Credit: Imperial College London
Researchers have developed an AI stethoscope that discovers heart conditions in 15 seconds, giving NHS GPs a quick and simple tool to spot problems earlier
A new NIHR-funded study has trialed an AI stethoscope capable of detecting heart problems in just 15 seconds. The stethoscope design has remained unchanged for over 200 years; now, NHS GPs will gain access to technology that can spot problems earlier, diagnose patients in the community, and bring innovation into the GP surgery.
The trial was funded by the Invention for Innovation programme, the British Heart Foundation, and the Imperial Health Charity, and involved over 200 GP surgeries across London.
How the AI stethoscope works
Heart failure affects over a million people in the UK, and in 70% of cases, it is only diagnosed after they are rushed to hospitals. Half of these cases will have had symptoms or contact with a primary care healthcare professional.
The AI stethoscope underwent a rigorous trial on 12,725 patients, with the data compared to those of patients who used a traditional stethoscope. This extensive trial provides a strong foundation for the reliability and effectiveness of the AI stethoscope.
The device is the size of a playing card and is placed on a patient’s chest to take an ECG recording of the electrical signals from their heart. Meanwhile, a microphone records the sound of blood flowing through the heart.
AI algorithms analyse the data
The data collected by the AI stethoscope is securely transmitted for analysis by AI algorithms, which have been trained on health data. These algorithms can detect subtle heart problems that a human might miss, showcasing the impressive capabilities of the AI stethoscope.
A test result, indicating whether the patient is at risk for heart failure or not, is sent directly to a smartphone.
The research showed that patients examined with the stethoscope were:
Twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure
About 3.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation – an abnormal heart rhythm which can increase the risk of having a stroke
Almost twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of heart valve disease, where one or more heart valves do not work properly
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: “This tool could be a real game-changer for patients, bringing innovation directly into the hands of GPs.
“The AI stethoscope gives local clinicians the ability to spot problems earlier, diagnose patients in the community, and address some of the big killers in society.”
Dr Patrik Bächtiger, from Imperial College London’s National Heart and Lung Institute and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “The design of the stethoscope has been unchanged for 200 years – until now.
“So it is incredible that 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.”
Integrating AI technology into GP practices
The researchers found that 70% of GP surgeries that were given the smart stethoscopes in the study stopped using them, or used them infrequently, after 12 months. This suggests that more substantial efforts are required to integrate the AI stethoscope into GPs’ existing workflows.
Additionally, it’s important to note that the AI stethoscope is not infallible. For instance, two-thirds of the people identified by the AI stethoscope as having suspected heart failure did not have it when further blood tests or heart scans were conducted. This could lead to unnecessary anxiety and tests for some people. However, the researchers emphasise that for other patients, the AI stethoscope could detect signs of heart failure that might have been missed. They added that the AI-stethoscope should be used for patients with symptoms suggestive of heart problems, rather than for routine checks in healthy individuals.
The researchers hope to roll out the AI stethoscope to GP practices in Wales, South London, and Sussex.