stethoscope has been unchanged for 200 years – until now,” said Dr. Patrik Bächtiger from Imperial College London’s National Heart and Lung Institute.
• Prof Mike Lewis, NIHR scientific director for innovation, described it as “a real gamechanger for patients, bringing innovation directly into the hands of GPs.”
• Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan from the British Heart Foundation noted that “given an earlier diagnosis, people can access the treatment they need to help them live well for longer.”

Important caveats: The technology does carry some risks that researchers acknowledge must be carefully managed.

• There’s a higher chance of false positives—people being incorrectly told they may have a condition when they don’t.
• The AI stethoscope should only be used for patients with suspected heart problem symptoms, not for routine health checks.
• Despite these limitations, researchers believe the potential to save lives and reduce costs outweighs the risks.

The research backing: The breakthrough was presented at the European Society of Cardiology annual congress in Madrid, the world’s largest heart conference.

• The study was part-funded by the British Heart Foundation and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
• Results were shared with thousands of attending doctors, highlighting the technology’s potential for widespread clinical adoption.