For every medical practitioner, the stethoscope is a very important piece of equipment. The stethoscope was invented in the year 1916 by the French physician René Laënnec. At that time it was a basic piece of equipment but over the years, it has undergone a lot of modifications. When you look at some of the high end stethoscopes like the Littman Cardiology III, its easy to see how far these instruments have come. There have been tremendous advancements in quality of technology and several different classes and types that have emerged.

Types of Stethoscopes

In the present dispensation, it is simply impossible to imagine a medical doctor without a stethoscope dangling from his or her neck. It has to be pointed out clearly that all doctors do not use the same type. They come in different forms. They are also used in different ways. The best stethoscopes for the medical practitioner will depend on a variety of factors which are outlined below.

Acoustic

This is the most popular and the most commonly used style in most medical facilities. It has a standard chest piece; it also has hollow rubber tubes and a pair of ear pieces. This stethoscope can be used for just basic functions but it has one major disadvantage. This stethoscope is relatively ineffective when hearing faint sounds. It does not function very well in noisy places or in areas where there are background noises.

Electronic

This is a relatively new type. The strong point of this stethoscope is that it is very sophisticated. The electronic stethoscope makes use of acoustic waves which are converted into electrical signals. These signals are then amplified and processed for optimum hearing benefit. The beauty of this equipment is that it can be used in any environment and this is a great advantage.