AI stethoscope could detect heart conditions in seconds

Authors: George Wright

Publisher:

BBC

Published: 8/30/2025

Language:English

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Tom Banks

Good morning 跑了松鼠好嘛, I'm Tom Banks, and this is Goose Pod for you. Today is Monday, September 01th.

Mask

And I'm Mask. We're here to discuss the AI stethoscope, a device that could detect heart conditions in seconds.

Tom Banks

Let's get started. It's incredible to think that a device as familiar as the stethoscope is getting a 21st-century upgrade. Researchers have developed an AI-powered version that can analyze subtle heart sounds the human ear just can't catch, delivering results in only 15 seconds.

Mask

It's more than an upgrade; it's a complete overhaul. A study of 12,000 patients showed it made heart failure detection 2.33 times more likely. This isn't just about hearing better; it's about processing complex data instantly and accurately. It’s a massive leap in efficiency.

Tom Banks

That really speaks to a larger trend, doesn't it? We're seeing AI tackle these immense computational problems. The key, of course, is ensuring the AI's findings truly match the physical reality of the patient's condition, which this study seems to confirm resoundingly.

Mask

Exactly. Accuracy is the entire game. This device isn't just a microphone; it's taking an ECG, sending it to the cloud, and analyzing it against tens of thousands of other cases. We're removing the guesswork and augmenting human senses. That is the future.

Tom Banks

It's fascinating when you consider the history. The original stethoscope was invented back in 1816 and has been a symbol of the doctor-patient relationship ever since. For 200 years, it's represented that element of human trust and care, a constant in a changing world.

Mask

Two hundred years without an update isn't a feature; it's a failure of innovation. The concept of AI has been around since the 1950s, but only now can we apply it with this kind of impact. This is a paradigm shift in diagnostics, not just an improvement.

Tom Banks

And the applications are growing so quickly. AI is already being used in cardiology for risk prediction and imaging. We're also seeing it in other areas, like classifying respiratory sounds to detect lung diseases like asthma or COPD. It’s about seeing the unseen.

Mask

It's about data. We're even seeing clinical trials where AI screens for COVID-19 by analyzing a person's voice and cough. This isn't just a new tool; it's a fundamental change in how we identify and manage disease, driven entirely by the power to process massive datasets.

Tom Banks

But this power brings up some serious ethical questions. If an AI is optimized for efficiency, could it deprioritize patients with rare or complex conditions? We have to consider the human element, the moral fabric of healthcare that a machine can't understand.

Mask

That's a logistical challenge, not a fundamental flaw in the technology. The real conflict is clinging to outdated methods. Some studies have shown AI being four times more accurate than doctors in difficult cases. We can't let fear of change stall that kind of progress.

Tom Banks

But we have to be careful how we measure that. Some of those studies weren't comparing AI to a doctor's full toolkit, but just their memory. The conversation shouldn't be about replacement, but about collaboration and who holds authority and control over this powerful technology.

Mask

And collaboration is the optimal path. The best results have come from human-AI teams. Let the AI analyze the data and find the pattern, and let the doctor handle the complex judgment and patient interaction. It’s a synergy that makes both better, faster, and more accurate.

Tom Banks

And we are seeing that synergy in action. The UK's National Health Service has an AI Lab with over 80 active projects. They're using it to optimize nurse schedules, predict bed occupancy, and speed up radiology. It's about making the entire system work better for patients.

Mask

It's a smart investment. The NHS is backing these programs with over £100 million. This isn't just about improving care; it's about driving efficiency, reducing costs, and accelerating research and development. It’s a strategic move to lead in a new era of medicine.

Tom Banks

That's true, and it all hinges on getting the regulations right. Ensuring these tools meet strict standards and comply with data privacy laws is absolutely essential to building the public trust needed for widespread adoption.

Mask

The future is already here. We're seeing major players like the Mayo Clinic co-developing AI algorithms with companies like Eko Health. This isn't some far-off concept; it's a practical application being deployed right now. The market is moving, and it's moving fast.

Tom Banks

I heard someone describe AI as a 'clever apprentice.' It's brilliant at spotting patterns but lacks a bedside manner. I think that's right. It's a powerful tool, perhaps the most powerful we've ever had, but it belongs in the hands of a skilled and caring doctor.

