Sparrow BioAcoustics

The Stethophone by Sparrow BioAcoustics
A cardiac AI breakthrough for your smartphone

Heart disease is a global health crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases account for an estimated 17.9 million deaths annually. And in Canada alone, heart disease affects over 2.6 million adults and stands as the second leading cause of death, with thousands of patients going undiagnosed (Public Health of Canada).

Early detection and monitoring are essential in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues. However, traditional tools like the stethoscope have limitations, relying heavily on the practitioner’s skill, which can vary. In rural or underserved areas with limited access to specialists, heart conditions are often missed or misdiagnosed. Additionally, stethoscopes lack the ability to record, analyze, or share heart sounds, making long-term monitoring difficult.

Faced with these challenges, Newfoundland and Labrador tech company Sparrow BioAcoustics set out to find a better solution—and from this vision, the Stethophone was born.

The Stethophone is no ordinary medical device—it’s changing the way the world detects and responds to heart health issues. Equipped with advanced acoustic technology and powered by artificial intelligence, it’s revolutionizing cardiovascular diagnostics by making them more precise, accessible, and effective.

Approved by both Health Canada as a Class II medical device and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, the Stethophone transforms an ordinary smartphone into a powerful diagnostic tool. By simply placing the phone against the patient’s chest, this innovative device turns your phone into a professional-grade medical instrument, suitable for both home and clinical use. Once heart sounds are captured, the Stethophone's AI analyzes the data in real-time, comparing it against extensive databases of heart and lung sounds to detect any potential abnormalities.

These recordings and information can then be shared to specialists anywhere in the world, making it an ideal tool for telemedicine, particularly in rural or remote areas where access to cardiologists is limited. Additionally, healthcare workers and patients can send recordings and analysis to specialists for second opinions, enabling more timely interventions.

“I have seen the difference that quality medical information makes,” says Mark Opauszky, CEO of Sparrow Bioacoustics. “There are dozens of deadly wide-spread conditions that can be detected earlier by capturing and understanding heart and lung sounds. This power needs to be everywhere, in every clinic and every home, when you need it.”

Whether it’s a slight arrhythmia, a faint murmur, or early signs of heart disease, the Stethophone helps detect what might otherwise go unnoticed, helping those suffering from cardiac and respiratory disease to live longer, healthier lives.

The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is proud to support Sparrow BioAcoustics to assist with business and product development as they continue to make a lasting impact on both the local and global stage of medical technology.

To learn more about Sparrow BioAcoustics and how this company is revolutionizing cardiac health care, visit https://stethophone.com/ca/en/.