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Stethoscope
The stethoscope is a medical device for auscultation, or listening to internal sounds of an animal or human body. It typically has a small disc-shaped resonator that is placed against the skin, with either one or two tubes connected to two earpieces.
What is the stethoscope used for?
The stethoscope is a device that helps physicians or healthcare providers primarily to listen to the sounds generated internally by your heart, lungs and intestinal tract. It is also used to check blood pressure.
Stethoscopes are used for cardiac and respiratory sounds auscultation, however it may also be used to detect bowel sounds or blood flow in arteries and veins. Its versatility has turned into one of the essential tools for physicians and healthcare professionals. Stethoscopes offer medical professionals extensive capabilities to diagnose various pathologies of the patient.
What are the different types of stethoscopes?
Along with the progress in medical technology, stethoscopes have also undergone a major transformation since the early days of its invention in 1816, when French physician Rene Laennec rolled up a piece of paper into a tube and discovered that it provided a better sound than simply placing one’s ear against a patient’s chest.
The following are the different types of stethoscopes:
Acoustic Stethoscope:
Acoustic Stethoscopes are the most commonly found stethoscopes and are familiar to most people. These stethoscopes contain two hollow tubes, which are connected to a chest piece and work through the transmission of sound. The chest piece can transmit sounds through both the tubes.
Electronic Stethoscope:
The electronic stethoscope is a revolutionary step forward in the world of medicine with the integration of new technologies. After two centuries since the invention of the stethoscope, the breakthrough of the electronic stethoscope overcomes the shortcomings of the acoustic one by electronically amplifying the sound levels.
Electronic stethoscopes require the conversion of sound waves to electronic signals which are later amplified and processed to make them optimal for listening. Electronic stethoscopes are battery-operated, and most have a warning system to let you know when battery power is running low. Some electronic stethoscopes have a digital display to show battery status, heart rate, and volume level. Some even have ports or infrared devices to let you connect to another electronic stethoscope, computer, or personal digital assistant.
Recording Stethoscope:
Some stethoscopes use a direct audio output that can be used with external recording devices such as a laptop. By doing this, the healthcare professional can compare the current recording with a previously recorded signal and improve diagnostics capabilities. The previously recorded sound can be heard later through the headphones of stethoscope.
Fetal Stethoscope:
A fetal stethoscope is an acoustic stethoscope that is used to listen to the sounds of the fetus. The stethoscope that comes in the shape of a trumpet, can diagnose any abnormalities in pregnant women. It is placed against the abdomen of a pregnant woman to hear the sound of a fetus and it is also known as a fetoscope.
Doppler Stethoscope:
Doppler stethoscopes are used to measure the Doppler effect of ultrasound waves reflected from the various parts of the body, like the beating of the heart. It detects motion by detecting the change in frequencies. Doppler Stethoscopes can be used in dealing with moving objects.
Disposable Stethoscope:
Disposable stethoscopes and disposable diaphragms for traditional stethoscopes are used when there is a threat that the instrument is likely to become dangerously contaminated.
