The AI ​​stethoscope that identifies three heart conditions in 15 seconds

Developed in the UK, a new stethoscope with artificial intelligencel It is capable of detecting signs of heart failure, rhythm disturbances and valve pathology in a single examination. Combined reading of sounds and electrical signals allows an assessment to be obtained in about 15 seconds, according to data shared by its authors.

Tested directly in primary care clinics, the device has shown significant increases in the early detection of these conditions compared to standard practice. In terms of probability, increases of 2,33 times in heart failure, 3,5 times in arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and 1,9 times in valvular disease, a relevant difference to start clinical management earlier.

What is an AI stethoscope and how does it work?

The device replaces the classic chest piece with a compact module, similar in size to that of a playing card, that Records heart sounds with a high-sensitivity microphone and simultaneously takes an ECG reading.This approach combines digital auscultation and electrical signal in a single clinical gesture.

After the exploration, The information is sent to the cloud to be processed by an AI model trained on tens of thousands of patient records.Within seconds, the professional receives a guidance report on their phone that can support their decision to refer, prioritize, or request additional testing.

Study results and clinical evidence

The evaluation compared 96 general medicine consultations who used the device with 109 who did not, including more than 12.000 patients with compatible symptoms (e.g., fatigue or dyspnea). This deployment in real primary care centers provides a true snapshot of performance under everyday conditions.

In the analysis of results, The tool multiplied the detection of problems: 2,33 times in heart failure, 3,5 times in atrial fibrillation and 1,9 times in valvular disease compared to conventional evaluation.. In addition, the rapid response time of about 15 seconds makes it easier to prioritize cases that might otherwise go unnoticed.

This is especially relevant in arrhythmias without symptoms, whose late diagnosis increases the risk of cerebrovascular accidentBy detecting suspicion early, the door is opened to starting treatments or referrals sooner to reduce complications and avoid emergency admissions.

The project has been promoted by the Imperial College London and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, with funding from the British Heart Foundation. The medical community learned about the results at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology held in Madrid, while the methodological details have been disseminated in BMJ Open and have been picked up by media outlets such as the BBC.

A promising future for AI in applied medicine

Clinical spokespersons involved, including Sonya Babu-Narayan and Patrik Bächtiger, highlight that the historic stethoscope, more than two centuries old, is being updated with algorithms for the 21st century without changing its essence: listening to the heart, but now with objective and real-time support.

Looking ahead to the coming months, Teams are working to expand adoption across more UK practices, with the aim of bringing this rapid assessment closer to the first level of care y speed up access to more complex diagnostic tests when necessary.

With all the above, A panorama is drawn in which AI and digital auscultation They allow for earlier detection of heart failure, atrial fibrillation and valvular disease in primary care., with solid evidence of improved case identification and a scientific presentation that supports its clinical utility.