Stethoscope is a medical instrument used in listening to sounds made within the body, particularly in the heart or lungs which is called auscultation.
A health care professional's stethoscope is an essential piece of equipment that helps him or her successfully evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients.
Usage of a Stethoscope
A stethoscope can be used to listen to heart, lung, and intestine noises, as well as blood flow in arteries and veins. It is typically used to measure blood pressure in combination with a manual sphygmomanometer.
Following are the most common use of Stethoscope:
- Measuring blood pressure. A healthcare provider measures blood pressure manually with a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff with a sphygmomanometer. A stethoscope is used to listen to the sounds of blood pressure.
- Assessing lung sounds: allows you to detect the rate, rhythm, and quality of your breathing, as well as any airway blockages and rubs that indicate pleura inflammation.
- Assessing heart sounds. When assessing heart sounds, we listen for sounds that shouldn't be there (adventitious sounds), such as gallops, murmurs, or clicks, as well as the rate, type, and rhythm of heartbeats.
- Assessing Bowel Sounds. To diagnose bowel obstruction or paralytic ileus, we can use stethoscope.
- Detecting bruits. A bruit is an unnatural whooshing sound made by blood flowing through an artery that usually signals that the artery has narrowed, creating turbulent flow, as in arterioscleroisis. If the patient is healthy and "normal," no bruits should be heard. Bruits can be found in the neck, the umbilicus, the kidneys, and the femoral, iliac, and temporal arteries.
- Measuring the span of the liver. Normally, this is done using percussion (tapping the belly), but another neat method is to place the stethoscope below the right nipple, the other index finger just above the beltline in line with the nipple, and softly scratch the skin up toward the stethoscope's chest piece. The sound will become increasingly dull as you approach the liver. Marking the point where the dullness begins and stops provides a good estimate of the liver size in that area. At the nipple line, about 10 cm is usual.
Types of Stethoscopes
Acoustic and electronic stethoscopes are the two types of stethoscopes.
Acoustic Stethoscopes
The acoustic stethoscope works by directing more sound waves toward your ears than would otherwise be received. To hear a noise, sound waves must produce vibrations in air molecules, which causes changes in air pressure, which causes our eardrums to vibrate. When you place the stethoscope on a patient, bodily sounds such as a heartbeat or stomach gurgling cause sound waves to hit the metal chest component of the stethoscope.
The sound waves are then channelled through the rubber tube in a certain direction until they reach the metal earpiece, and eventually your ears. Because the sound waves are trapped by the tube, they reach your ears in greater numbers than they would otherwise, enhancing the sound. This is why using a stethoscope to listen to a patient's heart sounds louder than placing your ear next to their chest.
Electronic Stethoscopes
Acoustic stethoscopes are restricted in their ability to magnify sounds. Electronic stethoscopes (also known as digital stethoscopes) convert the physical vibrations of sound into an electronic signal, which is then optimised for better listening and diagnosis. In addition to just increasing the volume, certain electronic stethoscopes can also minimize background noise. Some other additional functions may also be available with some digital stethoscopes.
How Does a Stethoscope Work?
The diaphragm, like your own eardrum, is a sealed membrane that vibrates. When it does, the air column inside the stethoscope tube rises and falls, moving air into and out of your ear canal and allowing you to hear sound. Because the diaphragm has a significantly larger surface area than the air column it pushes through the tube, the air in the tube must travel further than the diaphragm, magnifying the pressure waves that leave the ear tip. Larger pressure waves in your ear produce louder sounds. Stethoscopes magnify sounds in this way.
Parts of Stethoscope
The stethoscope's basic components are the headset, tubing, and chestpiece.
The diaphragm, which is the larger, flatter side of the chest piece, and the bell, which is the smaller, concave piece with a hole, are the most significant pieces to understand.
The following are the most important parts of a stethoscope.
- Ear tips. These tips are attached to the rubber tubing via the ends of a curved metal tube. The tips should be comfortable in your ear and provide a good seal so you can hear the noises of the body clearly while auscultating.
