Stethoscope Basics
02 Dec
Knowing how to correctly use your stethoscopes is well worth 2 minutes of your time to get maximum performance.
- Align the headset: Before placing the ear tips in your ears, make sure they point forward, away from you. (Figure %) This ensures that the ear tubes will align with your ear canals for comfort and maximum sound transmission. Holding the headset in front of you with one ear tube in each hand, pull the headset open and place the ear tips into your ears. (Figure ×) If the fit isn’t comfortable, or acoustic performance is lacking, adjust the headset tension. Gently squeeze the ear tubes together to increase headset tension or pull them apart to decrease tension. Wearing the headset improperly, (ear tips pointing backwards, for example) can result in a poor acoustic seal and, in some cases, complete sound blockage.
- Use the right size ear tips: For optimal acoustic performance, it’s important to use the ear tip size that best fits your ear. This is especially true when using the soft-sealing ear tips.
- Chest piece Rotation: When using a double-sided stethoscope, you need to open (or index) the side you want to use (bell or diaphragm) by rotating the chest piece. If the diaphragm is open, the bell will be closed, preventing sound from coming in through the bell, and vice versa.
Cleaning & Maintenance
If you store our stethoscope in your whelping kit, it might accumulate dirt and dust that will obstruct the sound pathways, so remember to give it a quick wipe with isopropyl alcohol (Don't immerse in any liquid)
clean and check before each litter.
Stethoscopes rely on an airtight seal to transmit body sounds from the patient to the practitioner’s ears. Loose parts in the chest piece, loose or cracked tubing, or improperly seated ear tips can prevent an airtight seal.
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