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| 3M Littman Cardiology III Stethoscope |
Different medical and emergency professionals require vastly different supplies and equipment. An EMT, cardiac nurse, and general practitioner will each need their own individual paraphernalia to suit their career obligations. One universal tool that every practitioner – regardless of type, education level, or specialty – needs is the common stethoscope. Every office, ambulance, hospital, clinic, facility, and trauma bag is equipped with a stethoscope. Scopes are available in a huge variety of styles and colors with customizable features and attachments for the perfect fit, no matter your taste or profession.
Who needs a stethoscope?
Virtually everyone who responds to medical needs will use a stethoscope on a regular basis. An EMT or other emergency responder should keep one in his or her bag; a nurse, physician’s assistant, or doctor uses one on practically every patient; respiratory therapists rely on scopes to determine treatment courses and measure progress; and medical professors demonstrate proper technique and listening methods.
What stethoscope is best for me?
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| Electronic Stethoscope with Bluetooth |
Stethoscopes are divided into several general categories. The standard stethoscope is most commonly used; it is a straightforward, versatile diagnostic tool that can be used in every situation. Sprague stethoscopes are equipped with multiple interchangeable chestpieces for use in various sizes for accuracy in adults and children. The latest in high-tech stethoscopes is the electronic scope, which provides effective noise reduction, easier distinguishing of heart and lung sounds, sound amplification and analysis with state-of-the-art sound sensors, making them an optimal choice for practitioners who are hard of hearing or working in noisy environments. Electronic stethoscopes may include Bluetooth, software compatibility, LCD interface, and/or built-in recording capabilities.
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| ADC Adscope Adimal Scope |
Specialists may want field-specific scopes: pediatric stethoscopes feature smaller chestpieces, non-chill rims, and child-friendly designs, while veterinary scopes are extra long for comfortable listening even on large animals. A cardiologist or cardiac nurse should choose a specialized cardiology stethoscope, the highest-quality model designed to detect the faintest of heart murmurs, irregular heart rhythms, and abnormal heart sounds. Teaching stethoscopes are intended for use in medical and nursing school due to their dual-headset design, enabling both student and teacher to listen to the same sounds simultaneously. Some professionals in high-traffic or infectious-disease areas may opt for an affordable disposable stethoscope for convenience, better hygiene, and less patient-to-patient contamination without sacrificing quality.
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| Welch Allyn Elite Stethoscope |
The most popular choices for healthcare workers of all fields are 3M Littmann’s Cardiology III and Welch Allyn’s Elite line, both of which are not limited to use in cardiology but provides excellent sound quality in any setting. It is a good stethoscope for nursing students, EMTs, nurses, general physicians, and cardiologists alike.
What features do I need?
Every stethoscope is made up of four basic components: earpieces, binaural, chestpiece, and tubing. The parts that are inserted into your ears are the earpieces, sometimes referred to as a whole as the scope’s headset. The metal portion of the stethoscope that connects the earpieces to the rest of the scope is called the binaural or ear tube. The tubing allows the sound to travel from the patient to the practitioner’s ears. The chestpiece is the metal section that is placed on the patient’s chest or back to transmit the sound, and is often surrounded by a removable rim, which creates a barrier between the chestpiece and the patient.
Earpieces
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| ADC Adsoft Eartips |
The earpieces are small and may seem insignificant compared to other stethoscope parts, but since they will spend a lot of time in the user’s ears it is important that they are comfortable and fit properly. Some stethoscopes include more than one pair of eartips for rotation and custom fitting. Eartips are available in various colors, materials, shapes, and sizes so that everyone can find one that fits their ears. Standard eartips are generally plastic or PVC, cylindrical to slip easily in and out of ears, and white, black, gray, or clear to match different scopes. One may choose from small or large for different sized ears. Eartips are also available in a soft mushroom shape for added comfort and reduced slipping. ADC’s Adsoft™ eartips are uniquely shaped and textured, constructed of threaded PVC and conformable for a secure, comfortable fit and acoustic seal for improved sound quality; 3M Littman’s Snap-Tight eartips are ribbed for a tight fit and treated for soft sealing, better performance, and easier care.
