SPARCS (Simultaneous Pulmonary & Acoustic Rhythm & Cardiac Signals) is an interdisciplinary student project at the University of Washington developing a portable, multimodal cardiopulmonary assessment device that integrates a full 12-lead ECG with synchronized digital auscultation (heart and lung sounds).

The goal is simple: bring objective, affordable cardiopulmonary screening to primary care settings, rural clinics, and underserved communities where access to cardiologists is limited or nonexistent.
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The Problem
Cardiopulmonary disease is the leading cause of death globally, yet early detection remains inconsistent and inaccessible, particularly in rural, low-income, and resource-limited communities. Nearly half of U.S. counties have no practicing cardiologist, and in rural counties, that figure exceeds 85%.

Today’s clinical assessment relies on two tools, both with serious limitations:

• Auscultation (listening to heart/lung sounds) is inherently subjective, produces no permanent record, and its proficiency among clinicians is declining.

• ECGs are objective and clinically valuable, but full 12-lead ECGs are expensive, time-intensive, and largely inaccessible outside of specialist settings.

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The result: early cardiopulmonary abnormalities are frequently missed, delayed, or undetected until a condition has already worsened.