- Tube. The tube has two purposes: it transmits noises from the body while also reducing or eliminating background noise that could obstruct diagnosis.
- Chest piece. Most stethoscopes have a stainless steel chest piece (or head) that conducts sound well. A combination of stainless steel and a zinc or aluminium alloy is used in some chest components. The chest portion of a standard dual head stethoscope will have a diaphragm on one side and a bell on the other.
Higher-pitched noises, such as breath sounds and normal heart sounds, are best produced by the diaphragm. The diaphragm of a stethoscope vibrates in the same way that the human eardrum does. The air in the stethoscope tubing is moved by the vibrations, which is recognized by your eardrum and interpreted as sound by your brain.
Lower-pitched sounds, such as some heart murmurs and some bowel sounds, are better detected with the bell. It is used to detect bruits as well as heart sounds (for a cardiac exam, you should listen with the diaphragm, and repeat with the bell). If you're using the bell, softly press it against the patient's skin for the lowest sounds and firmly for the higher ones. - Diaphragm. The diaphragm is a thin, round piece of flexible material that fits against one side of the metal stethoscope head. The diaphragm aids in sound amplification, and it should be well-sealed for best effectiveness, especially with a no-chill rim.
Tips on how to Wear a Stethoscope.
The most important thing to know is that you should usually hold the chest piece between the distal regions of your dominant hand's index and middle fingers. This grip is preferable to using your fingertips around the diaphragm and bell since it allows you to press against the patient without irritating it and making additional noise. It's ideal if you to touch the stethoscope lightly.
For the optimum sound transmission, place the chest piece (diaphragm or bell) directly on the skin. You can wear it over one piece of clothes, such as a T-shirt, if you're in a hurry, but this isn't suggested because you risk missing important details.
What are the features of a good stethoscope?
Features that you should look for in a Stethoscope:
- High-Quality Acoustics. The ability of a good stethoscope to enhance the sounds that a medical expert listens for while monitoring vital signs is the most important feature of a stethoscope. You should try out different versions and see which one provides the best sound quality.
You might want to look at a model with a dual-membrane chamber, which has a specialised sound chamber that amplifies both high- and low-frequency sound. Depending on the operational environment, a version that can help block out noise to isolate the exact noises that your needs to hear may be the best option.
Rubber tubing is important for reducing outside noises and ensuring proper sound transmission. Check that it's made of a tough, durable—yet flexible—material like polyvinyl chloride, and that it can withstand breaking as well as folding without breaks or kinks. - Good Fit for Medical Specialty. Specific stethoscopes are often required for specific medical specialisations. Cardiology stethoscopes, teaching stethoscopes, Doppler stethoscopes, veterinary stethoscopes, paediatric stethoscopes, telemedicine stethoscopes, and even digital stethoscopes are all examples of specialised stethoscopes.
- Tunable Chest Pieces. When the chest piece is adjustable, professionals can hear a variety of sounds depending on how hard they press on it. The stethoscope's chest piece is the part that actually conducts sound.
- Easy to Clean. It's critical to choose a stethoscope that's simple to clean so that bacterias don't accidentally spread from one patient to the next when doctors and nurses go about their rounds. A stethoscope that is dermatologically safe, hygienic can be cleaned and sterilized on a regular basis.
- Flexible Diaphragm. The diaphragm of a stethoscope should be made of a flexible, high-quality material to be most effective. PE compound film and resin are frequently recommended. The diaphragm should also be air-sealed to ensure that amplified sound reaches the end user in crystal clear form.
- Durable Materials. Aluminum and rubber are the most common materials used in stethoscopes. You'll want to make sure that the stethoscope models you choose are of the highest quality. A stethoscope's weight, comfort, and acoustic functionality can all be affected by low-quality raw materials. The model you purchase should be long-lasting and durable, so it can stay for a long time.
- Comfort and Ease of Use. It should by lightweight and the earpieces should be soft, and rubber tubing should be flexible/pliable to ensure doctors comfort.
