Exploring Every Beat Through Sound Technology

Introducing Zargis Acoustic Cardioscan, the computer-aided heart sound analysis system. Cardioscan is a computer-assisted medical device designed to support physicians in analyzing cardiac sounds for the identification and classification of suspected murmurs. Developed by biomedical scientists from Siemens and Zargis, the Cardioscan system acquires, records and analyzes the acoustic signals of the heart and delivers the results in an easy-to-interpret graphical display.

Cardioscan Supports Detection & Classification of Suspected Murmurs.

The Cardioscan system incorporates proprietary heart sound analysis software along with three very familiar pieces of equipment: an electronic stethoscope, a laptop computer and a printer. Cardioscan is non-invasive, easy to use and requires only a few minutes to perform. Through the stethoscope, the user is easily guided with voice prompts through a standard, well-accepted auscultation protocol. Cardioscan acquires, records and analyzes heart sounds, identifying suspected systolic and diastolic murmurs, S1 and S2 sounds and provides visual representations of the heart sound characteristics.

When murmurs are detected by Cardioscan, they are graphically displayed according to their intensity, timing and location. In addition, Cardioscan indicates whether or not a suspected murmur meets the characteristics for classification as Class I murmur according to the ACC/AHA Recommendations for Echocardiography in Asymptomatic Patients With Cardiac Murmurs¹.

Cardioscan's results are stored electronically for future reference and may be printed—allowing physicians to create a baseline report and providing an additional means with which to compare a patient's condition over time.

The interpretations of heart sounds offered by Cardioscan are significant when used in conjunction with physician over-read that includes consideration of all other relevant patient clinical data.

¹1998: From the American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association Practice Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease