Stethoscope - The Mega Thread

admemt1982 · Mar 30, 2011

littman master cardio... dont leave home without it. i started with a cardio III but its a pretty rare day that i get a pedi and i didnt like the ambient noise.

dixie_flatline · Mar 30, 2011

admemt1982 said:
littman master cardio... dont leave home without it. i started with a cardio III but its a pretty rare day that i get a pedi and i didnt like the ambient noise.

No offense to the poster, as you're certainly not the first to mention this idea, but can we get a giant flashing disclaimer posted somewhere that the bell is not for peds? This has become kind of a pet-peeve of mine. Real peds scopes have their own (smaller) bell AND diaphragm. Yeah, it generally works but that's not what it's intended to do. Near as I can tell most bells are for the 20-100Hz range, and the diaphragm is designed for 100Hz-1MHz. The overlap is probably greater than that, but why insist on using the wrong tool for the job? Again, I'm no cardio expert (that would be my old man), but I seem to recall that for our job, we are mainly looking at like 300-500Hz.

/end rant

rwik123 · Mar 30, 2011

dixie_flatline said:
No offense to the poster, as you're certainly not the first to mention this idea, but can we get a giant flashing disclaimer posted somewhere that the bell is not for peds? This has become kind of a pet-peeve of mine. Real peds scopes have their own (smaller) bell AND diaphragm. Yeah, it generally works but that's not what it's intended to do. Near as I can tell most bells are for the 20-100Hz range, and the diaphragm is designed for 100Hz-1MHz. The overlap is probably greater than that, but why insist on using the wrong tool for the job? Again, I'm no cardio expert (that would be my old man), but I seem to recall that for our job, we are mainly looking at like 300-500Hz.

/end rant

Quote from 3M website: The large side can be used for adult patients, while the small side is especially useful for pediatric or thin patients, around bandages, and for carotid assessment.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...E3E02LECIE20KFI1_nid=GS14QYZ9L3beD77LGQCVJWgl

It seems as though it can be used as a ped side.

admemt1982 · Mar 30, 2011

dixie_flatline said:
No offense to the poster, as you're certainly not the first to mention this idea, but can we get a giant flashing disclaimer posted somewhere that the bell is not for peds? This has become kind of a pet-peeve of mine. Real peds scopes have their own (smaller) bell AND diaphragm. Yeah, it generally works but that's not what it's intended to do. Near as I can tell most bells are for the 20-100Hz range, and the diaphragm is designed for 100Hz-1MHz. The overlap is probably greater than that, but why insist on using the wrong tool for the job? Again, I'm no cardio expert (that would be my old man), but I seem to recall that for our job, we are mainly looking at like 300-500Hz.

/end rant

on the same token to what rwik just said i sure as heck dont see enough pedis to carry two scopes. im well aware there are specific pediatric scopes. ive even used one but they are made more for infants and small peds. the small diaphragm on the cardio III is perfect for peds 2 and up. we have infant scopes in our broselow bags for peds under 2 y/o

dixie_flatline · Mar 30, 2011

rwik123 said:
Quote from 3M website: The large side can be used for adult patients, while the small side is especially useful for pediatric or thin patients, around bandages, and for carotid assessment.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...E3E02LECIE20KFI1_nid=GS14QYZ9L3beD77LGQCVJWgl

It seems as though it can be used as a ped side.

Fair enough. That's because this particular scope has 2 diaphragms (and no bell) in the default configuration. I didn't do my due diligence and look at this specific scope. I jumped the gun a little bit, but like I said this issue seems to annoy me for some unknown reason.

edit: and I'm not claiming that anyone should carry 2 scopes. I just don't like the advice of using the bell. Unless the kid is really undersized or something, I haven't run into any major problems using my Master Classic.

