electronic stethoscopes

[Shortcut]

can any medical professionals here comment on electronic vs. traditional stethoscopes? i thought an electronic one would be a nice gift, but it's not easy finding reviews about this kind of product.

comments and product recommendations would be much appreciated. thanks!

 

[Rubycon]

Is this for medical purposes or mechanical?

 

[Shortcut]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Is this for medical purposes or mechanical?

whoops, i should've mentioned this in my original post. it is for medical purposes.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

I work as a systems engineer at a hospital and ive heard some of the docs talk about them, for the most part they dont like them, but there are a few that do.l But the overwhelming majority say they dont perform as well

 

[imported_hscorpio]

I can't recommend one but, I had to look into them for school awhile back. I remember reading that a lot of doctors didn't like them because they sounded different than a traditional stethoscope. The doctors would have to re-train their ear to be able to identify things again or something like that.

 

[Slew Foot]

Cant say Ive ever used an electronic one, but a regular one that costs $5 serves my purposes just well.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: hscorpio
The doctors would have to re-train their ear to be able to identify things again or something like that.

This is correct. There's a huge difference in the sound between a standard steth and electronic. Sophisticated electronic ones can use post processing to narrow the range of sounds are useful for locating a specific sound in a complicated mechanism. Physicians will prefer KISS for a good reason. Plus there's never fear of a dead battery.

 

[911paramedic]

I have a $100+ Litman and a $10 stethoscope. The litman is good for inside a house, but even touching the tubing makes so much noise in the earpieces its almost worthless. The cheap one has thicker tubing (and dual) with ridges on it, and when you rub the tubing it doesn't cause much noise. (great for the back of an ambulance)

Its like a pair of underwear, what looks good to you may be totally wrong for them, like Ron Jeremy in a banana hammock. Bottom line, let the person buy something that fits them and find a different present.

 

[TraumaRN]

Electronic steths are mostly crap. No one uses them where I work and those who do end up going right back to a regular one. My 5 year old Litman works great even when it's crazy loud as hell from a bad code.

 

[SirStev0]

There is no need for an electronic one. If you want to get a nice gift get a really nice traditional stethoscope. They can be pricey the higher in quality you go. I would love to have my own personal one... too much for my current broke-ass college student budget... I make due with the junky ambulance ones.

 

[RollWave]

Originally posted by: SirStev0
There is no need for an electronic one. If you want to get a nice gift get a really nice traditional stethoscope. They can be pricey the higher in quality you go. I would love to have my own personal one... too much for my current broke-ass college student budget... I make due with the junky ambulance ones.

Agreed. I would rather have a nice trad. stethoscope.

 

[SSSnail]

Maybe if the electronic ones have Burr-Brown DACs in them.

/badum - tsk

I'll be here all week.