For most simple tasks, such as taking blood pressure a single head stethoscope is all that is required. Single head stethoscopes have a single diaphragm held in place by a retaining ring. Via the single head, pulses, breath sounds and some cardiac sounds should be clearly audible. By applying pressure to the diaphragm head, the frequency of sounds can be parially modified. In some models is is refered to as a “tunable head” function.

A double head stethoscope has both diaphragm and a bell. The bell has a cone shaped head which normally has no diaphragm and is smaller in diameter to the diaphragm side. This makes it more positionable and in some respects directional, making the location and pin pointing of aucultated sounds more precise. the bell is also better at locating with clarity low frequency sounds.

The dipahragm and bell sides are rotatable around a central core, so one or the other can be selected. Double head stethoscopes are available in a range of sizes with heads from adult, through child or paediatric down to the very smallest neonate head units. Chest pieces are available normally in steel, but some aluminium heads are available. There is little to make one better than the other beyond the weight difference both give good auscultation characteristics in well manufactured stethoscopes. Deluxe units have slightly thicker tubing and head sets vary from central lite sprung units with firm easy clean ear tips through to professional soft sprung with soft fit ear tips for comfort.

Single head stethoscopes start from £3-4 pounds with double head stethoscopes usually a £1 or 2 more.  These cheaper units are ideal for general light ward use and offer perfectly adequate auscultation quality for basic tasks. For heavy regular users, requiring ausculation function to include regular respiratory and cardiac auscultation, high quality clinical branded models start from £25-50

 The [1] Littmann Classic II SE remains the best selling UK double head stethoscope against which most other high quality stethoscope brands are compared. For a great value alternative consider it’s rival North American branded MDF-777 available from valuemed, or our own cardiology model.

[2] Click here to see range of stethoscopes from [3] www.valuemed.co.uk