Littman Stethoscopes: Spares And Accessories For The Doctor And Nurse

The stethoscope is a medical device to listen to internal sounds of the body.
It is usually used to listen to the sounds of the heart or breathing and can also be used to listen to the intestines and blood flow. It was invented by Rene-Theophile-Hyacinthe Laennec in 1816. It was first just a wooden tube.

In 1851 Arthur Leared invented the binaural stethoscope and that has become the standard model ever since then. Several years there the a model that was developed to connect to different locations of the body to create a stereo effect, but it didn’t see as much use in the medical world then the one that Leared invented. Since the 1960’s stethoscopes have taken some turns and have been refined. The acoustical performances of stethoscopes have been constantly improved over the past couple of decades.

However, it was not until Dr. David Littmann invented his stethoscope that there were major changes. After his invention, many doctors began to carry around different stethoscopes than the nurses. The nurses would carry around one type, while the doctors carried the “two-sided chest piece” stethoscope. This becomes the stethoscope of choice in America and it is still the basis for most stethoscopes used in the medical world today.

Today, the stethoscope
is used to help with diagnosing many diseases and conditions. Usually, the first thing that a doctor will do is taking your blood pressure and use the stethoscope to listen. They will also ask you to take deep breaths in order to tell if anything is blocking your lungs. The stethoscope is able to transmit the sounds and exclude others. Stethoscopes are a symbol of the medial world and usually doctors or nurses are seen carrying them around their necks. One way that they are used outside the medical world is by mechanics.

Stethoscopes are used to isolate sounds of particular engine parts for their own diagnosis. There are two different types of stethoscopes. One type is the acoustic stethoscope. This is to diagnose people and operates by transmission of the sound from the chest piece to the hollow tubes and to the person’s ears.

The chest piece usually has two sides,
one a plastic disc and the other a hollow cup. A diaphragm is places on the patient to listen to the sounds or vibrates of the body. The bell or hollow cup is placed on the patient to listen to the vibrations of the skin directly sends pressure waves to the doctor’s ears. The bell transmits low sounds, while the diaphragm is to transmit sounds with higher sound wave frequencies. The electronic stethoscope requires the conversion of acoustic sound waves to an electrical signal.

Stethoscopes are one of the most commonly used tools in the medical profession. Nearly every doctor, nurse, paramedic, and veterinarian uses a stethoscope throughout the course of a normal workday. Some doctors or hospitals choose to purchase their stethoscopes from discount sources. Shoppers can find nearly any type of stethoscope at discount prices. There are a number of ways to get discount stethoscopes. Many retailers sell older stethoscope models at low prices in order to make room for newer models. Many medical wholesalers sell large quantities of stethoscopes at discount prices. Often, it is possible to purchase stethoscopes directly from the manufacturers without paying the markup charged by retailers.

Stethoscopes can become out of date fairly quickly. With the recent advances in electronic stethoscope technology, there are always new features available. While many doctors want to have the newest and most advanced stethoscopes, many other doctors realize that older stethoscopes still work well. It is pretty common to find stethoscope dealers that sell older models at discounts in order to make room in their inventories for the newest models.

For example, since electronic stethoscopes have gained in popularity, it is easy to find high-end acoustic stethoscopes for lower prices.

Medical wholesale companies supply hospitals and clinics with large quantities of stethoscopes at a discount. These sellers realize that they can make more money by selling a large number of discounted stethoscopes rather than selling fewer stethoscopes at a higher price.

Many stethoscope manufacturers sell their products directly to healthcare professionals. This allows buyers to avoid purchasing from retailers who mark up the prices to make more profit, and it lets stethoscope manufacturers build a word of mouth reputation for their products.
Discount stethoscopes are as reliable and accurate as more expensive models. There is no reason to think that discount stethoscopes are of lower quality than those purchased at full price.

Many doctors like to personalize their stethoscope by putting a cover over the tube.

Stethoscope covers come in many different colors and shapes. Many pediatricians use stethoscope covers shaped like animals. Other doctors like denim or cotton stethoscope covers. Stethoscope covers serve a number of purposes. For one thing, they can protect the fragile rubber tubes from wear and tear. Doctors can also identify their stethoscope by the cover if they happen to misplace it or let someone else borrow it. Many pediatricians find that kid friendly stethoscope designs can have a calming effect on nervous children.

Rubber tubes connect the earpieces and chestpiece of a stethoscope.
These tubes are hollow to allow sound to pass through them. Over time, stethoscope tubes can break and tear, greatly impairing the sound quality and making it difficult for the doctor to accurately diagnose any problems the patient may have. Stethoscope covers can protect the tubes from the normal deterioration that occurs over time. The covers provide an extra layer of protection that extends the life of the stethoscope.

Stethoscopes are notoriously difficult
to keep track of, especially in a busy hospital setting. Other doctors can borrow stethoscopes and forget to return them, nurses can misplace them, or patients can take them. It is a good idea for doctors to have some sort of distinguishing mark on their stethoscope to make it easier to find if it is lost or mixed up with other stethoscopes. A stethoscope cover provides the perfect identification. Doctors can easily identify their own stethoscope if it has a unique cover, perhaps even a cover with the doctor’s name on it.

Many children’s doctors have funny stethoscope covers
that look like animals or cartoon characters. These covers can distract or calm anxious patients, allowing the doctor to work without much resistance from the child.

Stethoscope covers
are useful for a number of reasons. They are inexpensive, usually less than $20, and can lengthen the life of the stethoscope, provide identification is the stethoscope goes missing, and make the doctor’s job easier when treating young children.

Every health professional is well aware of Littman Stethoscope as a quality brand of stethoscope. Everyday, more and more doctors and nurses are using the Littman Stethoscope over other brands.