LSU will be using AI-powered digital stethoscopes to detect heart conditions in student-athletes starting this year, the athletics program announced Thursday.

The devices are designed by Eko Health, a California-based digital health company. The stethoscopes and the accompanying AI algorithm are FDA-cleared.

For LSU, the stethoscopes could make potentially life-saving discoveries to discover pre-existing heart issues in athletes that have previously been hard to spot.

Undetected heart conditions are a rare occurrence for athletes. However, when they happen, they can end careers or threaten lives, like with former Philadelphia Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos, former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley or former NFL wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who died in July of heart disease.

“Our commitment to providing clinically excellent care for our student-athletes means we’re only using the latest, most sophisticated technology to help them to perform to the best of their ability,” said Micki Collins, LSU associate AD and director of sports medicine. “Identifying potential heart issues early is essential to ensuring they can safely compete.”

Joseph Authement, Eko Health commercial vice president, is a former LSU swimmer who had his own career cut short by preexisting health problems. Though his wasn’t a heart condition, his story shows demonstrates the device’s goal: to extend athletic careers and prevent situations like his.

Authement said the devices were akin to “the Shazam of medical technology,” as it works by listening to heart sounds and comparing it to a database of over 3 million sounds of both healthy and abnormal hearts.

The stethoscopes are said to work in just 15 seconds, and can detect heart murmurs, atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other potential indications of heart disease.

“The stethoscope really has not changed in the past 200 years since it was invented,” Authement said. “What we have done at Eko since its inception is we have brought the stethoscope into the digital age.”

The hope is that LSU Athletics would use the devices during its yearly checkups and physicals.

“They’re obviously seeking out new technology, new innovations to keep us healthier, so I can only be appreciative of that,” said Trent Lape, a freshman baseball player who was the first LSU athlete to be treated with the stethoscope.

LSU is the first school in the nation to partner with Eko Health. The partnership is also an expansion of LSU’s agreement with Our Lady of the Lake Health, who will be administering the AI stethoscope treatment as LSU’s official sports medicine partner.

“In our athletes, we don’t want any detrimental effects,” Dr. Kelechi Akamiro of Our Lady of the Lake said. “If we can pick it up early, absolutely, let’s do that.”

The devices are currently in the process of being implemented by LSU ahead of the 2024-25 school year.

Over 500,000 clinicians across the U.S. use the stethoscopes, according to Authement, including some clinics in New Orleans. Eko Health hopes to make them commonplace, especially for elder care.