Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “STETHOSCOPE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

A modified stethoscope to assist in the identification of tooth coloured restorations.

Forensic odontologists are often called upon to assist in the identification of bodies. Since identification of the body relies on comparison of the post-mortem chart with the ante-mortem record it is important that all restorations present in the deceased's teeth are identified and correctly charted. If a restoration is present in an ante-mortem record then its absence in the post-mortem chart means that the two records cannot belong to the same person. However, tooth-coloured restorations can be difficult to identify, especially in the less than ideal conditions under which the odontologist may have to work. This study was designed to evaluate a simple technique for identifying tooth-coloured restorations, exploiting the difference between the surface roughness of restorative materials and that of the surrounding tooth substance. A conventional dental probe was substituted for the bell of a stethoscope. Differences in the surface texture of the tooth are reflected in changes in the sound heard by the examiner. The modified stethoscope is a useful and easily fabricated device, which may reduce the likelihood of small tooth-coloured restorations going unnoticed in post-mortem examinations. The ability to detect fissure sealants using the device may also prove useful in epidemiological studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A new stereophonic stethoscope.

A new stereophonic stethoscope is presented. It is characterized by a single chest piece construction housing paired open-bell type sound accumulating chambers and paired diaphragm type sound accumulating chambers. A pair of separate ear tubes connected to each of the paired sound chambers establish two cross talk-free channels for collecting and delivering auscultatory sounds. Selective use of the open-bell and diaphragm sound chambers is assured with this new stethoscope. Advantages of stereophonic auscultation are discussed.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1984

Noninvasive detection of intracranial vascular lesions using an electronic stethoscope.

Using an electronic stethoscope, the authors have attempted noninvasive detection of intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVM's), and carotid cavernous fistulas in 45 patients. A microphone of older design and a newly designed horn-coupled probe microphone were used to record the sound signals emanating from the cranium. A trigger pulse recorded by another microphone placed over the carotid area or the precordium was used to time the intracranial signals. The sound signals were converted to electrical signals, amplified, filtered, and analyzed using fast Fourier transformation to give plots of amplitude versus frequency of the signals. A spike at a certain frequency or a bruit over a band of frequencies was considered a positive finding. The records of 18 of the patients were not satisfactory for analysis, mainly due to external noise interference. Eight of 11 aneurysm patients with satisfactory recordings emitted resonant spikes, turbulent bruits, or combinations of the two. The other three records were negative. Four patients with AVM's and two with carotid cavernous fistulas exhibited broad-band bruits representing turbulent flow. Neither spikes nor bruits were demonstrable in three patients with brain tumors or in seven patients without intracranial vascular lesions. Experimental vein pouch aneurysms were also induced in two dogs. Recordings from these animals revealed resonant spikes. The limitations and scope of electronic stethoscope audiometry are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Electronic stethoscope with frequency shaping and infrasonic recording capabilities.

A small electronic stethoscope with variable frequency response characteristics has been developed for aerospace and research applications. The system includes a specially designed piezoelectric pickup and amplifier with an overall frequency response from 0.7 to 5,000 HZ (-3 dB points) and selective bass and treble boost or cut of up to 15 dB. A steep slope, high pass filter can be switched in for ordinary clinical auscultation without overload distortion from strong infrasonic signal inputs. A commercial stethoscope-type headset, selected for best overall response, is used which can adequately handle up to 100 mW of audio power delivered from the amplifier. The active components of the amplifier consist of only four opamp-type integrated circuits.

Auscultation↗
PubMed1991

Neonatal resuscitation: use of the precordial stethoscope.

The precordial stethoscope allows direct monitoring of infants in the delivery room during neonatal resuscitation. The use of this monitor is already mandated as a standard of care practice in pediatric and adult anesthesia. A simple preparation and application of this monitor is described. The routine use of the precordial stethoscope during infant resuscitation in the delivery room may improve quality of care, especially pertaining to airway management, in an area otherwise devoid of monitors. It may be useful in other pediatric resuscitation settings and when transporting ill or sedated pediatric patients.

Auscultation↗
PubMed1985

The nuclear stethoscope.

Eighty consecutive patients undergoing radionuclide gamma camera studies for the measurement of ejection fraction were also examined with the nuclear stethoscope. Overall, the correlation coefficient relating these two techniques was acceptable (r = 0.85). However, two groups were identified: patients with symmetrical wall motion had an excellent correlation (r = 0.90) while patients with regional wall motion abnormalities had a poor correlation (r = 0.78). In conclusion, the nuclear stethoscope is a clinically useful device for monitoring left ventricular function in patients with symmetrical wall motion.

