No matter how advanced medical science and technology becomes, sometimes the most effective tools are still the simplest tools. Even with all of the MRI machines, CAT scanners, and other complex medical devices, it’s amazing how much can be accomplished with a simple stethoscope. And one of the best stethoscopes you can find on the market is still the Littmann Stethoscope Classic II SE from 3M.
What is a Stethoscope?
The stethoscope is a fairly simple acoustic device that helps the medical professional perform a function known as auscultation, which simply means listening to the internal sounds of an animal or human body. Most often used to listen to heart and lung sounds, the stethoscope actually provides a range of functionality, and allows the medial professional to listen to everything from the intestines to blood flow in the veins and arteries, and can even be used to measure and evaluate blood pressure.
What should you look for in a stethoscope?
Before we review the Littmann Classic II SE, it’s a good idea to understand what to look for in a good stethoscope.
- Sound quality – the ability to hear clearly and accurately is the most important criteria for any stethoscope
- Comfort – the unit should be comfortable to wear and use. It shouldn’t be too heavy, and the earpieces should fit easily in the ear
- Durability – any good stethoscope should be able to last a long time and allow its owner to focus on their job, not taking care of their stethoscope
- Cost – Stethoscopes, at the end of the day, are pretty basic devices, and they shouldn’t be too expensive.
The Littmann Stethoscope Classic II SE
Invented by Dr. David Littman, the Littmann Classic II SE stethoscope is widely considered to be the industry standard for the medical profession. Manufactured by the 3M Corporation, it features a two-sided chest piece, which provides high acoustic sensitivity and excellent listening capabilities. It’s a traditional bell design that’s combined with a diagraph that is tunable, which lets the user easily alternate between the low and high sound frequencies without the need to turn the chest piece over.
The Littmann Classic II SE features a patented floating diaphragm
The Littmann Classic II SE comes with a three-year warranty.
Who should use the Littmann Stethoscope Classic II SE?
The Littmann Classic II SE was designed for medical professionals, such as Doctors/General practitioners, Physician Assistants, nurses, and medical students. However, it can also be used by other medical professionals, such as emergency medical technicians and other first responders and emergency room professionals.
Key Features
The key features of the Littmann Classic II SE include:
- Tunable diaphragm – The diaphragm in the Littmann Stethoscope Classic II SE is tunable, which allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the stethoscope, to adjust for different conditions.
- Different tubing colors – Stethoscopes, while critical pieces of equipment, aren’t exactly the most exciting thing you’ll ever own. But at least with the Littmann Stethoscope Classic II SE, you can choose from different colors, so that you can personalize your stethoscope, which will also help you identify your stethoscope when you set it down and come back for it later.
- Durability – The Littmann Stethoscope Classic II SE is designed to last a long time, and it does. With minimal cleaning and maintenance, the Littmann Stethoscope Classic II SE will last for years before requiring replacement.
Technical Details
- Stainless steel chest piece
- Non-chill rims
- Floating diaphragm
- High-performance single-lumen tubing
- 135 grams
- Chest piece technology and design: two-sided machined stainless steel
- The weight of chest piece: 65 grams
- Diaphragm diameter: 1.75″/4.4 cm
- Head diameter: 47 mm e 36 mm
- Small/bell diaphragm diameter: 1.25″/3.2 cm
- Product positioning: high acoustic sensitivity/Industry standard
- Stethoscope length: 71 cm
- Soft seal ear tips
Conclusion
For as long as it’s been on the market, the Littmann Classic II SE is still an industry-standard device that provides value for medical professionals all over the world. Its ease of use and comfort make it a great stethoscope, but its best feature is the acoustic quality and adjustable diaphragm, which makes it unique in the marketplace and allows it to provide better sound quality than any other stethoscope on the market. And, when all of this is combined with the low price, the Littmann Classic II SE becomes one of the best options for any medical professional.
Author Bio: Ferdous Khalifa, a passionate blogger for medical devices has reviewed a stethoscope today. Learn more about best stethoscope before choosing your own stethoscope.