As we move though the summer, back-to-school time is creeping up on us. Before you know it, the school year will begin. If you are in need of a good quality STETHOSCOPE, this blog is for you.
Wikipedia presents the roots of the stethoscope this way: “The stethoscope was invented in France in 1816 by René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec. It consisted of a wooden tube and was monaural.”
It is hard to buy a stethoscope for others so at Vitality Medical we have some tips that will make your stethoscope buying experience a rewarding one. Because nobody wants an unwanted stethoscope sitting around.
Stethoscope School 101
The stethoscope is made of three main components: the Chestpiece, Acoustic Tubes, and the Headset.
The ChestpieceWhether you need a STETHOSCOPE for a medical student or you just want to update your own, you will want to check out our selection of stethoscopes from Invacare, Littman, and MDF. They make great gifts for your med student, nursing student, CNA student or other medical trainee.
The part that is exposed to the patient’s body is the chestpiece. Often times the chestpiece is two sided with a diaphragm on one side and a bell on the other.
When the diaphragm is used, the patient’s body sounds vibrate the diaphragm. The resulting sound waves travel through the tubing to the ear tips. When the bell is placed on the patient, the vibrations come from the skin to produce sound waves. The diaphragm is used for higher frequency sounds and the bell for low frequency sounds.
Some stethoscopes have detachable bells and diaphragms so that a Doctor, Nurse, or Student can switch between bell and diaphragm. They may also attach a pediatric diaphragm on one side and an Adult diaphragm on the other.
The Acoustic Tubes
Often overlooked, the tubing is a crucial part of the Stethoscope. Because of latex allergies, the tubes are made of a non-latex synthetic rubber. The tubes should be dense in this construction so environmental noises don’t interfere with the examinations.
The two most common tube configurations are “Y” and “Dual.” A “Y” configuration is where one tube comes out of the chestpiece and splits with a tube going to each of the ear tips. A “Dual” tube configuration is where two separate tubes come from the chestpiece and go separately to the ear tips.
The Headset
Perhaps the most important part of the stethoscope is the Headset. This is the part that will be the most comfortable or uncomfortable to the medical professional or student. The Headset is made of the ear tips, spring, and the lightweight metal frame that holds it all together.
The “spring” forces the headset to a closed position. A medical professional can wear the stethoscope around their neck or in their ears leaving their hands free. The ear tips go into the ears. They should be comfortable and provide a seal in the ear canal to block out noise.
For 8 years, at Vitality Medical we have delivered on our promise to sell top quality medical supplies at some of the best prices on the Web.
