RecruitingNot ApplicableObservational

A contactless optical stethoscope for murmur detection compared to standard auscultation and using echocardiography as the clinical reference

Doctors often listen to your heart with a stethoscope to check for problems like heart valve disease. Sometimes it's tricky to understand what these heart sounds, called murmurs, mean. This study is looking at a new device called LightScope. It uses special light technology to listen to your heart's sounds without actually touching your body. We want to find out how well LightScope can help doctors spot heart murmurs compared to using a standard stethoscope. We'll compare its results to detailed heart scans (echocardiograms) to see how accurate it is. We're looking for adults aged 18 and over, including those with known or suspected heart valve issues, irregular heartbeats, or healthy hearts.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Not Applicable

Sponsor

LightHearted AI Health Limited

Enrolment target

150

Start

24 Mar 2026

Estimated completion

17 Jun 2026

Detection of cardiac murmurs associated with normal and valvular heart disease in adult patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography.

What is this study about?

Imagine a new way for doctors to listen to your heart without even touching your chest! This study is all about testing a clever device called LightScope. Currently, doctors use regular stethoscopes to pick up heart sounds, sometimes hearing 'murmurs' which can suggest heart valve problems. But these murmurs can be tricky to figure out. LightScope uses light technology to hear your heart in a completely hands-free way.

The main goal of this study is to see if LightScope can be just as good, or even better, than a traditional stethoscope at finding these heart murmurs. To do this, we'll compare LightScope's readings with those from a standard stethoscope, and then check both against very detailed heart ultrasound scans, called echocardiograms, which are the gold standard for looking at your heart.

This research is important because it could lead to better tools to diagnose heart conditions in the future. If LightScope proves effective, it might offer a faster, more comfortable, and perhaps even more accurate way for doctors to check your heart health.

Key takeaways

New device LightScope listens to heart sounds without touching the body.
Compares LightScope accuracy to standard stethoscope and special heart scans.
May help improve future ways to diagnose heart problems.
One-off study visit, no medication, no follow-up.
Very low risk, non-invasive, no radiation.
Open to adults with various heart conditions or healthy hearts.

Who may be eligible?

We're looking for adults aged 18 or older to join this study. You might be suitable if you've recently had, or are going to have, a heart ultrasound scan (echocardiogram) within the last six months. This includes people who might have problems with their heart valves, those with an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), or even people whose heart scans looked completely normal. We also need you to be able to understand and sign a consent form, and follow the study instructions.

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to take part. For example, if you have a skin infection or an open wound on your neck or chest where we'd need to place the device. Also, if you know you have a heart condition that you were born with (congenital heart disease), or if you are pregnant, you won't be able to join. If you have any medical condition that would make it hard for you to follow the study steps, or if you've had surgery that might stop us from getting good heart sound readings, these would also prevent you from participating. Our team will carefully check to make sure the study is right for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you had a heart ultrasound scan (echocardiogram) in the last 6 months, or are you going to have one soon?
Do you have good skin health on your neck and chest (no open wounds or serious rashes)?
Are you able to understand and sign a consent form?
Are you NOT pregnant?
Do you NOT have a heart condition you were born with (congenital heart disease)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join this study, you'll only need to come for one visit. During this visit, a trained professional will first listen to your heart using a normal stethoscope, just like at any doctor's appointment. After that, we'll use the new LightScope device. It will gently record your heart sounds from different spots on your chest and neck, without actually touching you at all. We will then compare these new recordings and the stethoscope findings with the results from your existing heart ultrasound scan (echocardiogram). There's no medication involved, and no follow-up visits are needed after this single appointment.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no direct health benefits for you by taking part in this study, but your contribution could help us develop better ways to diagnose heart conditions for others in the future. The risks of participating are very low. The LightScope device is completely safe, doesn't touch your body, and doesn't use any harmful radiation. The only small risk is if safety rules aren't strictly followed, a tiny amount of laser light (similar to a laser pointer) could accidentally shine into someone's eye, so we take great care to avoid this. Remember, you are free to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Healthcare Central London Ltd
City only
London, England

Common questions

What is a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is an extra sound heard when listening to the heart, which can sometimes indicate a problem with the heart valves or blood flow.

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound scan that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart, showing its structure and how well it's pumping.

Will LightScope touch my body?

No, LightScope works by listening to your heart's sounds without making any contact with your body at all.

Is there any radiation from LightScope?

No, LightScope does not use any harmful radiation and is considered very safe.

How long will the study visit take?

The study visit only requires a single trip, and the actual heart sound recordings will be quite quick.

How to find out more

Sandosh Padmanabhan

Sandosh.Padmanabhan@glasgow.ac.uk +44 7957 202687 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.