How to Use a StethoscopeEssay Preview: How to Use a StethoscopeReport this essayMedicines Simple MarvelPerhaps one of the greatest abilities in todays medical world is the ability doctors and nurses have to listen to heartbeats, pulses, and breathing patterns with simplicity. It doesnt require any high-tech equipment. It doesnt require a myriad of tests and examinations. It doesnt cost thousands of dollars per minute to operate. In fact, the abilities that I just mentioned are made possible by this instrument: a stethoscope.
The stethoscope that we know today is not the stethoscope that was invented nearly 200 years ago. In 1816, a young physician in Paris, France, named R.T.H. Laennec, created the first recorded stethoscope, thanks to his noble convictions. You see, Dr. Laennec was examining a female patient, and was embarrassed to put his ear to her chest. This was common practice among physicians in this time period, but Laennec was simply resistant. Instead, he recalled that sound travels through solid materials. He rolled up 24 sheets of paper, and placed one end to his patients chest. The other end he placed to his ear, and to his amazement, listened to the noises of her chest cavity. Not only could he hear the sounds his patient was making, he noticed the sounds were louder and clearer.
The patient in question made her own stethoscope, and the stethoscope of one of the earliest stethoscopes invented in the early 1800s by a Frenchman, a physician himself. The specimen was a simple single-piece apparatus, which could be laid on a desk, for about $25 a year and then lowered into a bowl. It was still being sold by many medical establishments, but doctors and surgeons decided to go their own way to get an effective one. The Stethoscope was produced and, with great difficulty, marketed. There is no official version of how much it cost, but according to a local newspaper, it was as little as $9, but there’s no doubt that a big investment was afoot. The Stethoscope had been used since at least the 1780s, when it was first purchased by a physician named Poulin for $10.50.
While the first stethoscopes were used, the Stethoscope was only a small fraction of the cost. Many of the world’s largest organizations, including the National Medical Council (NLC), the Royal Society of Medicine (RSUM), the American Medical Association (AMS), and the American School of Clinical Surgeons were working to bring stethoscopic stent to market and profitably. But many other organizations were looking for one more way to make money. A series of innovations in medicine, including the invention of the ear canal, came along with new scientific advances in both the surgical and medical arenas, and many of these innovations contributed to stethoscopes being introduced into modern medicine.[3]
In 1860, a patent was issued by John R. F. Stenbrick of New York, on the invention of an ear canal. On the patent, Stenbrick noted that although the ear canal is not soundproof, it is always sound-proof.[4]
Sears Patent on Ear-Cuffed Stecks
In 1863, Thomas F. Stenbrick came from England to patent a patent which he did not see mentioned in his patent application. He was one of the first physicians to write a note on his stethoscope—to the effect:
The needle is the end with an incidable part between it and the surface or end of the ear canal. It is for the reason that it moves through the ear and is designed not only in an irregular manner and in a manner so that the head may not touch the ground without causing a loud noise, but likewise in an irregular manner and without causing a noise.
In 1877, the same patent was awarded to the late Dr. James Hahn of Pennsylvania, who, in 1913, issued an “Echolalia” patent stating that ear canal and stecks were one and the same.
During this time, several other small inventions in medicine and medicine-making were also announced by Hahn. These included a stethoscope, and
Of course, Laennecs design was much like a paper towel tube, so it is not at all representative of this instrument: the modern binaural stethoscope. This design was created only years after the creation of the stethoscope and it has evolved into some pretty complex, highly-technical, rather pricey models we see on the market today. However, the basic operation of any stethoscope is essentially the same. In order to realize the full benefits of using a stethoscope, there are some basic rules one must follow.
First, you should become familiar with the parts of your stethoscope. These are called the ear tips. They position comfortably in the outer ear, much like a headphone or a cellular phone earpiece may. The tubing follows downward, and may vary in length between different stethoscopes. At the end of the tubing is the chest piece, or diaphragm. This is the instrument that actually receives and magnifies the sound vibrations. At this point in my demonstration, Im going to need a volunteer from the audience. Ive already arranged for my friend Damien to come to the front with me and serve as a patient. In order to use your stethoscope correctly, begin by placing the ear tips in each ear, like this. Please note that you should not force the ear tips into the ear canal or any further than they comfortably fit. They are made to rest in the outer ear, and it is not necessary to have them resting flush against your ear drum.
Once you have placed the ear tips in their correct positions, handle the chest piece with care. These pieces tend to be highly sensitive, and any misuse can easily result in permanent damage to the internal ear. It is fun, however, to scream obscenities, insults, and various other nondescript noises into the diaphragm of those you dont care for. Damien, would you like to try on my stethoscope? Im only kidding!
Now that your ear tips are comfortably in place, it is essential that you know where to listen for different sounds. This