Some studies have compared acoustic and electronic stethoscopes in clinical practice [ 2]. Kalinauskien E et al. showed that there is an indication of increased sensitivity when using the electronic stethoscope in obese patients [ 7]. Fontaine E et al. suggested that in contrast to the Littmann Cardiology III, the electronic Littmann 3200 can help clinicians to better auscultate cardiac and respiratory areas during air medical transport in a Falcon fixed-wing aircraft [ 8].

Somerville Scott Alison described his invention of the stethophone at the Royal Society in 1858; the stethophone had two separate bells, allowing the user to hear and compare sounds derived from two discrete locations. This was used to do definitive studies on binaural hearing and auditory processing that advanced knowledge of sound localization and eventually lead to an understanding of binaural fusion. [1] Woywodt A, Herrmann A, Kielstein JT, Haller H, Haubitz M, Purnhagen H. A novel multimedia tool to improve bedside teaching of cardiac auscultation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80:355–7. Bronzetti G, Corzani A. The Seven “S” Murmurs: an alliteration about innocent murmurs in cardiac auscultation. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2010;49:713. William Hanson, Smart Medicine: How the Changing Role of Doctors Will Revolutionize Health Care, pp. 20–22, Macmillan, 2011 ISBN 0230120938.This study (ChiCTR2000038272) aimed to compare the ability of a wireless electronic stethoscope against an acoustic stethoscope in detecting heart murmurs and heart arrhythmias in patients. Fifty-seven patients were included in this study between September 2021 and February 2022. Patients older than one year who was admitted to Shanghai General Hospital were enrolled in a nonrandomized fashion. The institutional ethics board approved this single-center study of the Shanghai General Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The exclusion criterion was as follows: the investigator believed the patient should not be included (i.e., heart sounds were extremely hard to hear or hard to recognize or were unsuitable for inclusion (patient with absent echocardiography). Veterinary: These are stethoscopes designed for pets, such as cats and dogs, although many vets use human stethoscopes on their patients as well. Lightweight design and comfortable earpieces: “This is important if you’re wearing the stethoscope all day.” In 1999, Richard Deslauriers patented the first external noise reducing stethoscope, the DRG Puretone. It featured two parallel lumens containing two steel coils which dissipated infiltrating noise as inaudible heat energy. The steel coil "insulation" added .30lb to each stethoscope. In 2005, DRG's diagnostics division was acquired by TRIMLINE Medical Products. [14] [ failed verification] Current practice [ edit ] A doctor using a stethoscope on a patient's abdomen to listen to bowel sounds Bernstein, Lenny (2016-01-02), "Heart doctors are listening for clues to the future of their stethoscopes", Washington Post.

Matt McFarland, "Eko's stethoscope shows the potential of digital technology to reinvent health care", [1], Washington PostPatel A, Tomar NS, Bharani A. Utility of physical examination and comparison to echocardiography for cardiac diagnosis. Indian Heart J. 2017;69:141–5.