Heart Ventricles↗
PubMed1983

The nuclear stethoscope in the cardiac care unit.

The portable single-crystal scintillation probe (nuclear stethoscope) provides beat-to-beat comparisons of stroke volume and gated measurements of ejection fraction. Comparisons of ejection fractions obtained with the stethoscope and a gamma camera show acceptable correlation except for readings in the very high and very low ranges. The use of the device has been demonstrated by showing changes in ejection fraction obtained with glyceryl trinitrate.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1993

Stethoscope dermatitis: an unusual presentation.

A medical intern presented with a rash that proved to be an unusual presentation of stethoscope dermatitis, a form of nickel contact dermatitis. The stethoscope as a cause of occupational side effects is reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The stethoscope as a diagnostic tool.

It is not the purpose of this article to list the stethoscopic findings in various diseases, nor to discuss such conditions in detail, all of which may be found in any good text book of medicine. Rather, an attempt will be made to assess the significance of the stethoscope, with its limitations, in clinical diagnosis. Does it in fact now have a role of any importance, or is it merely carried as the doctor's traditional badge of office?

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed2006

Living in a "stethoscope": burrow-acoustics promote auditory specializations in subterranean rodents.

Subterranean mammals rely to a great extent on audition for communication and to be alerted to danger. The only hitherto published report on burrow acoustics revealed that in tunnels of blind mole-rats (Spalax ehrenbergi), airborne sounds of 440 Hz propagated best whereas lower and higher frequencies were effectively attenuated. Morpho-functional analyses classify the ear of subterranean mammals as a low-sensitivity and low-frequency device. Concordantly, hearing is characterized by low sensitivity and a restricted frequency range tuned to low frequencies (0.5-4 kHz). Some authors considered the restricted hearing in subterranean mammals vestigial and degenerate due to under-stimulation. In contrast to this view stand a rich (mostly low-frequency) vocal repertoire and progressive structural specializations of the middle and inner ear. Thus, other authors considered these hearing characteristics adaptive. To test the hypothesis that acoustical environment in burrows of different species of subterranean mammals is similar, we measured sound attenuation in burrows of Fukomys mole-rats (formerly known as Cryptomys, cf. Kock et al. 2006) of two differently sized species at different locations in Zambia. We show that in these burrows, low-frequency sounds (200-800 Hz) are not only least attenuated but also their amplitude may be amplified like in a stethoscope (up to two times over 1 m). We suggest that hearing sensitivity has decreased during evolution of subterranean mammals to avoid over-stimulation of the ear in their natural environment.

Acoustics↗
PubMed2006

How Laënnec invented the stethoscope.

Although it is well known that Laënnec invented the stethoscope, the story of how he invented it is less well known. This article discusses the many theories behind the story as well as the impact of Laënnec's discovery on the practice of cardiology in the 21st century.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2000

Stereophonic stethoscope with teaching attachment.

A stethoscope is described in which stereophonic auscultation is achieved by attaching a sound-conducting tube and chest piece to a 2-way stopcock close to the main binaural. In the monophonic mode, a second binaural and conducting tube can be attached via a Y-connector close to the chest piece, permitting 2 observers to listen simultaneously.

Auscultation↗
PubMed1996

Positioning the pacing esophageal stethoscope for transesophageal atrial pacing without P-wave recording: implications for transesophageal ventricular pacing.

This study determined guidelines for positioning a new pacing esophageal stethoscope (PES) used for transesophageal atrial pacing (TEAP) without having to record esophageal P waves. In 44 patients with heights ranging from 142 cm (4'8") to 193 cm (6'4"), the PES was inserted to a depth of insertion (DOI) of 43 cm. As the PES was withdrawn, TEAP thresholds were determined at every DOI in 1-cm intervals between 43 and 25 cm DOI inclusive. TEAP was accomplished in all 44 patients. The minimum TEAP threshold (mean +/- SD 10.8 +/- 4.0 mA) was < or = 17 mA in 43 of 44 patients (98%). Except for one patient, TEAP could be accomplished over a 9- to 19-cm (mean +/- SD, 13.7 +/- 2.8 cm) wide range of DOI. Unintentional transesophageal ventricular pacing (TEVP) occurred in 15 of 44 (34%) of patients. TEVP occurred over a 1- to 7-cm (mean +/- SD, 3.7 +/- 1.7 cm) wide range of DOI; the minimum TEVP threshold averaged 30.4 +/- 6.4 mA. TEAP was consistently accomplished at DOIs more proximal than where TEVP could occur and with lower currents than that required for TEVP. An insertion depth, in centimeters, equal to half of the patient's height, in inches, produced successful TEAP in all 44 patients; the minimum TEAP threshold occurred on average at a DOI 2.6 cm more proximal. Asynchronous TEVP can be avoided by using lower currents at shallow DOIs.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Heart murmurs recorded by a sensor based electronic stethoscope and e-mailed for remote assessment.