Binaural
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| Welch Allyn Binaural/Tubing Assembly |
The binaural, which connects the tubing to the earpieces and facilitate sound transmission, is made of metal, usually aluminum (more lightweight), stainless steel (for intensified sound), or chrome plate (lightweight and more economical); some are even plated with 18-karat gold for the discerning user. A binaural may be rotatable, ergonomically designed, adjustable, or extra-long for comfort and ease of access regardless of the size of the patient or practitioner. A teaching stethoscope will feature two sets of binaurals and earpieces so that two people can listen to the same sounds at once. Binaurals are interchangeable and may be individually replaced when necessary; some replacement sets include eartips and/or tubing as part of the binaural assembly.
Tubing
Stethoscope tubing is often where the most customization takes place. Tubing is available in a wide range of lengths, colors, configurations, and materials. Tubes are typically made of PVC or neoprene to avoid latex allergies; they come in bright colors to suit every user’s taste and lengths ranging from sixteen to forty inches. There are two categories of tubing configuration: single-lumen or double-lumen (also known as one- or two-tube, dual-lumen, or double-tube). Single-lumen stethoscopes feature one tube that splits in a “Y” shape to accommodate both ears. Dual-lumen scopes have one tube per ear, which meet in the middle and travel together to the chestpiece. Two-tube stethoscopes are considered to be more sensitive and provide better, more accurate sound quality due to stereo separation.
Chestpiece
The chestpiece is the most important part of the stethoscope as it transmits the sound from the patient to the practitioner. A chestpiece may consist of one or two sides; a two-sided, or double-head, chestpiece has a diaphragm on one side and a bell on the other. A diaphragm is a flat disc, often held in place by a rim, for high frequency sounds, and a bell is a hollow cup used for listening to lower frequency sounds. With a double-sided chestpiece, the user may simply flip over the head to listen to the different sounds; single-sided chestpieces are tunable or multi-frequency, meaning that the user presses the head lightly to hear low sounds and more firmly to listen to higher-pitched sounds. Sprague scopes include more than one interchangeable chestpiece in varying sizes and types to listen to all heart and lung sounds.
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| ADC 601 Chestpiece |
Chestpieces are available in many sizes and formats for every practitioner’s needs and preferences. It is usually made of zinc, titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, or other metals. Some feature non-chill material or rims for patient comfort. While most chestpieces are black or gray, stethoscope users may choose to customize theirs with stick-on decals such as those found in the ADC Adscope Vistascope or snap-on animal faces to appeal to pediatric patients with the Adimal scope. Electronic stethoscope chestpieces include finely tuned sound sensors and optional selectable modes corresponding to regular scopes.
Which brand should I choose?
The most popular brand among stethoscope users is 3M Littman, considered the highest quality and generally pricier than other brands but with a generous range of values. Welch Allyn scopes are popular and high-quality as well; their Elite series is a common choice. For a budget-friendly but quality scope, many choose ADC, Dynarex, or Omron scopes, with ADC providing the most choices in style and color.
What stethoscope parts or accessories should I get?
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| Stethoscope Name Tag |
Most stethoscopes come complete with all necessary parts. One may choose to purchase a stethoscope and change components – different chestpieces and/or rims, longer tubing, softer eartips, or specialized binaurals – or keep a variety for a customized stethoscope. Other accessories that may be added to further customize one’s scope include stethoscope name tags to prevent mix-ups and losses, covers to reduce cross-contamination, repair kits, adapters, clips and holders.
Whether you are a seasoned medical veteran or a student just beginning your new career, TigerMedical.com has the right stethoscope and parts for you! Check out our user-friendly site or contact a helpful customer service representative to find your perfect stethoscope.
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