The stethoscope is an instrument that enables the physician to hear the sounds made by the heart, the lungs, and various other organs. The earliest stethoscope, devised by the French physician R. T. H. Laennec in the early 19th cent., consisted of a slender wooden tube about 1 ft (30 cm) long, one end of which had a broad flange, or bell-shaped opening.
The bell shaped flange was simply placed against the patients chest with the doctor placing his ear at the opposite end. By doing this it made the patients breath and heart sounds easier to hear. Not until the early 20th century was the stethoscope changed into the modern form we know today, known as a binaural stethoscope. Dr G. P. Cammann was a physician in New York who improved upon the earlier models.
This new stethoscope now had two earpieces that were connected with a chest cone by two flexible tubes. Not only could the doctor now listen with both ears but the flexible tubes allowed for a quicker examination because the cone could be placed on different parts of the body without the doctor having to change his position.
Fast forward to today and the electronic stethoscope allows several doctors or nurses to listen to the same thing at the same time.
Listening with the stethoscope, also known as auscultation, used in conjunction with tapping on the chest is a fundamental means of diagnosis in modern medicine. The different ways sound is reflected back after tapping over an organ can tell the clinician about possible abnormalities of that organ.
The stethoscope in the hands of an experienced clinician can be used to detect abnormalities early on to allow for better treatment, and thus outcome for the patient.
Solvents can accelerate the dissolving of the plasticizers that keep these parts flexible and looking new. Always use regular soap to clean this instrument.
In addition, when they are manufactured stethoscopes with two-sided chest pieces are lubricated where the chest piece rotates around the stem and need to be re-lubricated periodically, just like any other machine. If these moving parts are not lubricated, they grind together and ruin the fine tolerances required for the proper acoustic performance of the stethoscope.
Keep in mind that most lubricants can degrade rubber and vinyl components so be sure to wipe off any excess after lubricating your stethoscope.
Learn more about stethoscopes. Stop by Joe Eagen’s site where you can find out all about stethoscope reviews and which is best for you.
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