The Complete Guide to Buying the Best Stethoscope for Your Hospital or Clinic Practice

The stethoscope is a medical device found on doctors, nurses, and medical students. Body organs like the heart and lungs produce sounds daily, defining one's health status. During medical examinations, doctors use the stethoscope to listen to these sounds to diagnose certain health conditions.

Here, we’ll discuss the stethoscope, the types, parts, and factors to help make the best purchase decision. Also, you'll know where to buy stethoscopes in bulk at wholesale prices. Read on!

What is the Stethoscope?

The stethoscope is an acoustic device used to listen to the internal sounds of the body both in men and animals. It is common among healthcare staff and has become the symbol of the medical profession. Before the advent of the stethoscope, auscultation was performed by placing the ear on the area of choice; however, it was not too accurate. Today, every doctor uses the stethoscope in their daily practice to auscultate body parts and organs.

Under normal conditions, internal organs like the heart, intestines, lungs, and blood vessels produce sounds at defined frequencies. With the stethoscope, healthcare workers can listen to the different frequencies the body produces to have a relatively precise idea of their diagnosis. The doctor will be able to perceive two different frequencies; physiological sounds are perceived at high frequencies, while pathological or abnormal sounds are perceived at lower frequencies.

Applications of the Stethoscope

Various types of auscultation can be performed with a stethoscope to listen to the different noises produced by the organs of the body:

Pulmonary auscultation

It is the most common technique to assess airflow in the airways and the status of the pleural space. The stethoscope is placed on the back on both sides of the spine, and sounds are heard while the patient breathes in and out.

Cardiac auscultation

The stethoscope is placed on the chest to listen for sounds made by the heartbeat and blood flow between its chambers. Physicians also use the stethoscope with a blood pressure cuff when using an analog sphygmomanometer.

Digestive auscultation

The stethoscope can be applied to the abdomen by passing through the different quadrants to evaluate intestinal peristalsis.

The Types of the Stethoscope

Acoustic

This is the most common among healthcare workers. It relays sound waves from the patient’s body via an air-filled narrow tube to the ears. In the classical types, the chest piece has two parts, the bell, and the diaphragm. When placed on a patient, the bell transmits low-frequency sounds directly to the headset. On the other hand, the diaphragm absorbs vibrations from the body before sending them through the tubing to the headset.

The latest acoustic stethoscope models have a single chest piece utilizing tunable technology. They are simple are easy to use than the classical models. With this stethoscope, you can differentiate sounds based on the amount of pressure applied to the body.

Electronic

Electronic stethoscopes offer auscultation modes similar to traditional devices but allow you to hear even the faintest sounds by amplifying them. The amplification is better, the ambient noise is filtered, and the listening is improved. This system of filters also makes it possible to isolate specific sounds, which facilitates the therapist's investigations.

They have an LCD screen that displays various information such as heart rate. Some models are also equipped with sound recording technology, which allows the doctor to listen to the frequencies again. Doctors can save the records in different formats to attach them to patient medical records.

Fetal

A fetal stethoscope is a form of acoustic stethoscope that is explicitly used to listen to fetal heartbeat sounds. Physicians use it to diagnose anomalies during pregnancy. The classical model of the fetal stethoscope called the Pinard horn resembles a little trumpet. With this model, the doctor places the stethoscope on the pregnant woman’s belly and his ear on the open end to listen to fetal sounds. The latest fetal stethoscopes now comprise the chest piece, headset, and tubing like you see around every physician's neck.

Doppler

Doppler stethoscopes measure the frequency change in acoustic waves reflected from inside the body. As a result, it allows the movement of various internal parts to be measured, including valve movement and blood flow.

3D-printed

The 3D-printed stethoscopes are produced from recycled plastic using a 3D printer. Although made from plastic, they work with the same principle as the traditional stethoscope. They are one of the simplest to produce and the cheapest on the market; therefore a helpful aid in areas with little or no access to medical devices.

Esophageal

Esophalage stethoscopes monitor cardiac and lung function during surgery in patients under anesthesia. Some models also measure temperature. The thermocouple is inserted into the esophagus, which transmits sound through the tube to earphones.

