The stethoscope - A 200th anniversary

Abstract

René T.H. Laënnec was the man who designed the first monaural instrument for mediate auscultation. The invention became a medical breakthrough. An instrument capable of enhancing the subtle sounds created by the human heart and lungs. This evolutionary instrument also had the benefit of decreasing the oftentim s too direct bodily contact between the doctor and the patient. Laënnec carefully described the different sounds created by the human organs and attempted to link them to the post mortem findings. Even though many doctors were enthusiastic regarding this new medical breakthrough, the stethoscope also had its opponents, but John Forbes' English translation of Laënnec's De l'auscultation midiate as well as William Stokes' treatise on the use of the stethoscope spread the news to the medical world. In Denmark the stethoscope was introduced by Oluf Lundt Bang, S.M. Trier and E. Hornemann. The next step forward was the develop- ment of the binaural stethoscope by G.P. Camman in New York. The Littmann Electronic Stethoscope (3M Health Care) created by David Littmann is considered the leading product globally in this medical field. Digitization, ultrasound and Doppler effect, as well as 2D and 3D printing, are evidence of an on-going evolution within this field of medical equipment as we get ready to celebrate the stethoscopes 200th anniversary.