Covestro materials deliver a sound solution for tech-enabled in-home electronic stethoscope
- SoundHeart™ expands access to heart and lung health screenings and features Makrolon® 2458 polycarbonate from Covestro
- Material meets engineering, compatibility and regulatory requirements for first-of-its-kind device
- Makrolon® material simplifies manufacturing process, translating into reduced costs
Together, heart and lung diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for more than 20 million deaths each year, many of which are preventable, according to the World Health Organization. These statistics highlight the need for accessible, preventative healthcare tools that empower people—particularly those facing barriers to traditional care—to take control of their health.
Korion Health’s new electronic stethoscope, SoundHeart™, featuring Makrolon® 2458 polycarbonate from Covestro, increases access to heart and lung screening by overcoming obstacles such as distance, cost and physician availability. Designed for use by individuals without medical training, the device enables users to record heart sounds from home and transmit the data to healthcare providers anywhere. This innovation is especially impactful for people in remote or underserved communities.
“This device is more than a product—it’s a movement toward inclusive healthcare,” said Anna Li, Korion Health co-founder and joint MD-PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. “It’s designed to empower individuals to own and understand their health data and participate actively in their care.”
Startup Korion Health developed SoundHeart™ in collaboration with Bally Design, which selected the Makrolon® 2458 polycarbonate for its biocompatibility, impact resistance, aesthetics, and ability to meet tight tolerances and dimensional stability needed for a device that can withstand frequent handling and exposure to moisture. Its versatility allowed Bally Design to use a single material for both opaque and translucent components, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs. Covestro also supported the project by providing material options that had already undergone rigorous testing and certification.
Hellbender, a Pittsburgh-based computer vision and robotics company, played an important role in bringing the device to life, leading the electrical engineering design and manufacturing.
The team prototyped the internal electronics and initial foam model, then optimized the sound quality through acoustic testing and microphone design, implementing creative solutions like sealing environmental gaps to reduce sound interference.
“For decades, the medical community has relied on our materials and expertise to deliver life-enhancing solutions,” said Emily Shaffer, Healthcare Market Manager, Americas-Engineering Plastics, Covestro LLC. “We’re proud to support a project that empowers people to play an active role in their health.”
The project began at the University of Pittsburgh’s Makerspace during the Pitt Challenge Healthcare Hackathon in 2021 and has since grown into a community driven effort, supported by local incubators, investors, and partners, including winning the $1M Hult Prize in 2024. The device is expected to be available globally following receipt of FDA 510(k) clearance
Visit Covestro at MD&M West 2026, Booth #2439 to learn more about how its materials are pushing boundaries in healthcare innovation.
About Korion Health:
Korion Health is a health-tech company pioneering accessible home health monitoring to democratize healthcare and empower patients. Its flagship SoundHeart™ System combines an affordable digital stethoscope with an intuitive computer-vision guided user interface, enabling users without a medical background to reliably collect and transmit heart and lung sound data from home to their doctor. Future developments include AI-driven diagnostic analytics and a suite of affordable health screening tools for home use. Under the leadership of CEO and co-founder, Anna Li, an MD/PhD student, Korion Health won the 2024 Hult Prize, earning a $1 million social entrepreneurship award to support its mission of expanding home health access globally. The SoundHeart System will be submitted for FDA 510(k) clearance in Q4 2025.
For more information, visit https://www.korionhealth.com/.
Contact: Anna Li, anna@korionhealth.com
About Covestro:
Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.
The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, Covestro aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group’s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. Covestro generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Makrolon® is a registered trademark of Covestro Group.