Electronic Stethoscopes: High-tech & Precise
Electronic stethoscopes leverage sound amplification technology to enhance diagnostic accuracy, making them ideal for cardiovascular assessments and pediatric care. Although typically more expensive than their acoustic counterparts, electronic stethoscopes deliver superior sound quality, requiring less user effort when listening to heartbeats or murmurs.
There are mainly two types of electronic stethoscopes. Which are:
Amplifying Stethoscope
This type of electronic stethoscope amplifies the sound to help doctors detect sound changes in their patients' heartbeats and breath sounds. It has two microphones—one that picks up breath sounds, and the other which interprets heartbeats.
Recording Stethoscope
The recording stethoscope comes equipped with a memory card that can record a 30-second clip of audio data. This helps make it easier for doctors to analyse the sounds they hear using an oscilloscope, making diagnosis more accurate.
So, why might these types of stethoscopes be useful? Well, they can help doctors by giving them an easier way to interpret their patients' vital signs. This type of stethoscope is great for performing low-noise measurements and recording data - it produces a static-free signal instead of acoustic noise —and if that’s not enough, they’re also great for assisting in teaching and training medical and healthcare students!
These digital devices provide better sound amplification than the classic acoustic stethoscope - plus, they come with extra features like Bluetooth capabilities, adjustable frequency settings, and external speakers or headphones.
On the other hand, electronic stethoscopes can be pricey and are less mobile than acoustic stethoscopes for certain applications.