15-second AI Heart Scan could revolutionize cardiac diagnostics
Researchers caution, however, that the device is intended for symptomatic patients, not for routine checks in healthy individuals. They also noted that, as with all medical tests, results may not be 100% accurate, and patient-reported conditions could differ from the AI analysis.
Researchers at Imperial College London, along with its affiliated hospital, have developed an AI-powered stethoscope capable of detecting three major heart conditions in just 15 seconds. The device can analyze heartbeats and blood flow, while simultaneously performing an electrocardiogram (ECG).
The smart stethoscope can instantly identify heart failure, heart valve disease, and heart rhythm disturbances such as atrial fibrillation. Details of the innovation were presented at the annual European Society of Cardiology conference in Madrid.
The device was tested in a study involving 12,000 patients from 200 general practices across the United Kingdom. Participants were selected based on symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath. The results were striking: patients examined with the AI stethoscope were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure compared to those assessed without it. They were also three times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of heart valve disease.
Patrick Bachtiger of Imperial College London highlighted the breakthrough, saying, “The design of the stethoscope has remained unchanged for 200 years. It’s remarkable that a 15-second scan can now provide immediate AI-driven results indicating heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or heart valve disease.”
The device, created by California-based EcoHealth, is compact—about the size of a playing card—and is placed on the patient’s chest. It records heart sounds through a microphone and captures an ECG, which is then analyzed by artificial intelligence via a secure cloud platform. The results are sent directly to a smartphone, allowing physicians to determine whether the patient is at risk for any of the three conditions.
Researchers caution, however, that the device is intended for symptomatic patients, not for routine checks in healthy individuals. They also noted that, as with all medical tests, results may not be 100% accurate, and patient-reported conditions could differ from the AI analysis.
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