A new study published in the IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics introduces something that could be a real game-changer in heart health: a simple, handheld device that lets just about anyone record heart sounds—no medical degree required.
Study: A flexible multi-sensor device enabling handheld sensing of heart sounds by untrained users. Image Credit: Good dreams - Studio/Shutterstock.com
Why This Matters
Heart valve disease (VHD) is a big deal. If it goes undetected, the consequences can be more serious than some cancers. The problem is that diagnosing VHD isn’t easy. Traditional methods require skilled clinicians, and patients often need to undress for a proper check-up. Unsurprisingly, a lot of cases slip through the cracks—more than half, in fact. So, it is clear that we need a better, more accessible way to screen for this condition, especially in places where resources are tight.
What’s Different About This Device?
So, what have these researchers come up with? Their new device is surprisingly straightforward. It’s built around a flexible disc (about 10.5 cm across) packed with multiple, highly sensitive piezoelectric sensors. The design means it fits comfortably against the chest, and it’s easy for anyone to handle—whether you’re a doctor or just someone concerned about your heart health.
But here’s where it gets really smart: the device uses advanced algorithms to sift through all the sounds it picks up, automatically choosing the sensor with the cleanest, most useful recording. No more worrying about background noise or whether you’re holding it exactly right.
Putting it to the Test
To see how well it works in real life, the team asked participants to record their heart sounds while wearing thin clothing—no need to undress. They took recordings from four different spots on the chest and broke them down into specific heart sound components (S1, S2, systole, diastole).
An expert made sure the device was placed correctly, but after that, it was up to the device’s automated signal quality checker to decide if the recording was good enough.
What Did They Find?
The results were pretty encouraging. The device captured clear heart sounds from people with all sorts of body types, and using multiple sensors at once really boosted the chances of getting a strong, usable recording. The system’s ability to automatically flag the best-quality signal meant less guesswork for users—great news for anyone who isn’t a trained clinician.
Of course, the researchers do note a limitation: the study involved a relatively small group of participants, so more work is needed to confirm these results across the board—especially when it comes to things like BMI or recording through different types of clothing. Still, compared to traditional stethoscopes (which only use a single sensor and require a trained ear), the flexible, multi-sensor approach was a definite step up.
As the device works over clothing, it also makes heart sound recording less invasive and more comfortable—something that could make a big difference for routine screenings, or in cultures where privacy is especially important.
What’s Next?
To sum up, this new device could really shake up how we approach heart sound screening. It’s user-friendly, doesn’t require patients to undress, and uses some pretty sophisticated tech to make sure the recordings are top-notch. As a proof of concept, it’s already shown it can work well with healthy people of various shapes and sizes, setting the stage for bigger studies that include patients with actual heart disease.
Looking ahead, the team hopes to refine the device further, test it with children and more diverse populations, and ultimately prove its worth in real clinical settings. They’re also planning to add machine learning features to help with diagnosis, which could make heart valve disease screening even smarter and more efficient.
In short, this could be a big step forward in making heart health checks easier, faster, and more comfortable for everyone.
Journal Reference
McDonald A., Nussbaumer M. 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: 10.1109/JBHI.2025.3551882, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10930505