AI Stethoscope can spot heart problems in seconds

A team at Imperial College London has created an AI stethoscope that can detect heart failure, valve disease, and irregular heartbeats in just seconds.

The device is small, about the size of a playing card. It records chest sounds with a microphone and also takes a quick ECG. The information is then uploaded to the cloud, where AI trained on thousands of patient records analyzes it. Doctors receive results within moments to help guide treatment.

The tool was tested in more than 200 clinics across west and northwest London. Around 12,000 patients were checked using the AI stethoscope, and results were compared with clinics that did not use the device.

Patients tested with the AI tool were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure within a year and more likely to have valve disease or atrial fibrillation detected early.

Experts say this technology could help doctors diagnose serious heart conditions much sooner, which can lead to faster treatment and fewer emergency cases. The results were shared at a major cardiology congress in Madrid, where specialists praised it as a smart upgrade of the traditional stethoscope.

However, some clinics reduced their use of the device over time, showing the need for proper training, clear workflows, and referral systems to make it a regular part of care. Developers plan to roll out more devices and track accuracy, costs, and integration into daily practice.

Overall, the AI stethoscope could become a valuable tool in primary care, making heart problem detection quicker and more reliable.

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