Best Stethoscopes in the UK

Littmann Classic III is a very popular stethoscope. This model is consistently rated as one of the best general-purpose stethoscopes. Today many experienced medical advisers choose Littmann Classic III for its high-quality acoustic performance even under noisy conditions and for its usability. Commonly, clinicians wear a stethoscope on the neck that eventually can cause discomfort and irritation. But Littmann stethoscope is not the case! The manufacturer uses only first-class non-allergic and durable materials for its stethoscopes. For example, acoustic tubes contain no natural rubber latex or phthalates. At the same time, the tubing perfectly retains its shape and flexibility. It ensures longer stethoscope life, thanks to improved resistance to skin oils and alcohol. Many users also highlight easy-to-adjust headset and convenient ear tips. Just squeeze together or move apart the ear tubes to fit the head size and the spring will remember the last adjusted position. The pediatric side of the chest piece usually used for auscultation of children converts to a traditional open bell. You only need to replace the diaphragm with a non-chill rim. The small side is not only used in pediatrics but also suitable for auscultation around bandages and carotid assessment. 

3M Littmann Classic III is offered in a whole variety of different colours for acoustic tubes and various decorative elements of stethoscope metal components. Available eye-catching combinations and popular colour solutions will add to your style and give your stethoscope a distinctive look. For example, a bright pink tube with golden metal elements or lime green with chrome metal and other vibrating colour combinations look fantastic. You will never go unnoticed!

A dual head stethoscope design is the most recognizable and time-tested. It has been used and refined over time all over the world. Thanks to its simple and no-frills design, dual head stethoscopes became very popular. They work well for everyone from doctors to nurses, medical students, instructors, and paramedics. If a medical student or assistant uses a stethoscope several times a day, an emergency paramedic might use it a dozen times daily. Hence, the quality of this simple yet essential diagnostic instrument is of the utmost importance. MDF is always concerned with high performance and durability characteristics of its instruments. And MDF777-BO One is not an exception. For this model, the manufacturer took a classic dual head design and used the best materials to get the first class stainless steel construction. With a meticulous handcrafting, they achieved excellent results. MDF777-BO Onе parts do not contain any hazardous or allergic materials. This model meets all local quality standards and regulations being absolutely safe for both a doctor and a patient. 

We all know that unpleasant feeling of a cool chest piece touching our skin. And there is hardly someone who would like it. MDF777 boasts a precisely machined and hand polished extra-large bell with a no-chill ring to provide secure acoustic transmission, amplify the sound and ensure maximum patient comfort. The paediatric side also features a no-chill rubber rim for auscultation of children to protect small patients from negative emotions. MDF777-BO One stethoscope is a work of art. It is a really great instrument with unmatched performance, durability, and aesthetics.

Today, with operations in 70 countries, 3M manufactures over 50 000 products for medicine and different industries, including automotive, oil and gas, mining, etc. The company was established in 1902 in Minnesota, USA. Five founders including a lawyer, doctor, two railway managers and a butcher started a small-scale mining venture to harvest a rare mineral corundum used as an abrasive. In 1921 3M invented the first transparent scotch tape. In 1930-s, about 45 percent of the company profit was invested in science and researches. In 1960-s, annual company sales achieved one billion US dollars and the firm focused on the production of magnetic sound recording tapes. On April the 1st, 1967 3M acquired Cardiosonics Inc. and hired Dr.Littmann as a consultant to expand the growing healthcare business. At that time, Cardiosonics manufactured only two types of stethoscopes: a nurse’s stethoscope and a doctor’s stethoscope. Currently, 3М manufactures the whole range of different stethoscopes under Littmann brand. Owing to new unique features developed by 3M engineers, Littmann stethoscopes gained its exceptional reputation and popularity among healthcare specialists. Professional Littmann stethoscopes and micro stethoscopes are designed for a wide range of medical specialists including physical therapists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, and therapists. Littmann is a sign of premium quality and outstanding performance. 

For proper and precise heart auscultation, you should use the diaphragm side of the stethoscope chest piece placing it above the patient’s heart. The diaphragm position is over the left intercostal space, almost under the breast. Hold the chest piece between the pointer and middle finger with a medium pressure to avoid hearing the noise of your fingers friction. Ask a patient to relax and breathe normally, listen to the heartbeat within a minute. You should hear normal heart sounds. These are first and second heart sounds (S1 and S2). The first sound is caused by the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves while the second sound is produced by the closure of aortic and pulmonary valves. The next step is to count heartbeats per minute using the watch. The normal resting heart rate of an adult and a child over 10 years old is 60-100 heartbeats per minute. Sportsmen might have the heart rate of 40-60 heartbeats per minute. During the heart auscultation of small patients under 10 years, you should remember that their heart rate might vary from 70 to 190 heartbeats per minute depending on the age. Thus, generally accepted normal heart rates for kids under 10 years are the following: newborns (1-11 months) – 80-160 heartbeats per minute; infants (1-2 years) – 80-130 heartbeats per minute ; 3-4 year children – 80-120 heartbeats per minute; 5 - 6-year children - 75 - 115 heartbeats per minute; 7-9-year children – 70-110 heartbeats per minute. After checking the heart rate, you should listen to some extra heart sounds. If you hear some heart murmurs or the third heart sound called gallop your patient needs a further examination and consultation of a cardiologist.

Every person should regularly have a health check. One of the ways of doing that is to visit your therapist's; the other one is to do it at home. Having purchased the Primacare Medical Supplies DS-9181, not only will you get a stethoscope for auscultation, you will get a full kit comprising an adult size nylon cuff with Velcro-type closure and a professional aneroid gauge as well, so you'll be able to use it for a range of health assessments as well as for blood measuring. If you haven't owned a blood pressure monitor yet, receiving one with a stethoscope will be a nice bonus.

If you want to take accurate blood pressure readings you should prepare before doing it:

• Don't eat, smoke, drink coffee or take medicine that may raise blood pressure for at least 30 minutes before measurement.
• Sit in a relaxed and comfortable position for at least 5 minutes before you start.
• Place the cuff on bare skin about 2.5 cm above the bend of your elbow.
• Make sure that your feet stand on the floor and your legs aren’t crossed.
• Try not to move or speak while getting the readings.
  

In order for the readings to be accurate, people should observe a few simple rules when using diagnostic tools. Number one, you should keep your tool clean. Do not use household cleaning agents, though, in order not to damage the device. Being sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, stethoscopes cannot be exposed to the direct sun or cold, too. Even though you might not see the damage done, you will surely hear it during assessments. Number two, do not immerse a stethoscope in liquids and keep it from folding when not in use. To ensure that you don't lose your stethoscope, you may also want to personalise it somehow.

We'd like to give you several tips on how to use a stethoscope properly, for a lot of users seem to face the same kind of problem - they do not hear any sounds during use at all. So what are the common reasons that may cause that?

• Make sure that there are no holes in the tubing by tapping the earpiece. If you hear nothing, there might be a leak.
• Always face earpieces forward when you insert them in the ears, otherwise, you won't hear a sound.
• Make sure ear tips don't let any ambient noise in and fit the headset snugly.
• Position a patient. In correspondence with the assessment you need to perform, your patient should be sitting, lying or standing.
• Decide whether you need to use a diaphragm or bell.
• Do not forget to clean your stethoscope from time to time, especially if you often carry it in your pocket. Doing so, you will eliminate debris, lint or dirt accumulation inside the sound pathways.