The modern stethoscope is a medical instrument used by doctors and nurses to listen to the bodily sounds of their patients. It was originally devised by a physician in France named Rene Laennec in the early nineteenth century. It was a simple instrument then, consisting of only a short wooden tube that had a flange on the end shaped like a bell.

The bell shaped flange was simply placed against the patients chest with the doctor placing his ear at the opposite end. By doing this it made the patients breath and heart sounds easier to hear. Not until the early 20th century was the stethoscope changed into the modern form we know today, known as a binaural stethoscope. Dr G. P. Cammann was a physician in New York who improved upon the earlier models.

The newer stethoscope had two ear pieces with rubber tips connecting them with a two branched chest cone. This way the sounds could be heard with both ears, and the flexibility of the tubes allowed the doctor to listen to various parts of the patients body without having to move.

Electronic stethoscopes make it possible for several clinicians to listen at the same time to the sounds emitted by a particular organ.

Listening with a stethoscope (also called auscultation), used together with percussion (light tapping of the chest), is a fundamental diagnostic measure in medical practice. The qualities of the sounds emitted by the lungs and heart denote the health or abnormality of these organs.

Many diseases of the heart and lungs, and sometimes of the stomach, blood vessels, and intestines, can be recognized early by skillful use of the stethoscope.

Finally, the flexible parts of a stethoscope should not be cleaned with solvents or alcohol. These can deteriorate and hasten the lifespan of the stethoscope.

Where the chest piece rotates around to tube is lubricated when manufactured and needs to be re-lubricated occasionally with some light oil. If not the grinding together of the metals can disrupt the fine tolerances of the instrument degrading sound quality.

Properly cleaning your stethoscope will also remove lubrication making occasional lubrication a must. Also remember most lubricants should be kept off of rubber and vinyl parts.

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