TransportJockey · Mar 30, 2011

My backup scope (Cardio III) must be an older one because it HAS a bell on one side, not just a smaller diaphragm. But then again the only reason I'm even using the POS is cause my Ultrascope had to get sent in for rebuild

Next purchase of mine is an Ultrascope Duo (one pedi head, one adult head)

admemt1982 · Mar 30, 2011

jtpaintball70 said:
My backup scope (Cardio III) must be an older one because it HAS a bell on one side, not just a smaller diaphragm. But then again the only reason I'm even using the POS is cause my Ultrascope had to get sent in for rebuild Next purchase of mine is an Ultrascope Duo (one pedi head, one adult head)

you can take the diaphragm off the bell side and use it as a traditional bell. that said its hardly a piece of crap. my wife uses my cardio III in her nursing job and it works great in that environment. just to much noise for the back of a rig. you also might need to have yours tuned or get a new tube. just sayin

TransportJockey · Mar 30, 2011

The noise issue is exactly why I call is a POS. It's been sent in for tuning and the tubing is all of a year old. I much prefer my Ultrascope for work in a box or when I worked in the hospital. Even though it's engraved for EMS, I'll still keep it using it for nursing school and in my career as an RN

clibb · May 21, 2011

I have the Littmann Cardiology III and I love it. I have the 27 inch one and I love the distance I can have from my patients while concerntrating on the sound. I try to be as careful as possible with this stethoscope and try to hang on to it as long as possible.

18G · Dec 4, 2011

I just bought an ADC Platinum Edition Lite (612) and am really happy with it. It is light and transfers sounds really well. In comparison to the Cardiology III it replaced, I like the ADC much better. And it only cost $42 brand new from Amazon.com.

Jeremy89 · Dec 5, 2011

I tried out the Littmann Electronic scope a few weeks ago from one of my nurses at work. I used to think "no one needs this except a cardiologist". Well my mind was changed instantly- I can see its use in EMS because it eliminates the background noise from creaking knuckles as well as when you hear your own pulse, etc. You can also turn up the volume in high noise environments.

As for the price tag? Can't quite justify spending ~$200 on it. Not to mention the possibility of it getting stolen.

Anyone else tried one out yet?

Martyn · Dec 5, 2011

Had the top of the range Littman electronic on a 2 week trial earlier this year, awesome bit of kit but way too pricey for my budget. Had a lot of fun recording friends and relatives 'internal sounds' then getting the PC to analyse them

tssemt2010 · Dec 5, 2011

i love my ultrascope

Handsome Robb · Dec 5, 2011

I have a Littman Classic S.E. II. I like it so far, haven't used it outside of class yet though. Those ultrascopes are really tempting.

HMartinho · Dec 20, 2011

Good evening. I have to buy a new stethoscope. In Portugal, Littman are widely used by doctors, nurses and other health care professionals (I had one), however, I read that the prestige medical stethoscope is very prestigious and used in the U.S.. What do you think?

http://www.amazon.com/Prestige-Medi...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B001CTCHHC

Spedz · Dec 24, 2011

rwik123 said:
You seriously need an electronic stethoscope with recording capabilities to identify sounds you will never need to know?

I'd chuckle if I saw an emt with a 3100.

Well I am buying the 3200 for me and I am only in school although I am doing it because of my hearing loss....I would find out why they have it before you "CHUCKLE" or you might offend someone that you don't want to

CodeBru1984 · Jan 27, 2012

@tssemt2010, what model Ultrascope do you carry? Pros and Cons?

What's your opinion on this Ultrascope? http://www.allheart.com/utm.html

Thanks in advance.
-Bruce

rwik123 · Feb 9, 2012

CodeBru1984 said:
@tssemt2010, what model Ultrascope do you carry? Pros and Cons?

What's your opinion on this Ultrascope? http://www.allheart.com/utm.html

Thanks in advance.
-Bruce

I have the dual lumen version of that. I believe the one pictured is the maxi scope. Both maxi and ultrascope have many good reviews. I love mine.

Handsome Robb · Feb 9, 2012

Those ultrascopes are so ridiculous looking. I finally got to use one. Worked great but personally a little to big for my taste.

Nickb · Feb 9, 2012

i have had a litmman stc and an mdf the stc i liked alot more then the ultrascopes.

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