The Different Types of Stethoscopes
To any average Joe, medical instruments all look the same. But for medical professional, instruments like the stethoscope come in different types. Models like the Littmann Master Cadiology Stethoscope and the Littmann Classic II SE, are very popular in the market today. This is because these specific makes have excellent features and characteristics. Medical practitioners who use the right kind of stethoscope for their jobs have an easier time at work. Yes, there are different types of stethoscopes and these are as follows:
Acoustic – these are the most popular kinds in the market today. In fact, this is the original stethoscope model. Sound is transferred from the diaphragm through a series of hollow tubes that travel up the earpieces. The air inside the hollow tubes serves as the medium of transmission. There are two sides to the chest piece of an acoustic model. The diaphragm is in charge of delivering high frequency sounds. The bell on the other hand is in charge of detecting low frequency sounds. This is why you regularly see medical professionals who try to interchange between a bell and a diaphragm when diagnosing a patient.
Electronic – also known as a stethophone, this type uses electronic transducers to convert the sounds of the body to electronic signals which can then be amplified. This is a very expensive version of a stethoscope. It is not primarily used by doctors because it is very inconvenient to use. Stethophones are uses for special applications like remote diagnosis and monitoring. Stethophones can be given a wireless connection so that doctors can monitor the vital signs of a patient from a distance.
Recording – this is a special electronic variety that can be connected to a recording device. Some doctors use this in order to consult a variety of medical cases with other doctors. If they come across a patient that exhibits bodily sounds that they are not familiar with, they can record the sounds and have other doctors listen to it. Consultations can be conducted fast and efficiently thanks to recording stethoscopes.
Fetal – this type is also called a fetoscope. Generally speaking, it looks like a trumpet and doctors place this on the bellies of pregnant mothers in order to listen to the baby inside the mother’s womb. This specific type was invented by the French Obstetrician, Adolphe Pinard. Of course, there’s a modern version of the fetoscope where the basic model is intertwined with some features of a stethophone.