Emeryville, California–based Eko received UKCA marking approval for the technology it markets in the U.S. as Sensora. The company launched Sensora, which uses AI to identify signs of valvular heart disease, in the U.S. in February.
Sensora combines machine learning with a stethoscope. It captures and analyzes heart sounds and electrical signals through this digital technology. The company designed this detection platform to expand as the company develops new applications.
TRICORDER, a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded implementation program led by researchers at Imperial College London, will deploy the technology across primary care practices across the UK. Its implementation could aid in the evaluation of heart failure, valvular heart disease and AFib.
Eko said the team at ICL expects to bring the technology to 100 general practitioner (GP) practices in the UK. It allows the GPs to offer patients a brief, non-invasive cardiac exam. When the Eko AI detects possible signs of cardiac disease, the GP can rapidly initiate further tests and potential treatments.
“This deployment around the UK of our AI-enabled heart disease detection technology demonstrates the need for accurate and early heart disease detection,” said Connor Landgraf, co-founder and CEO of Eko Health. “We’re proud to partner with leading academic institutions such as Imperial College London to validate the clinical utility and positive impact our technology has on the lives of millions of patients.”
More on the Eko tech from London
According to ICL, 200 total GP practices in Northwest London and Northwest Wales could randomly be allocated to receive an AI stethoscope or continue with usual care. These practices cover more than 3 million patients.
Previous research in the UK showed that combining AI with the smart stethoscope enabled the immediate diagnosis of heart failure. More than 1,000 NHS patients in the analysis showed high levels of sensitivity and specificity with the technology.
Compared to invasive and expensive routine diagnostic tests, the AI tool stood on its own. It produced 91% sensitivity and 80% specificity, ICL said.
TRICORDER now enables researchers to see if providing GPs with the tool could increase the early detection of heart failure for patients, reduce diagnosis through emergency hospital admission and reduce costs for the NHS.
