Researchers say that an AI-powered stethoscope (AI) could help Medic detect three different cardiac conditions in seconds.
This technique can analyze the subtle differences between heartbeat and blood flow that human ears cannot pick up.
Experts suggest that the use of this AI is a “real game changer” and may allow early treatment of patients with abnormal cardiac rhythms, also known as heart failure, heart valve disease, and cardiac fibrillation.
Invented in 1816, the stethoscope allows doctors to listen to the internal sounds of a patient's body. Some of the tools placed on its chest – body include the “bell,” a small cup-shaped device used to hear low-frequency sounds from the heart.
The new AI stethoscope has been “upgraded for the 21st century” and replaces this chest piece with a card-sized device.
This is a sample of an ECG (ECG) that is placed on the patient's chest and records electrical signals from the heart. The microphone records the sound that flows through your heart.
This information is sent to the cloud and analyzed by trained AI on tens of thousands of data. A test result flag is sent to your smartphone, regardless of whether the patient is at risk for heart failure or not.
Another algorithm can detect atrial fibrillation, which is often symptomatic, but may increase the risk of stroke.
Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, Clinical Director and Consultant Cardiologist at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said:
“This kind of innovation is needed and provides early detection of heart failure, as this condition is often diagnosed only when a patient attends the hospital as an emergency.
“Given previous diagnosis, people have access to the treatment they need to help them live longer.”
The study, led by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, included more than 200 GP surgeries in London.
The AI stethoscope was tried on people with certain symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of the lower limbs or legs, and all signs of heart failure.
Approximately 12,725 patients from 96 surgeries were examined with an AI stethoscope and subsequently compared to patients with 109 gp surgery without the technique used.
Researchers found that tested with the device was 2.33 times more likely to be diagnosed with heart failure in the next 12 months.
Meanwhile, stethoscopes are 3.45 times more likely to pick up cases of atrial fibrillation, and 1.92 times more likely to diagnose heart valve disease if one or more of the four heart valves do not function properly.
“We are a member of the research team at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust,” said Dr. Mihir Kelshiker.
“This test shows that AI-enabled stethoscopes can change that. It gives GPS a quick and easy tool to detect problems early, allowing patients to get the right treatment faster.”
Dr. Patrick Battiger, National Heart and Lang Institute and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial College London, added:
“So it's incredible to be able to use a smart stethoscope for a 15-second test, and AI can quickly provide test results to show whether someone has heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or heart valve disease.”
The findings of the trial, known as Tricorder, have been published at the European Society for Cardiology (ESC) Parliament in Madrid.
Researchers are currently planning to deploy stethoscopes to GP practices in Wales, South London and Sussex.
Professor Mike Lewis, director of science at NIHR's Innovation, who supported the research, said:
“AI stethoscopes give local clinicians the ability to discover problems faster, diagnose patients in the community, and deal with some of the major killers in society.”
Professor Nicholas Peters, a senior investigator at Imperial College London and consultant cardiologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, added:
“Importantly, this technology has already been made available to some patients and is widely used in GP surgeries.”
