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What a 15-Second AI Stethoscope Tells Us About Tomorrow’s Diagnostics

“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...” — Dr. Patrik Bächtiger

Indeed, some medical devices have remained nearly unchanged for a long time, and lung care is no exception! Let’s trace back a bit and look at the spirometry, a golden standard for diagnosing COPD and asthma. Its core concept has barely changed, it still relies on patient effort and technician accuracy, and can miss early signs of disease.


So, let’s look at this success case: a team at Imperial College London has developed an AI-powered stethoscope that can detect major heart conditions in just 15 seconds!


It really does sound mind-blowing!


In a UK trial of over 12,000 patients, those screened with the smart device were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure, and over three times more likely to receive an atrial fibrillation diagnosis compared to standard care.


“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.” — Dr Mihir Kelshiker.

Indeed, with a quicker and more efficient diagnosis, it improves not just the life and well-being of heart-health, but also lung-health! At AI4LUNGS, our mission is to develop an AI-driven decision-support platform that helps doctors deliver personalised diagnoses and treatments for complex lung conditions. We aimed to provide: 


  1. Rapid analysis of multi-modal patient data

  2. User-friendly tools that empower clinicians, not replace them

  3. Ethical, transparent, regulated AI built for everyday healthcare


This innovation matters because it shows how AI is moving from research labs into real-world care, with diagnostic speed, accessible tools, and data-driven insights. And the implications for lung care are clear.


As we build our platform, we’re inspired by such breakthroughs, and driven by the hope they spark for smarter lung care.



Stay updated on the AI4LUNGS research development and progress by following the project on Bluesky, X and LinkedIn, and subscribing to our newsletter for the latest insights and advancements.

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