BACKGROUND: Heart murmurs are common in children, and they are often referred to a specialist for examination. A clinically innocent murmur does not need further investigation. The referral area of the University Hospital is large and sparsely populated. A new service for remote auscultation (telemedicine) of heart murmurs in children was established where heart sounds and short texts were sent as an attachment to e-mails. AIM: To assess the clinical quality of this method. METHODS: Heart sounds from 47 patients with no murmur (n = 7), with innocent murmurs (n = 20), or with pathological murmurs (n = 20) were recorded using a sensor based stethoscope and e-mailed to a remote computer. The sounds were repeated, giving 100 cases that were randomly distributed on a compact disc. Four cardiologists assessed and categorised the cases as having "no murmur", "innocent murmur", or "pathological murmur", recorded the assessment time per case, their degree of certainty, and whether they recommended referral. RESULTS: On average, 2.1 minutes were spent on each case. The mean sensitivity and specificity were 89.7% and 98.2% respectively, and the inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities were low (kappa 0.81 and 0.87), respectively. A total of 93.4% of cases with a pathological murmur and 12.6% of cases with an innocent murmur were recommended for referral. CONCLUSION: Telemedical referral of patients with heart murmurs for remote assessment by a cardiologist is safe and saves time. Skilled auscultation is adequate to detect patients with innocent murmurs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec (1781-1826): the man behind the stethoscope.

Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec (1781-1826) was a French physician who, in 1816, invented the stethoscope. Using this new instrument, he investigated the sounds made by the heart and lungs and determined that his diagnoses were supported by the observations made during autopsies. Laënnec later published the first seminal work on the use of listening to body sounds, De L'auscultation Mediate (On Mediate Auscultation). Laënnec is considered the father of clinical auscultation and wrote the first descriptions of bronchiectasis and cirrhosis and also classified pulmonary conditions such as pneumonia, bronchiectasis, pleurisy, emphysema, pneumothorax, phthisis and other lung diseases from the sounds he heard with his invention. Laënnec perfected the art of physical examination of the chest and introduced many clinical terms still used today.

France↗
PubMedDate not supplied

History of the stethoscope an overview.

The stethoscope represents the physician perhaps more than any other symbol, except the shaft of Aesculpaius of Kos Island, Greece (birthplace of Hippocrates) - the god of Temple medicine of the Greek antiquity. In early modern ear of the 19th century, it was spectacular product of developing synthetic chemical technology which was progressively used in its making. It was a remarkable addition to the clinico-diagnostic armamentarium of doctors. Laennec paved the way in 1819, and since then it has been a long march of continuous innovative development supplying for the demand of relevant auscultatory bedside tool to examine different medical conditions.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1989

Esophageal stethoscope. Another possible cause of vocal cord paralysis.

Hoarseness after endotracheal intubation can result from compression of the anterior branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve as it passes behind the thyroid cartilage to innervate the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle. This usually occurs when the cuff of the endotracheal tube lies in the larynx instead of the trachea. When a nasogastric tube is positioned in the midline, resultant postcricoid inflammation can result in vocal cord immobility. This may result from neuropraxia of the posterior branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve that innervates the posterior cricoarytenoid and interarytenoid muscles, or inflammatory spasm of the interarytenoid muscles themselves. We present a case of vocal cord paralysis after general anesthesia that may have been caused by an esophageal stethoscope. The mechanism for vocal cord immobility could be similar to that of a midline nasogastric tube with resultant postcricoid inflammation. We describe measures that can be taken to prevent vocal cord paralysis after intubation of the larynx or esophagus.

Adult↗