Terms of Service (CarDS Scan iOS App)

Effective date: March 26, 2026
Developer: Cardiovascular Data Science Lab (“CarDS Lab”)

1) Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, accessing, or using the App, you agree to these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree, do not download, install, access, or use the App.

2) Purpose and Research-Only Use

The App is intended for research use only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority. You agree that you will not use the App to make clinical, diagnostic, or treatment decisions, and that the App is not a substitute for professional clinical judgement.

3) No Medical Advice

Outputs produced by the App, including scores, classifications, or visualizations, are not medical advice. They are computer-generated analyses or model outputs that may be incomplete or inaccurate. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.

Use of the App does not create a physician-patient, clinician-patient, or other professional relationship between you and CarDS Lab or its affiliates.

4) Description of the App

The App provides image-based 12-lead ECG analysis from photographs or images of printed or displayed ECG tracings.

All machine learning models are bundled with the App and run on device. The App does not require an internet connection to function. By design, the App does not transmit ECG data to the cloud.

The App is designed for research and educational exploration of AI methods and is not intended for clinical diagnostic use.

5) Eligibility and Authorized Users

The App is intended for adults ages 18 and older who are authorized users and have been granted access by CarDS Lab or its collaborators. If you use the App as a part of a research study, you must comply with the study protocol and applicable approvals such as IRB or ethics committee approvals.

6) Data Handling, Privacy, and Storage

  • Local processing: ECG inputs and model inference occur on device.

  • No storage of ECG images: The App does not automatically transmit or store ECG images on CarDS Lab servers.

  • Stored outputs: The App stores AI-generated outputs and associated timestamps in secure databases. This information is used to support application performance, verify outputs, and improve or update the models when appropriate.

  • Exports: If you choose to export or share data from the App, you are responsible for safeguarding that data and complying with any applicable privacy or research requirements.

  • Logs and analytics: The App may create local diagnostic logs to help with troubleshooting. These logs remain on device unless you choose to share them with CarDS Lab.

  • Usage metrics: The App may collect limited usage information, such as feature interactions, session duration, or workflows completed to evaluate performance, improve functionality, or support approved research activities. These metrics may be associated with your user account but do not include ECG images.

  • Health data: If the App accesses Apple Health or HealthKit, it will do so only with your permission and solely for the stated research purposes. HealthKit data is not used for advertising or data brokerage and will not be shared with third parties for advertising or marketing purposes.

Please see the App’s Privacy Notice, if provided separately, for additional details on data practices.

7) Permissions and Device Requirements

The App may request access to the camera, photo library, Health/HealthKit, or local storage in order to function as described. You can disable permissions in iOS Settings, though doing so may limit functionality.

8) Research Participation and Consent

If you are a research participant, your use of the App may be governed by a separate informed consent document. If there is a conflict between these Terms and your consent document, the consent document will control with respect to research participation, privacy protections, and data use.

9) Accuracy and Limitations

ECG image quality, motion artifacts, lighting, electrode placement, device compatibility, and other factors can affect model predictions and analysis. The App and the underlying models may produce false positives or false negatives. You accept these risks and understand the outputs are experimental and may not generalize to every population or clinical scenario.

10) Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

  • Use the App to provide clinical care or to replace professional medical judgment.

  • Misuse, reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive source code of the App or bundled models.

  • Circumvent security or integrity features.

  • Use the App to infringe third-party rights or violate laws or research regulations.

  • Upload or process ECG images containing patient-identifiable information.

11) Intellectual Property

The App, bundled models, content, and all associated intellectual property are owned by or licensed to CarDS Lab and are protected by law. Except as expressly permitted by these Terms, no rights are granted by implication. You may not remove proprietary notices.

12) Open Source and Third-Party Components

The App may include third-party or open-source software such as TensorFlow Lite and Apple frameworks. Those components are provided under their respective licenses. Notices and licenses are included in the App or its accompanying documentation.

13) Feedback

If you provide feedback, ideas, or suggestions, you grant CarDS Lab a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use and incorporate that feedback without restriction or compensation.

14) Updates and Changes

CarDS Lab may update the App or these Terms at any time. Some updates may be required for continued use. If you continue using the App after changes take effect, you accept the new Terms.

15) Support

The App is provided for research and is offered as is with limited or no support. CarDS Lab may, but is not obligated to, provide updates, fixes, or technical assistance. CarDS Lab does not guarantee that the App will be available at all times or that it will continue to be supported or maintained.

16) Security

CarDS Lab uses reasonable technical and organizational measures appropriate for a research-grade, on-device application. No system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You are responsible for securing your device, setting a passcode, and limiting access.

17) Suspension and Termination

CarDS Lab may suspend or terminate your access to the App at any time if you violate these Terms, if required by law or policy, or if research protocols change. You may stop using the App at any time by deleting it from your device.

18) Disclaimers

THE APP AND ALL OUTPUTS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” CARDS LAB DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. YOUR USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

19) Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CARDS LAB AND ITS AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, REVENUE, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE APP. THE APP IS PROVIDED AS AN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH TOOL AND IS MADE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so parts of this section may not apply to you.

20) Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless CarDS Lab and its affiliates, directors, employees, students, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, arising out of or related to your use of the App, your breach of these Terms, or your violation of any law or third-party right.

21) App Store Terms

If you obtained the App through the Apple App Store, your use of the App is also subject to Apple’s applicable terms and policies. Apple is not responsible for providing maintenance or support for the App and has no warranty obligations with respect to the App. Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and have the right to enforce them against you.

22) Export and Sanctions

You agree to comply with all applicable export control and sanctions laws. You represent that you are not located in an embargoed country or on a prohibited party list.

23) Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut and the United States, without regard to conflict of laws rules. You agree to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in New Haven County, Connecticut.

24) Severability and Waiver

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force. Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.

25) Entire Agreement

These Terms are the entire agreement between you and CarDS Lab regarding the App and supersede any prior agreements regarding the App.

26) Contact

Questions about these Terms or the App:
Cardiovascular Data Science Lab (CarDS Lab)

Yale School of Medicine
Email: contact@cards-lab.org
Address: New Haven, CT, USA

27) Important User Notices

  • Do not use the App to make medical decisions.

  • Do not rely on the outputs in emergencies.

  • The App is experimental and intended for research use only.

  • Keep your device secure.

  • If you export data, you are responsible for protecting it.