AI-Enabled Stethoscope Brings Specialized Knowledge to the Point of Care

Recent results of a collaborative study between Eko and the Mayo Clinic demonstrating the use of Eko’s DUO digital stethoscope as a heart failure screening tool suggest that the device could help identify asymptomatic patients with low ejection fraction during routine physical examinations. “The low ejection fraction algorithm was used with a very specific protocol of four touchpoints—three on the chest and one on the fingers,” said Steve Pham, MD, vice president of clinical and research affairs at Eko, in an interview with MD+DI. “The validation came out to be 100% sensitive and 80% specific for detecting ejection fraction below 35%,” he said. The low ejection fraction algorithm aims to detect disease in patients who are asymptomatic as well as monitor those who have already been diagnosed. Pham described the device as “a way to democratize the specialized knowledge of very advanced 10-plus years of education of cardiologists to the front lines of care.” He noted that even a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant could screen patients with the DUO enabled with the algorithm. However, Pham cautioned that the DUO is not a consumer device and that it can only be used under the guidance of a physician. “It's not an Apple watch, or a Fitbi...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Digital Health Source Type: news