Eko DUO (digital stethoscope)

2022: Device Launch

In June 2022, it became known about the entry into the market of a digital stethoscope with the function of displaying an ECG on the screen of an Eko DUO smartphone. This is a development by Eko Devices.

The main block of the stethoscope has a matte coating and has dimensions of 12 cm in length x 4.8 cm in width x 1.5 cm in depth, with a weight of 102 grams. DUO is equipped with a wireless charging function through a special charging pad. There is also an automatic power off after four minutes of inactivity.

Digital stethoscope with ECG output to smartphone screen released

A feature of DUO is wireless listening and its use as a telemedicine device - when connected to a mobile device, DUO can be used without medical headphones. A separate Eko DUO mobile application allows you to use any headphones connected to your smartphone, and also has an ECG output function.

In the application, when switching to the ECG function, the corresponding tab will immediately open, after which the application will notify the user about the correct positioning of the single-conductor ECG. The app supports several modes: for cardiac noise, AFib, tachycardia and bradycardia.

In clinical studies, Eko identified atrial fibrillation with 99% sensitivity and 97% specificity and heart murmur with 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity.

I do biomedical engineering and as an engineer I like to understand how things work. I had the opportunity to learn how doctors use the stethoscope in their practice, and I was surprised to learn that most don't trust their ears when using the stethoscope, says Connor Landgraf, co-founder and CEO of Eko. The stethoscope is the world's most common medical device and one of the most common medical procedures on the planet, however, its accuracy fluctuates greatly, and few doctors feel confident when used to diagnose heart and lung diseases.

Understanding how doctors want to use technology in their practice, and how to gain their trust, has become an important lesson for us... For the first time, we presented automated cardiac noise and ECG analysis for healthcare professionals. We use machine learning tools to accurately interpret the noise and arrhythmias of the heart and make it available to doctors anywhere in the world, "he added.[1]

2017: Announcement

The American manufacturer of digital stethoscopes Eko has presented a mobile model Eko DUO, which allows not only listening to the chest organs, but also taking a cardiogram. This became known in early June 2017 from the publication Medgadget.^[2]

Eko DUO resembles a push-button mobile phone, only on its body there are three buttons. Both doctors and patients themselves can use it. Applied to the surface of the chest, the device records the ECG in one lead and records the tones of the heart.

Eko DUO Digital Mobile Stethoscope

Eko DUO can work like a regular stethoscope. The body of the device provides a standard socket for a 3.5 mm audio connector, which connects headphones, external speakers or traditional listening tubes to the digital stethoscope included in the kit.

If the Eko DUO is used by the patient, he can easily send the received data to his doctors through the proprietary mobile application Eko app. Cardiac tones are recorded simultaneously with the cardiogram. Sounds and ECGs are synchronized and displayed in a HIPAA (United States Health Insurance Records Transfer and Liability Act) compliant application. Also, the readings of the device can be transferred to the hospital for storage in the patient's electronic medical record.

The Eko DUO digital mobile stethoscope is recharged wirelessly. To replenish the charge, you need to place it on a charger, which is also included. One charge lasts for about 9 hours of continuous recording of readings. If you do not use more than five minutes, the device will automatically turn off.

Eko DUO amplifies sounds up to sixty times and features built-in noise cancellation, as well as four digital audio filters. The ECG operates at a sampling rate of 500 Hz. Readings are recorded in WAV format. The device supports Bluetooth 4.0 wireless communication and is compatible with devices based on iOS, Android and Windows.

On the manufacturer's website Eko DUO is offered for $299.^[3]

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