UK Doctors have developed a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) stethoscope capable of detecting three serious heart conditions in just 15 seconds, potentially transforming early diagnosis and treatment.
The device, created by researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, marks the first major redesign of the stethoscope since its invention in 1816. It combines traditional heart sound monitoring with advanced AI and ECG (electrocardiogram) capabilities to identify heart failure, atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart valve disease almost instantly.
The AI stethoscope which is roughly the size of a playing card when placed on the patient’s chest will simultaneously records heart sounds and captures electrical signals. This data is sent securely to the cloud, where AI algorithms analyze it for abnormalities that are typically undetectable to the human ear. The result is then delivered back to a clinician’s smartphone, indicating whether the patient is at risk of one or more of the three conditions.
Details of the innovation were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid, the world’s largest heart conference. Researchers hope the technology will revolutionize early detection in primary care settings.
A UK trial involving around 12,000 patients across 200 GP surgeries showed dramatic improvements in early diagnosis of Heart failure detection was twice as likely using the AI stethoscope, Atrial fibrillation was identified three times more often and Heart valve disease diagnoses nearly doubled.
“These are life-threatening conditions where early detection can make a huge difference,” said Dr Patrik Bächtiger of Imperial College London. “The stethoscope has been virtually unchanged for over 200 years. Now, with AI, we can transform a 15-second examination into a potentially lifesaving diagnosis.”
While highly promising, researchers caution that the device should be used for patients showing symptoms—such as breathlessness or fatigue not for routine screening in healthy individuals. There is a small risk of false positives, meaning some patients may be incorrectly flagged as having a condition they do not.
Despite this, the potential for improving outcomes is significant. “Most cases of heart failure are only diagnosed in A&E when people are already very unwell,” said Dr Mihir Kelshiker, another member of the research team. “This technology could allow GPs to catch it much earlier.”
The device is manufactured by Eko Health, a California-based company specializing in digital health tools.
The Clinical Director at the British Heart Foundation (which co-funded the project along with the National Institute for Health and Care Research), Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, said the stethoscope could enable more people to access timely treatments that improve quality of life and longevity.
While Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR’s Scientific Director for Innovation, added: “This tool could be a game-changer, empowering GPs to diagnose serious heart conditions in the community, before they become emergencies.”
He added that if widely adopted, the AI stethoscope could save lives, reduce NHS costs, and mark a new era in cardiovascular care.
