Good stethoscope?

[MeowMix]

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I'd like to buy a stethoscope that will last a while; need it for my volunteer work (the ones available at the clinic are not very good), and hope to use it in med school.

Ideas (bargain prices and more expensive)?

thanks

 

[Brewster]

Most people I know use Littmann. They are a little on the pricey side, but are high quality and would be more than adequate for your purposes as a medical student, resident, and attending.

I have a Classic II SE, pretty low end (as Littmanns go, anyway, not compared to what you are used to, I am sure), but it gets the job done. Most people I know have the Cardiology III. A few people really splurge and get the Master Cardiology.

Here is the webpage:
http://www.3m.com/us/healthcare/professionals/littmann/jhtml/

 

[MD2b06]

Littman Cardiology III. Got mine for around $130. Very satisfied.

 

[LukeWhite]

I like to root for the underdog. I have a DRG Puretone Cardiology, which holds up very nicely to the Littman and has some added features (Bose technology sound!)

It was very cheap...only $80 or so, and it's a great little stethoscope. It doesn't have a warranty quite as good as I hear the Littmans do, but it's very well built and should last forever.

 

[joshua_msu]

littman master cardiology special edition. its all black, very cool looking while yet functional

 

[CoverMe]

I love my Master Cardiology Special Edition steth, but it was a gift, so I didn't have to pay for it! 🙂 When I worked on an ambulance, I tried many others' before deciding to ask for the coolest looking one. :😀 (horrible, horrible, I know, but the Littmans were all very functional).

Sometimes it can almost be TOO loud, because of all the noises it will pick up (like when you're doing lung sounds and the ambulance drives over gravel in a construction zone, it's VERY odd hearing Michelins vs. gravel THRU the body of your patient!!).

I think you'd be pleased with ANY of the Littmans, maybe other brands too, but I'm not familiar with them. Just make sure to get a tag, AND get the bell engraved with your name. It's easy for someone to mistake yours for their own, and even easier for someone to "borrow" yours... and then it's gone forever. 🙁

 

[drchris33]

Litmann Cardiology III is the one I have been using for the past three years. Began in respiratory therapy, now a first year med student. You can find a good deal on these on the net, just have to surf around and find the best price. They typically range from $120-180. I am very satisfied with mine. Excellent scope

-C

 

[md_student10021]

Littman Cardiology III. A very good scope. Shouldn't be more than $120-130. [Don't buy it for 180 (see above)]

My only problem is that it's the type with a combined bell/ diaphragm; the "old-fashioned" ones with separate heads are often easier to use.

 

[The Pill Counter]

I know for the Master Cardiology, you pick up low frequency sounds by just pressing lighter, does that really work?

 

[Docgeorge]

I like my Welch-Allyn Harvy delux 2 head scope. I'm deaf and I can hear out of it.

 

[md_student10021]

Originally posted by The Pill Counter
I know for the Master Cardiology, you pick up low frequency sounds by just pressing lighter, does that really work?

Same thing for the Cardiology III. It works, but it's a pain in the ass. Luckily the Cardiology III is convertible to the old-fashioned setup.

 

[paean]

I chose the Welsh Allyn Harvey Dlx because I wanted separate bell and diaphragm, and have had an easier time when I was starting to listen to heart sounds distinguishing what I heard. But my classmates with the Littman combined bell diaphragm seem to be doing fine after figuring out how much pressure to apply to get the bell to take over. Either should work, but fewer people have the Welsh Allyn, which means fewer people will mistake your stethoscope for theirs.