Eko Launches Sensora Digital Stethoscope for Cardiac Disease Detection

February 23, 2023—Eko, a digital health company applying artificial intelligence (AI) in the treatment of heart and lung disease, announced the launch of the Sensora cardiac disease detection platform. The company announced FDA clearance of the Sensora device in July 2022.

According to the company, the Sensora platform combines advancements in applied machine learning with the stethoscope. The Sensora digital stethoscope captures and analyzes heart sounds and electrical signals. The detection platform is designed to expand as Eko develops applications for additional cardiac conditions.

Sensora features AI that objectively identifies structural murmurs, a sign of valvular heart disease (VHD), and care pathway analytics software that provides downstream visibility and metrics of the patient journey through the health care system.

Sensora is intended to accurately and consistently identify VHD in patients during a routine visit with their primary care physician. A primary care physician using Sensora for structural murmur detection more than doubles the likelihood of detecting significant VHD.

The company further stated that Sensora care pathway analytics follow patients with identified structural murmurs through the care continuum, providing downstream visibility into patient flows, clinical outcomes, and patient economics. The care pathway analytics technology is designed to assist with critical decision-making by identifying care gaps that can be transformed into improved operational efficiencies, including reduced delays in delivery of care, length of stay, and readmission rates.

“The primary care setting is a patient’s first line of defense for identifying and diagnosing heart disease,” commented John Chorba, MD, in the company’s press release. “However, we know from clinical evidence that detection rates are low. The Sensora platform promises to better serve patients by increasing the accuracy and consistency of structural murmur identification and improving patients’ lives by getting them into treatment earlier.”

Dr. Chorba is Assistant Professor in Residence, Division of Cardiology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco in San Francisco, California.