STETHOTELEPHONE · Device for improving the value of the Classic/Mechanic stethoscope – An innovative device for improvement, digitization and recording of the sound.

STETHOtelePHONE is an add-on device able to digitize the sounds detected by any classic stethoscopes with the aim to improve it (by amplifying and filtering), and finally send it to ICT devices. Through a SW application, it allows to record and share auscultation among specialists, with the aim to improve diagnosis and monitoring of pathologies and perform Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) services.Being posed instead of the ears of the “examiner”, STETHOtelePHONE is the unique device, protected by a PCT patent, able to digitize the natural sound exactly as it is heard by the examiner. All the Electronic stethoscope on the market, depends critically on the electro-acoustic properties of the sensors, used to acquire the signals of interest, and this is reflected in no existing acoustical standards for characterizing electronic stethoscopes; This lack, reduce the trust of physicians in an electronic based auscultation; they need to be trained for the sound electronically transduced. This project has the ambition to allow a better diagnosis of COPD and valvulopathies. Furthermore, STETHOtelePHONE will strengthen RPM services.European data show the business opportunity: at least 1 out of 5 people suffers from chronic diseases suitable for homecare and 4 out of 5 citizens classify medical errors as an important issue. Patient anxiety, due to uncertain diagnosis, is reflected in expensive additional testing: the average price for an echocardiogram range from $1,000 to $3,000. The Global market demand of digital stethoscope from 2018 until 2022 is of 8 Million units.The users are hospital and clinics; cardiologists, general practitioners, and students; and company providing RPM services. The feasibility study planned for phase 1, will contribute to define the product engineering and production roadmap and assess the commercialization strategies enhancing the quality of the company´s BP and contributing to the market replication success.