Tom Banks

That's the end of today's discussion. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod. See you tomorrow.

## AI Stethoscope Revolutionizes Heart Condition Detection **Report Provider:** BBC **Author:** George Wright **Published:** August 30, 2025 (as per `publishedAt` timestamp) **Topic:** Technology (AI) ### Summary of Findings Researchers have developed an **AI-powered stethoscope** that can detect three different heart conditions – **heart failure, heart valve disease, and abnormal heart rhythms** – in mere seconds. This innovative tool, a modern upgrade to the original stethoscope invented in 1816, has the potential to significantly **accelerate patient diagnosis and treatment**. ### Key Statistics and Metrics A study involving over **12,000 patients** from 96 GP surgeries in west and north-west London, utilizing AI stethoscopes manufactured by Eko Health, revealed the following improvements in detection rates compared to traditional methods: * **Heart Failure:** Patients were **2.33 times more likely** to have heart failure detected within 12 months when examined with the AI stethoscope. * **Abnormal Heartbeat Patterns:** These patterns, which can increase stroke risk, were **3.5 times more detectable** with the AI stethoscopes. * **Heart Valve Disease:** Detection rates for heart valve disease were **1.9 times higher** when using the AI stethoscope. ### How it Works The AI stethoscope replaces the traditional chest piece with a device the size of a playing card. It utilizes a microphone to analyze subtle differences in heartbeat and blood flow that are imperceptible to the human ear. The device also takes an **ECG (electrocardiogram)**, recording the heart's electrical signals. This information is then sent to the cloud for analysis by AI that has been trained on data from tens of thousands of patients. ### Impact and Future Plans Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and consultant cardiologist, hailed the innovation as an "elegant example of how the humble stethoscope... can be upgraded for the 21st century." She emphasized the vital nature of such advancements, particularly as heart conditions are "so often... only diagnosed at an advanced stage when patients attend hospital as an emergency." Earlier diagnosis, she stated, allows individuals to "access the treatment they need to help them live well for longer." The findings have been presented at the **European Society of Cardiology annual congress in Madrid**. Following a successful study, plans are underway to **roll out the AI stethoscope across the UK**, with initial introductions planned for GP practices in south London, Sussex, and Wales. ### Conclusion The AI stethoscope represents a significant advancement in cardiovascular diagnostics, offering the potential for earlier and more accurate detection of serious heart conditions, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.

Read original at BBC →

Stethoscopes powered by artificial intelligence (AI) could help detect three different heart conditions in seconds, researchers say.The original stethoscope, invented in 1816, allows doctors to listen to the internal sounds of a patient's body.A British team conducted a study using a modern version and say they found it can spot heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms almost instantly.

The tool could be a "real game-changer" resulting in patients being treated sooner, the researchers say - with plans to roll the device out across the UK following a study involving 205 GP surgeries in west and north-west London.The device replaces the traditional chest piece with a device around the size of a playing card.

It uses a microphone to analyse subtle differences in heartbeat and blood flow that the human ear cannot detect.It takes an ECG (electrocardiogram), recording electrical signals from the heart, and sends the information to the cloud to be analysed by AI trained on data from tens of thousands of patients.

The study by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust saw more than 12,000 patients from 96 surgeries examined with AI stethoscopes manufactured by US firm Eko Health. They were then compared to patients from 109 GP surgeries where the technology was not used.Those with heart failure were 2.

33 times more likely to have it detected within 12 months when examined with the AI stethoscope, researchers said.Abnormal heartbeat patterns, which have no symptoms but can increase stroke risk, were 3.5 times more detectable with the AI stethoscopes, while heart valve disease was 1.9 times more detectable.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) 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". Such innovations are vital "because so often this condition is only diagnosed at an advanced stage when patients attend hospital as an emergency", she said."

Given an earlier diagnosis, people can access the treatment they need to help them live well for longer."The findings have been presented to thousands of doctors at the European Society of Cardiology annual congress in Madrid, the world's largest heart conference.There are plans to introduce the new stethoscopes to GP practices in south London, Sussex and Wales.