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For medical professionals, a stethoscope is an important equipment to perform their duties in the healthcare sector. Being a medical practitioner, the services you offer do not just rely on your skills, but also the quality of the equipment you use.
If you own a good stethoscope, you will be able to perform one of the most fundamental yet important task. This means, you will be able to assess the condition of the thoracic and abdominal organs along with the blood vessels. It needs to be understood that a stethoscope is not mere pieces of rubber tubing or metal, but rather has more significant use and purpose in terms of healthcare. A stethoscope is considered to be a common yet important diagnostic tool for the medical fraternity.
The stethoscope is a common diagnostic tool for healthcare experts. However, shopping for this simple device can be more complicated than what you may perceive. There are numerous options out there for you to choose from. Healthcare professionals often ponder whether they need a single head or dual head variant, or choosing between a cardiac stethoscope or a pediatric one. The choices and options available make it important for you to do your research before making a purchase.
Whether you're looking to get your first stethoscope for med school or upgrade your tried and tested old one, we have the answers. In this guide, we will be explaining the following: the anatomy of a stethoscope and the three basic types stethoscope heads. We go on to explore the numerous stethoscope options, including specialty stethoscopes and comparing features between acoustic and electronic models. And because no guide is complete without a brief history on the invention of the stethoscope!
On an average, a stethoscope has the following parts:
From the inception, doctors have been listening to the human body, but the concept of the stethoscope emerged in 1816. Rene Laennec, a French physician felt the need to listen to the patient’s chest, so he rolled a long piece of paper into the tube and assessed that the device led to better hearing against the body of the patient. He coined the term stethoscope inspired from the Greek terminology stethos (chest) and skopein (to view or see).
After Laennec made the invention, George P. Camman of New York came up with a design that features an earpiece for each ear. For almost a century, medical experts kept on using this new diagnostic design. However, a major breakthrough occurred in 1960 when David Littman patented a new design for improved acoustic performance. 3M ultimately acquired Dr. Littmann's stethoscope business and continued to make innovations.
A stethoscope records sound waves that are generated inside the human body. The bell and the diaphragm making up the chest piece captures low and high-frequency sounds as the chest piece is placed against the body of the patient. Those sounds cause the bell or diaphragm to vibrate, which creates sound waves in the tubing to the earpieces. These vibrations are transformed back to sound by the earpieces, so that healthcare professionals can listen to the sounds inside the body more intently.
Practices analyze these amplified sounds to collect significant diagnostic information which assists in making accurate evaluations and building on patient care. A stethoscope is fundamentally a transducer; acoustic mechanical vibrations are converted to audible sounds for the ear of medical practitioners to interpret.
You may wonder if there are different types of stethoscope since all of them look the same when seen from the naked eye. However, it is not as easy as it may seem. Below are some of the different stethoscopes along with their functionality.
The cardiology stethoscope looks like any other stethoscope but the only difference lies in its ability to deliver impeccable acoustic quality. Such a stethoscope gives healthcare professionals the ability to hear high and low frequency sounds from the diaphragm without a bell that can be found in dual headed stethoscopes. Alongside its high quality sound, the stethoscope has a thick earpiece that cancels out unnecessary noise and restricts interference with auscultations. The best cardiology stethoscopes you can find include:
This stethoscope looks like the pediatric and neonate stethoscope but the only difference lies in its diameter. For infant, the chest piece measures roughly 2.6 cm giving accurate auscultations. With its non-latex construction that prevents allergic reactions, the device is ideal for infants. Medical practitioners use it to listen to the heart and other vital organs to diagnose and assess the patients. The best infant stethoscopes you can find include:
This stethoscope is used for newborn patient’s diagnosis and physical assessment. The device comes with the smallest diameter enabling very accurate auscultations without any noise interference from the environment. They are known for their non-latex construction that avoids allergic reactions alongside a non-chill ring. The small size results in accurate diagnosis in a relatively shorter period requiring no adjustments.
While it may look like a regular stethoscope, the distinguishing factor is the color and size of the chest piece. With its small chest piece that enables accurate placement, and alluring colors that makes it look like a toy, intriguing children who may be frightened. Such a stethoscope is used to assess and diagnose sick children. The best Pediatric stethoscopes you can find include:
An electronic stethoscope helps in solving sound related problems by increasing the sound that we get from the chest piece. It electronically converts the sound waves into electric waves that are transmitted via circuits and ultimately processed for better listening. Such stethoscopes at times make use of piezoelectric crystals and come in two distinctive categories namely the digitizing or amplifying stethoscope. The advantage of such a stethoscope is that it amplifies the respiratory and the cardiac sounds enabling better diagnosis in case of faint sound. Moreover, it can also filter to select different cardiac or pulmonary sounds.
Such a stethoscope features single lumen tubing for extreme durability. It comes with a solid stainless chest piece and dual headset. This allows both students and teachers to use the stethoscope simultaneously. They are generally used for teaching purposes.
The Prestige Dual Head Infant Edition Stethoscope is undoubtedly a treat for all pediatricians. It comes with a traditional Dual Head for infants. With its precise size that garners the best acoustics, the device is ideal for diagnosis of infants. With soft PVC ear tips. And superior quality, the device is well worth your money.
The Littmann Classic II S.E Teaching Stethoscope allows you to perform two auscultations simultaneously with its two headsets. The Master Classic II stethoscope comes with one burgundy and one black tube featuring a single-sided chest piece with the tunable diaphragm for optimal performance.
If you are looking for convenience, then the Prestige Hip Clip Stethoscope Holder is all you need. Known for its sturdiness, the device is easy to clean. Ideal for those who don't want their stethoscope to keep on hanging around their neck. With this stethoscope holder, the device will stay at the hip level making it accessible with ease.
All in all, if you are looking to invest in a stethoscope for yourself, make sure you focus on performance, quality, material and functionality of the device. Your primary goal is to get the one which is extremely durable.
