Doctors have successfully developed an artificial intelligence-led stethoscope that can detect three heart conditions in 15 seconds.<\/p>\n
Invented in 1816, the traditional stethoscope \u2013 used to listen to sounds within the body \u2013 has been a vital part of every medic\u2019s toolkit for more than two centuries.<\/p>\n
Now a team have designed a hi-tech upgrade with AI capabilities that can diagnose heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms almost instantly.<\/p>\n
The new stethoscope developed by researchers at Imperial College London<\/a> and Imperial College healthcare NHS trust can analyse tiny differences in heartbeat and blood flow undetectable to the human ear, and take a rapid ECG at the same time.<\/p>\n Details of the breakthrough, which could boost early diagnosis of the three conditions, were presented to thousands of doctors at the European Society of Cardiology annual congress in Madrid, the world\u2019s largest heart conference.<\/p>\n Early diagnosis is vital for heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms, enabling those who need lifesaving medicines to be spotted sooner, before they become dangerously unwell.<\/p>\n A study trialling the AI stethoscope, involving about 12,000 patients from 200 GP surgeries in the UK, looked at those with symptoms such as breathlessness or fatigue.<\/p>\n Those examined using the new tool were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure, compared with similar patients who were not examined using the technology.<\/p>\n Patients were three times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation \u2013 an abnormal heart rhythm that can increase the risk of having a stroke. They were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart valve disease, which is where one or more heart valves do not work properly.<\/p>\n The AI-led stethoscope analyses differences in heartbeat and blood flow undetectable to the human ear, and takes an ECG recording. Photograph: Eko Health<\/p>\n Dr Patrik B\u00e4chtiger, of Imperial College London\u2019s National Heart and Lung Institute and Imperial College healthcare NHS<\/a> trust, said: \u201cThe design of the stethoscope has been unchanged for 200 years \u2013 until now.<\/p>\n \u201cSo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n