Poll: What's with this tunable diaphragm stethoscope trend?

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So, I'm in the market for my first post-school stethoscope. It's a grad gift from my mother, and she wants to get something nice that will last me a good while. So I do my research, and every new model has this tunable diaphragm technology, which sounds sketchy to me. Handy, but questionable. So I've been asking around.

Some have told me that it's fine and convenient. And others really don't like it. They said that since the sounds you moniter differ with the amount of pressure you apply, if you push pretty firmly you can't hear anything. As in,.... "when trying to listen to the heart sounds in obese patients or women with lots of breast tissue, you can't apply enough pressure without disabling the diaphragm."

So I figured I'd play it safe and buy traditional, but all the brands use it now. Littman, DRG, Welch-allyn.

So what stethoscope do you use? Which is your favorite, or gives you the best sound? And has anyone used ultrascope? (They're very cute trinkets but are they practical?)

Thanks for any info you have.

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Specializes in Education, Administration, Magnet.

Many nurses at my hospital have an Ultrascope. They say that it is way better than any Littman. I have a Littman SE, and I like it, but I will buy a Ultrascope as soon as I graduate. They can handpaint your name inside of that cute picture.

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Many nurses at my hospital have an Ultrascope. They say that it is way better than any Littman. I have a Littman SE, and I like it, but I will buy a Ultrascope as soon as I graduate. They can handpaint your name inside of that cute picture.

Really? Cool. So, either way I guess the tunable diaphragm works because both the L SE and ultrascope have it. Do the nurses complain about the size of the stethescope head? Do any have the detatchable head, where you can order 2 or 3 heads? Does that cause you to lose any sound quality or volume?

Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for the input.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

As usual, try someone else's out. Someone may rave about a scope, while another might not like that one. I know a lot of people that rave about Ultrascopes, meanwhile, i hear better out of the Littman.

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Specializes in NICU.
Really? Cool. So, either way I guess the tunable diaphragm works because both the L SE and ultrascope have it. Do the nurses complain about the size of the stethescope head? Do any have the detatchable head, where you can order 2 or 3 heads? Does that cause you to lose any sound quality or volume?

Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for the input.

Ultrascopes have multiple heads. You can get a 2" adult, 1" pediatric, and 1/2" neonatal head. You can order one set of tubing and 1, 2, or 3 different heads that you can interchange on the same tubing. They go on and off really easily. If none of your coworkers have an Ultrascope you can try, most uniform stores have a couple in stock for you to experiement with. Then they'll custom order you one, as they make over 50 different designs and maybe 10-15 different colors of tubing.

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I have an Ultrascope. The acoustics are as good as my Littmanns, maybe better.

Since one chooses tubing color, design (out of 100 choices) and whether to engrave (which is COOL-- it appears to "float" above the design), it's almost theft proof.

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How much are you all trying to spend?

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I use the bell for heart sounds and the diaphragm for lung/bowel sounds so I would definately recommend a stethescope with a bell

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