Q: What is stethoscope and its uses?
A: The stethoscope is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of an animal or human body. It is often used to listen to lung and heart sounds. It is also used to listen to intestines and blood flow in arteries and veins.
Q: Is there a difference in sound quality between long and short tubing?
A: Past publications have suggested that the shorter the tubing, the better the acoustic response. Laboratory testing has shown this to be true, but the average hearing person will only pick up a difference if there is an extreme increase in tubing length. In fact, based on the manner in which sound waves travel, there is a slight advantage in low frequency sounds with longer tubing. Most heart sounds are considered to be in the lower frequency range. Length of tubing seems to be a personal preference, based on physique and infection control issues viewed by the user.
Q: How do I measure my tubing length?
A: Tubing length is measured from the top of the eartips to the bottom of the chestpiece.
Q: Do the stethoscopes sold on this website contain latex?
A: No, They are all made from latex-free materials.
Q: I can't hear anything out of my stethoscope. What is wrong with it?
A: Below are few tips about how to optimize the Acoustical Performance of the stethoscopes:
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Proper Headset Alignment: Our stethoscopes have headsets which have been designed to be worn at an anatomically correct angle, oriented toward the user's ear canals. Before placing the eartips in your ears, hold the stethoscope headset in front of you so that the eartubes point away from you. When the eartips are in your ears, the eartips should be pointed forward. Not everyone's ear canals are the same. If after inserting the eartips in proper manner, the fit does not seem comfortable, and acoustic performance does not improve, grasp each of the eartubes, adjusting the headset for a custom fit. Improperly wearing the stethoscope headset can result in poor acoustical seal, and in some cases, complete sound blockage.
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Proper Fit of Eartips: It is important that the proper sized eartips be used to achieve optimal acoustical performance. This is especially true when using the soft-sealing eartips. If the soft-sealing eartip is too large for the user, the compression of that eartip while in the ear, could result in poor acoustical performance. This could also be true if the eartip is too small. Finding the individual's correct ear size results in the best acoustical performance.
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Check for Obstructions: If the stethoscope is commonly carried in a pocket, or hasn't routinely been cleaned, it is possible that lint or dirt could be obstructing the sound pathway. Routine care and maintenance can prevent this from happening.
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Check the Seal: Stethoscopes rely on an airtight seal in order to transmit body sounds from the patient to the user's ear. Loose parts in the chestpiece, loose tubing, or cracked tubing can prevent an airtight seal.
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Index the Bell: When using a double-sided stethoscope, the user needs to open, or index the bell or diaphragm by rotating the chestpiece. If the diaphragm is open, the bell will be closed, preventing sound from coming in through the bell, and vice versa.
Q: What is the correct terminology for the parts of a stethoscope?
A: Please check below:
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Headset: The headset is the metal part of the stethoscope onto which the tubing is fitted. The headset is made up of the two eartubes, tension springs and the eartips.
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Chest Piece: The chest piece is the part of the stethoscope that is placed on the location where the user wants to hear sound. Most cardiology stethoscopes contain a tunable diaphragm on each side of the chest piece. The large side can be used for adult patients, while the small side especially useful for pediatric or thin patients, around bandages and for carotid assessment.
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Eartip: The eartips of a stethoscope fit into your ears. A good stethoscope will have eartips that offer comfort, seal and durability.
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Eartube: The eartube is the part to which the eartips are attached.
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Tunable Diaphragm: A traditional stethoscope consists of a bell and diaphragm. The bell is used for light skin contact to hear low frequency sounds and the diaphragm is used with firm skin contact to hear high frequency sounds.
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Stem: The stem connects the stethoscope tubing to the chestpiece.
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Tubing: All stethoscopes sold by FirstCare do not contain latex.
Q: How should I routinely clean my mechanical or electronic stethoscope? Can I sterilize it?
A: FirstCare recommends cleaning your stethoscopes in-between every patient with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution or wipe. Do not use hand sanitizer as a cleaning agent as there are additives that may damage parts of the stethoscope. Do not immerse your stethoscope in any liquid or subject it to any sterilization process.
Q: What makes a good stethoscope?
A: While lower quality, disposable stethoscopes can be useful for observing patient sounds the higher end steel and aluminum stethoscope may allow nurses to listen to less obvious (harder to hear) sounds and provide better overall sound quality.