Learn how to properly use your 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope and understand more about auscultation.
Advice for finding the dependable clinical tool that will serve you for years— plus a look at the anatomy of a stethoscope.
Auscultation is a clinical skill worth learning. Here’s how to begin.
Take your auscultation training and reference sounds anywhere.
From the simple tubes of the 19th century to the precision Littmann stethoscopes of today, one thing hasn’t changed: the importance of listening.
When you're finding the perfect stethoscope, there's no substitute for trying out different stethoscopes.
An internal 3M test showed that heart sounds heard through the adult diaphragm of a Littmann® Stethoscope were more than four times louder (20 dB) than the same sounds heard through a differenct brand of stethoscope*.
That's like the difference between whispering and talking. It could be the critical difference between hearing something significant in a patient, or not hearing it at all.
*3M Data on file
Kinks or bends indicate stiff tubing which can pull on eartips and make the stethoscope hard to use. Littmann® Stethoscope tubing hangs straight; it flexes easily as you examine a patient
Littmann® Stethoscope eartubes are symmetrical for ideal eartip seal and comfort. The headset should be adjustable for individual fit and comfort. The headset tension of all Littmann® Stethoscopes is easily adjusted by gently squeezing the eartubes together to increase tension, or pulling them apart to decrease tension.
Run your fingers over the Littmann® Stethoscope snap tight eartips. They're smooth to seal comfortably inside your ears without irritation. Now try to pull one off the eartube. The eartips really do snap tight for maximum acoustic performance and safety. Finally, feel the weight. Littmann® Stethoscopes are designed to feel light and comfortable when draped around your neck or carried in a pocket.
Click the blue circles on the illustration to find general information along with facts specific to 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes
Click the blue circles on the illustration to find general information along with facts specific to 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes
Eartips are the parts that fit into your ear. They should fit snugly, sealing out ambient noise and helping you to focus on auscultation. All 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes are fitted with snap-tight, soft-sealing eartips.
Eartips are the parts that fit into your ear. They should fit snugly, sealing out ambient noise and helping you to focus on auscultation. All 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes are fitted with snap-tight, soft-sealing eartips.
The headset is made up of two eartubes, the yoke and the eartips. 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope headsets can be adjusted to ensure a proper fit into your ear canals by squeezing or pulling apart the eartubes.
The headset is made up of two eartubes, the yoke and the eartips. 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope headsets can be adjusted to ensure a proper fit into your ear canals by squeezing or pulling apart the eartubes.
Sound travels from the chestpiece through flexible tubing and then through the metal eartubes. 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope eartubes are made of an aerospace aluminum alloy that provides both strength and lighter weight.
Sound travels from the chestpiece through flexible tubing and then through the metal eartubes. 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope eartubes are made of an aerospace aluminum alloy that provides both strength and lighter weight.
Sound travels from the chestpiece through flexible tubing and then through the metal eartubes. 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope eartubes are made of an aerospace aluminum alloy that provides both strength and lighter weight.
Sound travels from the chestpiece through flexible tubing and then through the metal eartubes. 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope eartubes are made of an aerospace aluminum alloy that provides both strength and lighter weight.
Tubing provides the path for sound. 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes feature improved resistance to skin oils and alcohol for longer tubing life
Tubing provides the path for sound. 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes feature improved resistance to skin oils and alcohol for longer tubing life
The chestpiece is placed on the patient to capture sounds. Some 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope models have a one-sided chestpiece with a tunable diaphragm. Others have a two-sided chestpiece with a diaphragm on one side and a bell on the other.
The chestpiece is placed on the patient to capture sounds. Some 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope models have a one-sided chestpiece with a tunable diaphragm. Others have a two-sided chestpiece with a diaphragm on one side and a bell on the other.
3M™ Littmann® Cardiology Stethoscopes have dual-lumen tubing: two sound paths inside one outer tube which helps eliminate the rubbing noise generated by traditional twin-tubed stethoscopes.