The Parts of the Stethoscope

The headset

The headset receives the sound transmitted from the chest piece. This part comprises the two metal rods connected by a spring with rigid or soft ear plugs. The headset is designed such that it fits a wide range of individuals.

The chest piece

The chest piece (or head) is the receiver of the stethoscope and is positioned on the patient's body, and directly captures the sound vibrations emitted. The head can be single or double. The double-head comprises the bell and diaphragm which relay sound at different frequencies. In the single head type, the frequency relies on the pressure exerted by the handler.

The tubing

The tubing, usually of polyvinyl material, connects the chest piece to the headset and can be single or double. The twin-tube consists of two distinct conduits and offers better listening quality. There are stethoscopes with different tube lengths on the market, but the length depends only on personal preferences and has little effect on the quality of sound reception.

Factors to consider before purchasing the right stethoscope

Types: Single head or dual head?

The chest piece or head of the stethoscope can be dual or single. The dual models comprise the bell and the diaphragm, which absorb bodily vibrations at different frequencies. However, in the single head, also known as the tunable chest piece, there is only one surface, and the sound frequency depends on the pressure exerted on the body. While both types have different working modes, they serve the purpose.

Purpose

There are different stethoscopes for specific needs, although they perform the same function. For example, pediatric stethoscopes have smaller bells than adult models. Also, specialists use cardiology stethoscopes to listen to the heartbeat and the pumping of blood across the vessels and the heart chambers. On the other hand, fetal stethoscopes are designed for pregnant women to monitor fetal heartbeat. Therefore, identify your patient age and condition before choosing a stethoscope.

Material

The quality of the material used to design the stethoscope would determine its effectiveness, durability, and safety. The stethoscope must be comfortable and easy to use. Hence, opt for lightweight materials that don't irritate the skin. To get a quality stethoscope, ensure it is CE certified.

Easy to clean

Physicians and other healthcare workers use the stethoscope daily for a wide range of patients and across wards in the hospital. As a result, stethoscopes are bound to encounter various microbes. Therefore, choosing a stethoscope that is easy to clean is vital to prevent the spread of infections to patients and healthcare workers.

Prices

There are various models of stethoscopes in the market with different prices. Therefore, when buying, weigh the cost against the benefit before making a final decision. Also, while you may be working with a budget and understanding the importance of the stethoscope, ensure not to go for cheap models at the expense of quality.

Stethoscope Price Guide

There are different models of stethoscopes with varying prices according to their brands. Some are listed below:

• The DYHL-004 Multifunctional Stethoscope costs about $5.
• The DYHL-001 Stainless Steel Double Stethoscope costs about $6.9.
• The NBSF-003 Double-Headed Stethoscope costs about $4.6.
• The 3M Littmann Classic II Pediatric Stethoscope costs about $234.
• The Omron Sprague Rappaport Stethoscope costs about $20.

Where to buy stethoscope at wholesale pricing

Medwish is a digital marketplace that deals in bulk sales of stethoscopes and other medical devices. The principal recipients of Medwish's supplies include private hospitals, laboratories, and international agents.

Are you a healthcare worker or medical student, or do you need a stethoscope for home use and find it difficult to choose? Worry no more! There are varieties of stethoscopes on medwish.com for you to compare and make the best decision.

Purchasing from Medwish is easy as the team offers financing options that allow you to spread your payment. Also, you're not restricted to a single payment option as there are varieties, including credit cards, L/C, American Express, Paypal, etc. In addition, all orders from Medwish are delivered through secure channels as the Medwish team works alongside insurance and logistics providers. The Medwish team also arranges for customs clearance.

Conclusion

The stethoscope is essential in daily medical practice to auscultate patients. Healthcare workers use the stethoscope to monitor the sounds from the body organs to aid in diagnosing and treating various health conditions. Hence, when buying a stethoscope, consider the type, price, material, purpose, etc., to make the right choice.

Contact Medwish today for your stethoscopes and other medical devices.