Malayali researchers in UK develop AI-powered stethoscope; invention awaits classification

A stethoscope is an inseparable companion of doctors worldwide and is often used as a symbol representing the medical profession. However, the world might soon see the launch of an AI-powered stethoscope that allows patients to monitor their health. The clinical trial of the AI stethoscope, which helps in diagnosis when the microphone of your mobile phone is held close to the chest, is progressing. It will be introduced in the market once authorities grant the invention classification.

The Wales-based startup Laennec, established by a group of Malayali researchers in the UK, developed the AI stethoscope. The company’s CEO is Kochi native Jais John, while Dr Arathi Varghese, who hails from Alappuzha, is the chief technical officer. The company has been granted around Rs 7 crore by Innovative UK, the NHS and the Wales government for research and development.

History
Interestingly, the company has been named after Dr Rene Laennec, the French doctor who invented the stethoscope. In the olden days, the physician pressed his ears close to the patient’s chest to listen to the sounds of the heart and the lungs to diagnose diseases. However, Dr Laennec, who thought this method would be inappropriate while treating young female patients, rolled up a sheet of paper into a cylinder, which allowed him to hear his patient’s heartbeat. This paper cylinder,r which was made in the seventeenth century (1816) was later developed into a modern stethoscope used by doctors and veterinarians.

A common man may not be able to pick up relevant sounds from a stethoscope. Meanwhile, an experienced medical practitioner can diagnose the patient’s condition by listening to the heartbeats and breathing rates using stethoscope. But, doctors who are aged or have difficulty hearing might find it difficult to use this device. This is where the scope of digital stethoscope could be utilized.

Jais John says that he began pondering about developing a stethoscope that could be used by the patients themselves when he had to interact with patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. He and Arathy had started researching AI-powered stethoscopes when the world was just stepping into an era of Artificial Intelligence. Mics in new generation phones like the latest models of iPhone could be used directly while the company is also developing mics that could be attached to phones that do not have this feature built–in.

Helpful for people with breathing problems
In the UK, one out of six beds in the NHS hospitals are taken up by patients with respiratory illnesses. Although the number isn’t overwhelming, patients with breathing difficulties often require hospital admissions as they are at a high risk of extreme situations including death. If asthma and COPD patients could use an AI-powered stethoscope at home, then they could receive treatment as soon as the symptoms appear. Realising the advantage of early diagnosis in reducing the mortality rates, the National Institute of Health and Care, the research wing of the NHS have been granting funds to such research and startup companies.

The company aims to launch an AI stethoscope that patients with respiratory illnesses could use in the first phase. In the next phase, a stethoscope that could be used for monitoring heart diseases would be developed. The diagnoses and observation of more diseases that could be identified by the heart rates too come under the general scope of the research. The stethoscope would be ready to use when the mic of the phone is pressed on the chest. In new generation phones like the iphone, the in – built mic is needed for this.

Meanwhile, the development of software for the android phones is progressing. Besides, an external mic that could record the heart rates without the phone touching the body is also being developed by the researchers at Laennec. A version of the AI powered stethoscope that could be used by doctors too are under development.

Easy to use
AI stethoscopes could be easily used by the elderly in the comfort of their homes. The condition of those who suffer from severe respiratory illness like COPD often worsens on a daily basis and may even become life threatening. This could be avoided if the symptoms are picked up early using the AI powered stethoscope. The heart rates and breathing sounds get recorded which may be helpful for the doctors while treating the patients. Besides, these sound recordings could be sent to doctors, just like sending a picture on WhatsApp, during tele or online consulting sessions. The doctors could listen to these recordings, make the diagnosis and then prescribe medicines or further treatment.

Developed at Kochi
Although the company is registered in Wales, an Indian subsidiary company has been registered at Kochi for software development. Here, the company runs with less than 15 full-time staff. Besides, cyber security and AI engineers from Birmingham City University also associate with the company. Meanwhile, the clinical tests are mostly done in the UK.

Although the company aims to launch the device in the UK, EU, and Indian markets in the initial stage, the owners vow that the AI-powered stethoscope could be used by people anywhere in the world. CTO Dr. Arathy Varghese says that the possibility of launching the device in the Indian market first cannot be dismissed if they get the classification permits.

High accuracy rate
The AI-powered stethoscope developed by Laennec displayed 91 percent accuracy in all the lab tests done before the clinical trials. This was achieved in the standard five-hour experiments. Meanwhile, CEO Jais John hopes the device exhibits higher accuracy rates for longer durations during the clinical trials.