3M™ Littmann® Cardiology Stethoscopes have dual-lumen tubing: two sound paths inside one outer tube which helps eliminate the rubbing noise generated by traditional twin-tubed stethoscopes.
The stem connects the stethoscope tubing to the chestpiece. On 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes with two-sided chestpieces, the stem is used to index, or open, the side of the chestpiece that you wish to use.
The stem connects the stethoscope tubing to the chestpiece. On 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes with two-sided chestpieces, the stem is used to index, or open, the side of the chestpiece that you wish to use.
A tunable diaphragm is a 3M invention that lets you easily switch between hearing high- and low-frequency sounds simply by adjusting the pressure on the chestpiece.
A tunable diaphragm is a 3M invention that lets you easily switch between hearing high- and low-frequency sounds simply by adjusting the pressure on the chestpiece.
A tunable diaphragm is a 3M invention that lets you easily switch between hearing high- and low-frequency sounds simply by adjusting the pressure on the chestpiece.
Most parts of a Littmann® Stethoscope can be replaced while it is still under warranty. After the warranty has expired we offer affordable repairs that include replacing the tubing eartubes, diaphragm, rim, nonchill sleeves and eartips. It is recommended that the Littmann® Stethoscope chestpiece is replaced after ten years of use.
While we're showing a 3M™ Littmann® Cardiology III™ Stethoscope in these examples, please note that all current Littmann® Stethoscopes (with the exception of electronic models) have similar components.
Ascultation is a clinical skill worth learning. The ability to accurately identify various heart, lung, and bowel sounds can help you quickly and efficiently assess patients and monitor their condition. The following conditions and equipment will help you perform a proper auscultation:
The 3M™ Littmann® Learning Institute App is packed with auscultation training resources that help sharpen your ability to hear.
Get details and download the app now.
Get exclusive training content on your mobile device that will hep you improve your auscultation skills and use your stethescope more effectively. The free 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscope Learning Institute App includes self-paced lessons with heart and lung sounds, patient scenarios to help improve your diagnostic thinking, self-tests to track your progress, a sound library, and more.
In 1816, French physician Rene Laennec invented the first stethoscope using a long, rolled paper tube to funnel the sound from the patient’s chest to his ear. Accounts vary on exactly how Laennec created his invention, but it was clear from the beginning that the acoustic properties of the tube greatly improved Laennec’s ability to hear vital heart and lung sounds. Laennec coined the name “stethoscope” from two Greek words: stethos (chest) and skopein (to view or see). He also called his method of using the stethoscope “auscultation” from “auscultare” (listen).
Twenty-five years later, George P. Camman of New York, developed the first stethoscope with an earpiece for each ear. This design would be used for more than 100 years with very few modifications.
It wasn’t until the early 1960s that Dr. David Littmann, a Harvard Medical School professor, distinguished cardiologist and recognized international authority on electrocardiography, patented a revolutionary new stethoscope with vastly improved acoustical performance. He helped to transform a simple listening device into a powerful diagnostic tool. 3M acquired Dr. Littmann’s stethoscope business a few years later and continued to refine and improve on his designs.
Today, 3M™ Littmann® Stethoscopes are the diagnostic instruments that millions of medical professionals around the world use and depend on every day. Clinicians who take the time to learn and practice auscultation are rewarded with a valuable skill that helps them quickly assess, diagnose, and monitor their patients.
Stethoscopes are also an important way for clinicians to make first contact with their patients. Using a stethoscope gives a doctor or nurse permission to “touch” a patient without actually touching. It helps break the ice, ease apprehension, and establish connection and rapport. The first use of a stethoscope makes patients feel that they’re being treated the right way.
Numerous 3M innovations such as tunable diaphragms, Ambient Noise Reduction, and Bluetooth® stethoscope connectivity, have extended the capabilities of Littmann® Stethoscope far beyond Laennec’s (and perhaps Dr. Littmann’s) wildest dreams. Littmann® Stethoscopes have become the gold standard by which all other stethoscopes are judged.—the brand that delivers superior acoustics, innovative design, and exceptional performance.
Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG.