Back                                                                                                                    Next


iStethoscope Pro was developed by Peter Bentley as an iPhone Application.  We asked to add a feature to the app allowing users to email us their sounds.

We wanted the sounds emailed because we study heart sounds.  We study heart sounds, as the ability of some stethoscope users to diagnose is suboptimal.  To address this problem, we are developing automated (computerized) ways to classify heart sounds: artificial intelligence systems:  neural networks, Fuzzy systems, and Support Vector Machines. Our classification systems are in development and need improvement.  Improvement requires us to have access to many more sounds – a larger collection of heart sounds.  Adding the “Medical Collection” feature to the iStethoscope iPhone App allows us to obtain a larger collection of sounds.

Sometime in the future, our automated systems will not replace the physician; rather, we hope to offer helpful information, that when added to other information such as the patient history and other physical exam findings, will improve diagnosis of some heart problems. 
Our work has a ways to go, and people sending in sounds to us will help our work very much towards our goal.

IMPORTANT:  If you have a pacemaker or other device you should never use the iPhone to collect a heart sound.  If you have any questions about your health or your heart you should contact your physician - you should not use the iStethoscope as a diagnostic tool to make health decisions.