CHICAGO—Two centuries after its invention, the stethoscope — the very symbol of the medical profession — is facing an uncertain prognosis. It’s more than symbolic — stethoscope skills are still taught, and proficiency is required for doctors to get their licenses. But picking up and interpreting body sounds is subjective and requires a sensitive ear — and a trained one. To improve detection of heart murmurs, Eko is developing artificial intelligence algorithms for its devices, using recordings of thousands of heartbeats. The devices produce a screen message telling the doctor whether the heart sounds are normal or if murmurs are present.

Source: thestar October 23, 2019 13:52 UTC