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A team of researchers in London successfully developed an AI-powered stethoscope that can detect three heart conditions as quickly as 15 seconds.
The AI-powered stethoscope can detect heart conditions almost instantly. (Photo: X)
A team of doctors from Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust have successfully developed an artificial intelligence-enabled stethoscope that can detect three heart conditions as quickly as 15 seconds.
The stethoscope has been a vital part of every medic’s toolkit for centuries to listen to sounds within the body. Now the medical instrument has undergone a hi-tech AI upgrade, which experts call a “real game-changer” to diagnose heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms almost instantly.
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The new stethoscope can also analyse tiny differences in heartbeat and blood flow undetectable to the human ear, while taking a rapid ECG at the same time, as reported by The Guardian. The details of the scientific breakthrough were presented to thousands of doctors at the European Society of Cardiology annual congress in Madrid, the world’s largest heart conference.
How Does The Device Work?
The shape of the device, manufactured by the California-based company Eko Health, is roughly the size of a playing card. It is positioned on the patient’s chest to capture an ECG reading of the heart’s electrical activity, while its built-in microphone simultaneously records the sound of blood flowing through the heart.
The collected data is transmitted to the cloud, where advanced AI algorithms analyse it for signs of heart conditions that may be too subtle for human doctors to detect. Once the analysis is complete, the results are sent back to a smartphone, indicating whether the patient is at risk for any of the three targeted heart conditions.
“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,” Dr Patrik Bächtiger of Imperial College London’s National Heart told The Guardian.
Early Diagnosis Of Heart Conditions
The AI-powered stethoscope is believed to boost early diagnosis of heart conditions, a crucial component for those suffering from heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms. It will enable doctors to identify those who need lifesaving medicines more quickly, before they become dangerously ill.
However, there is a risk that several people could be wrongly told that they may have one of the heart conditions that they may not have, which is why researchers advise the stethoscope to not be used for routine checks. However, it could save lives and money by diagnosing people earlier.
A study where the AI stethoscope was used as a trial involved about 12,000 patients from 200 surgeries in the UK found that those who were examined via the new tool were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure, as compared to those examined by the traditional stethoscope.
Additionally, patients were three times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm that can increase the risk of having a stroke, if they were examined by the new stethoscope. They were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart valve disease.
“This trial shows that AI-enabled stethoscopes could change that – giving GPs a quick, simple tool to spot problems earlier, so patients can get the right treatment sooner,” said Dr Mihir Kelshiker of Imperial College.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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