AI Stethoscope Detects Heart Conditions in Seconds, Trial Shows

Developed through research at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the AI stethoscope analyzes heartbeat patterns, blood flow, and simultaneously records a rapid ECG.

An AI-enabled stethoscope can help doctors detect three heart conditions in just 15 seconds, according to results of a real-world trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Madrid. The findings were also published in BMJ Open.

Developed through research at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the AI stethoscope analyzes heartbeat patterns, blood flow, and simultaneously records a rapid ECG.

The study across more than 200 GP surgeries with over 1.5 million patients found that people examined with the device were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure compared to those assessed without it.

The trial showed patients were 3.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart valve disease when assessed with the AI stethoscope. Early detection of these conditions allows patients to access lifesaving treatments sooner.

Dr. Patrik Bächtiger from Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said, “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. Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation and consultant cardiologist, said, “This is an elegant example of how the humble stethoscope, invented more than 200 years ago, can be upgraded for the 21st century. We need innovations like these, providing early detection of heart failure, because so often this condition is only diagnosed at an advanced stage when patients attend hospital as an emergency.”

The trial involved 12,725 patients across 96 surgeries in North West London using AI stethoscopes, compared with patients from 109 surgeries without them. Patients examined with the device were 2.33 times more likely to be diagnosed with heart failure within 12 months.

Dr. Mihir Kelshiker from Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said, “Most people with heart failure are only diagnosed when they arrive in A&E seriously ill. 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.”

The stethoscope, about the size of a playing card, records both ECG signals and blood flow sounds, sending them securely to the cloud for AI analysis. Results are returned instantly to a smartphone. A separate algorithm can detect atrial fibrillation, a major stroke risk factor.

Professor Nicholas Peters, senior investigator from Imperial College London and consultant cardiologist, said, “Our study shows that three heart conditions can now be identified in one sitting. Importantly, this technology is already available to some patients and being widely used in GP surgeries.”

Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, added, “This tool could be a real game-changer for patients, bringing innovation directly into the hands of GPs. The AI stethoscope gives local clinicians the ability to spot problems earlier, diagnose patients in the community, and address some of the big killers in society.”

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