The doctor has successfully developed an artificial intelligence-driven stethoscope that can detect three cardiac conditions in 15 seconds.
The traditional stethoscope, invented in 1816, was used to hear sounds inside the body, but for over two centuries it has been an important part of all Medic toolkits.
Now, the team is designing a high-tech upgrade with AI capabilities that can diagnose heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms.
Developed by researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the new stethoscope can analyze small differences in heartbeat and blood flow that cannot be detected by the human ear, and take rapid ECG at the same time.
Details of the breakthrough that could boost early diagnosis of three conditions were presented to thousands of doctors at the European Heart Association Annual Meeting in Madrid, the world's largest cardiac conference.
Early diagnosis is essential for heart failure, heart valve disease, and abnormal heart rhythms, allowing those who need to discover life-saving medications faster before they feel dangerously unwell.
A study that trials an AI stethoscope involving approximately 12,000 patients from a 200 GP surgery in the UK examined patients with symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue.
Those tested using the new tool were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure compared to similar patients who were not tested using the technique.
Patients were three times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation – an abnormal heart rhythm that could increase the risk of stroke. They were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart valve disease. This is when one or more heart valves do not function properly.
“The National Heart and Lang Institute of Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Dr. Patrick Bectiger said:
“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 device manufactured by California company Eko Health is about the size of a card. It is placed on the patient's chest to take an ECG record of electrical signals from the heart, and a microphone records the sound of blood flowing through the heart.
This information is sent to the cloud, a secure online data storage area, to be analyzed by AI algorithms that can detect subtle heart problems that humans miss.
Test results that show whether a patient should be flagged as at risk in one of three conditions will be sent back to the smartphone.
Breakthroughs have a risk factor, and it is more likely that people are mistakenly told that there may be one of the conditions if people are not. The researchers emphasized that AI stethoscopes should be used in patients with symptoms where heart problems are suspected, rather than on a daily basis in healthy people.
But by diagnosing people faster, we can also save lives and money.
Dr. Mikhilkelsiker, also of Imperial College, said:
“This test shows that an AI-enabled stethoscope can change that. It gives GPS a quick and easy tool to detect problems early, allowing patients to get the right treatment faster.”
“Given the previous diagnosis, people have access to the treatment they need to help them live longer,” said Dr. Sonya Babu Narayan, clinical director of the British Heart Foundation, who funded the research alongside the National Institute of Health and Therapy (NIHR).
Professor Mike Lewis, Director of the Department of Innovation Science at NIHR, said: “This tool is a true gamechanger for patients, bringing innovation directly to GPS's hands. AI stethoscopes give local clinicians the ability to discover problems early, diagnose patients in their communities, and deal with the major killers of society.”