Look for an ergonomic design that features soft and ergonomically contoured ear tips. This makes a huge difference in a medical caregiver's capacity to work efficiently for lengthy periods of time. To ensure optimum ear-tip seal and comfort for your team, ear tubes should be symmetrical. In addition, the headset should be adjustable so that each expert can have the best fit and comfort. - Versatility. A dual-head stethoscope is preferred by certain doctors because it allows them to swiftly and easily convert from a smaller to a larger head depending on the demands of the patient.
How to maintain a stethoscope?
- Extreme temperatures can harm your stethoscope and, over time, cause tubing issues.
- Avoid keeping your scope in excessive heat or cold for extended periods of time, or exposing it to solvents or oils that could damage the tubing and chestpiece.
- We do not recommend storing your scope in a location where it will be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.
- You can clean your stethoscope with mild soapy water if it gets dirty. After cleaning, make sure it's completely dry. If you're worried about contamination, disinfect your stethoscope with a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution.
- The stethoscope eartips can be detached from the binaurals. You will be able to clean thoroughly as a result of this.
- To keep your stethoscope comfortable, check that the eartips are safely secured to the binaurals on a regular basis.
- Avoid immersing your stethoscope in liquids or sterilising it with steam. This could cause damage to sections of the scope or let debris into the tubing, lowering audio quality.
- If sterilisation is required, the only procedure that will not damage your stethoscope is low temperature gas sterilisation.
Best Stethoscopes in India
Dr Morepen ST01 Deluxe Stethoscope
- The seamless PVC tube of the Dr. Morepen stethoscope optimises performance.
- It is specially designed with ultra soft ear knobs to provide high-quality sound.
- It has a round, chrome-plated chest piece with a special diaphragm.
- It is easier for the doctor to hear the sounds when they are loud and clear.
- Dr. Morepen's stethoscope has a dual frequency frame that allows the doctor to determine the patient's high and low frequencies.
Rossmax Cardiology EB-600 Stethoscope
The Rossmax Stethoscope EB 600 is a well-made stethoscope that produces precise and accurate sounds for preliminary auscultation purposes.
- Acoustic Precision: The Rossmax Stethoscope EB 600 is designed to deliver precise sounds from your viscera. Furthermore, because of its design, it is easier to hear systolic and diastolic noises, and therefore to check blood pressure.
- Superior Construction: The Rossmax Stethoscope EB 600 is made of stainless steel, which ensures stability and resistance to pressure and stress when stored in tight spaces, such as cases or backpacks.
- Interchangeable Diaphragms: Because children and adults respond to frequencies differently, the Rossmax Stethoscope EB 600 has interchangeable diaphragms. It not only makes it more convenient, but it also eliminates the need to carry another stethoscope.
- Proprietary Design: The design of the valve mechanism provides for greater sound flow and, as a result, better measurement capabilities.
- Two-in-one design: The Rossmax Stethoscope EB 600's double-tubed design enables for greater and deeper listening of visceral sounds.
- Latex-free: The Rossmax Stethoscope EB 600 has been made latex-free to avoid possible hypersensitivity difficulties.
- More Accessories: It comes with extra eartips.
- Size of the stethoscope. 14 inches’ length of tube.
3M Littmann Cardiology IV Diagnostic Stethoscope
- Hear subtle changes in patient status
- 7-year guarantee
- Ergonomic and high-profile design; chest piece is 40% larger and bell is 60% deeper than other Stethoscope.
- It's suitable for both adult and paediatric patients.
- Non-chill bell sleeve for enhanced patient comfort
- Soft-sealing ear-tips provide superior sound occlusion and comfort.
- Made natural rubber latex
- Made natural rubber latex
- The rubbing noise of standard dual tubes is eliminated with dual-lumen tubing.
- Tunable technology enables switching between hearing high- and low-frequency sounds without repositioning chest piece
- For detailed diagnostic auscultation
Medivision Elegance Stethoscope
- It's a dual chest piece device with smaller sides that may be converted to an open bell.
- It's been specially created for adult and paediatric use.
- It has a three-year warranty.
- This device is simple and safe for all types of paediatric use.
- It is inexpensive and can be recommended for a variety of uses.
