Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a handheld device that makes it easy for anyone—regardless of medical training—to record heart sounds accurately. Unlike a traditional stethoscope, the device doesn’t require precise chest placement thanks to its larger, flexible sensing area, which captures clearer heart sounds more reliably.
Person demonstrating use of a handheld device for heart disease screening. Image Credit: Acoustics Lab
Designed with comfort and accessibility in mind, the device can be used over clothing, making it particularly beneficial during routine check-ups or community heart health screening programs. This is especially valuable for female patients, for whom conventional stethoscope exams can be uncomfortable or intrusive.
The device stores heart sound recordings, which can later be used to detect early signs of heart valve disease. The team is also developing a machine learning algorithm that can automatically identify markers of valve disease. Their findings have been published in the IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics.
Heart valve disease (VHD) has been described as the “next cardiac epidemic” due to its severe prognosis—often worse than some cancers—and the high number of undiagnosed cases. In fact, up to 50 % of patients with significant VHD remain undiagnosed, often because symptoms appear only after serious complications develop.
In the UK, both the NHS and NICE have flagged early detection of VHD as a priority, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Currently, most diagnoses of valve disease are made through auscultation—listening to heart sounds with a stethoscope. But only 38 % of patients presenting with VHD symptoms to their GP actually receive this type of exam.
The symptoms of VHD can be easily confused with certain respiratory conditions, which is why so many patients don’t receive a stethoscope examination. However, the accuracy of stethoscope examination for diagnosing heart valve disease is fairly poor, and it requires a GP to conduct the examination.
Anurag Agarwal, Professor and Study Lead, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge
He also noted the practical and privacy concerns, especially for female patients, as stethoscope exams typically require partial undressing—something that can be both time-consuming and uncomfortable during short GP appointments or large-scale screenings.
Although echocardiograms are the gold standard for diagnosing heart valve disease, they’re only available in hospitals. Long NHS wait times—often six to nine months—make early diagnosis challenging.
“To help get waiting lists down, and to make sure we’re diagnosing heart valve disease early enough that simple interventions can improve quality of life, we wanted to develop an alternative to a stethoscope that is easy to use as a screening tool,” said Agarwal.
The team’s solution is a compact device, about the size of a drinks coaster, that uses six sensors instead of the single sensor found in traditional or electronic stethoscopes. The larger surface area makes it easier to obtain accurate readings, even for users with no clinical background.
To ensure it works over clothing, the device includes materials that effectively transmit vibrations. Each of the six sensors is separated by vibration-absorbing gel, preventing cross-interference and improving clarity.
The researchers tested the device on healthy participants with diverse body types and successfully recorded high-quality heart sounds. The next phase will involve clinical trials comparing its performance against hospital-based echocardiograms.
In parallel, the team has developed a machine learning algorithm trained to detect signs of valve disease from the heart sound recordings. Preliminary results show that the algorithm outperforms GPs in identifying the condition.
“If successful, this device could become an affordable and scalable solution for heart health screening, especially in areas with limited medical resources,” said Agarwal.
The device could also help prioritize patients waiting for hospital echocardiograms, ensuring those with suspected valve disease are seen more quickly.
A patent has been filed by Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s commercialization arm. Professor Agarwal is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Journal Reference:
McDonald, A., et al. (2025) A flexible multi-sensor device enabling handheld sensing of heart sounds by untrained users. IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics. doi.org/10.1109/JBHI.2025.3551882