FIU researchers use AI and a stethoscope to detect heart disease earlier – NBC 6 South Florida
FIU researchers use AI and a stethoscope to detect heart disease earlier – NBC 6 South Florida
Publish Date: 2026-03-02 08:02:00
Source Domain: www.nbcmiami.com
- Researchers at Florida International University (FIU) have developed an algorithm using heart sounds recorded through a stethoscope and artificial intelligence to potentially detect early stages of heart disease with high accuracy.
- The algorithm, which analyzes subtle changes in heart sounds that are not detectable by the human ear, achieved 95% accuracy in identifying healthy heart sounds and 85% accuracy in identifying diseased heart sounds during lab testing.
- The motivation for this research is deeply personal for some team members, including Maruchi Mendez, whose son died suddenly from an undetected heart condition.
- FIU is partnering with Baptist Health to conduct clinical testing and to create a database of heart sounds to improve the algorithm’s capabilities.
- The technology aims to be used in medical offices within the next five years as a routine measurement, potentially replacing traditional heart sound listening by doctors.
- In the future, the algorithm could be used for home monitoring of heart health between doctor visits.
- As a lasting legacy, Maruchi Mendez successfully lobbied for mandatory EKG screenings for high school athletes in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
