First tests are encouraging
British doctors are currently testing a new stethoscope that uses advanced artificial intelligence technology to make instant diagnoses. The portable device, created by the American company Eko Health, represents an innovative approach to medical research. Externally, it differs little from a conventional stethoscope, but its electronic sensor provides the ability to analyze the patient’s heart rhythm. The received data is transmitted in real time via the Internet for subsequent analysis using artificial intelligence.
This unique tool can detect heart failure, atrial fibrillation (abnormal rhythm) and valvular heart disease in just 15 seconds, making it an effective replacement for traditional electrocardiogram (ECG) testing. It is important to note that each identified diagnosis requires confirmation through blood tests (up to 2 weeks), but the test results showed that the conclusions of artificial intelligence match the data of blood tests with a high accuracy of 93%.
Medical experts emphasize that the use of artificial intelligence in the diagnostic process has the potential to save many lives. In the UK every year, approximately 30,000 patients do not survive to receive treatment due to long waits for test results and ECGs. Thus, the implementation of this technology can significantly reduce diagnostic time and increase the chances of timely initiation of treatment, which ultimately helps save hundreds of thousands of lives.