Doctors have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-led stethoscope that can detect three serious heart conditions in just 15 seconds, The Guardian reported.
The new device, created by researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, is able to identify heart failure, atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm), and heart valve disease almost instantly. Unlike the traditional stethoscope, invented in 1816, this upgraded version records both heart sounds and electrical signals, which are then analysed by AI algorithms through cloud technology.
According to the report, a trial involving about 12,000 UK patients showed remarkable results. Those examined with the device were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure, three times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with valve disease compared with standard checks.
The device, manufactured by California-based Eko Health, is about the size of a playing card and connects to smartphones for instant results. Experts believe it could reduce hospital admissions by enabling earlier diagnosis in community clinics. However, researchers cautioned against using it for routine screening of healthy individuals due to the risk of false positives.