High quality stethoscopes come packaged with accessories. However, some manufacturers may not include all the accessories you need. So, what should you consider getting? This depends on the size, type and convenience of use. Common ones you can choose from include covers, ID tags, jewelry, tape holders, hip clips, bat clip, ear tips, LED lights, lung and heart CDs, nonchill bell sleeves and watches. They provide a great way of personalizing stethoscopes for every medical professional.
Contents
Protective Covers
A protective cover protects a stethoscope from wear and tear during regular use. They also ensure that the instrument remains clean at all times. Even though you can regularly clean it, it is recommended that you use a cover for optimal hygiene. Stethoscope covers come in various colors and designs. These accessories can also be customized to look more attractive to pediatric patients.
There is no reason not to attach a stethoscope ID tag to your device. The tag is an essential accessory particularly in workplaces where colleagues keep borrowing your stethoscope. Since several professional nurses or doctors use the same stethoscope, placing a small ID tag enables you to identify your instrument. Small metal or plastic identification tags come in a range of sizes, styles and colors. The choice depends on what design you are comfortable with. The tags clip or slide on the plastic tubing. Having a discreet ID tag ensures that a stethoscope is returned to the right owner after each successive borrowing.
Ear tips
Having an additional pair of ear tips is mandatory for a stethoscope owner. Ear tips are parts of a stethoscope that tend to deteriorate the fastest as a result causing great discomfort. In addition to hampering your ability to perceive sounds properly, faulty tips may damage you ears. Purchase ear tips with excellent acoustic seal for increased comfort and sound stability.
Stethoscope LED light
This handy light fastens easily to most standard stethoscopes therefore making it accessible whenever needed. All you need to do is to attach it to your chest piece and press the sides of the device. Generally, the LED light uses button cell batteries and you can examine whichever thing you need with the extra light.
Jewelry
Small necklaces, charms or hanging beads on a stethoscope provide some form of entertainment to young patients. Beads with letters on them can be modified to spell out a name, medical practice or hospital. This helps you identify your personal stethoscope easily. Since they can be customized to fit any medical profession, pediatricians can use them to spell out words that children can recognize.
Hip clip stethoscope holder
The hip clip is a toughened piece of accessory made of durable polypropylene. It comes in various colors to match up your medical attire therefore giving you a professional and dignified look. The hip clip allows free movement of the hands and reduces neck strain. It also reduces chest soreness. Some beneficial features include user-friendliness and easy cleanup. It is compatible with standard stethoscopes currently available in the market.
Bat clip
This accessory resembles the hip clip though it is slightly more up-market. It is usually accompanied with a professional leather finish. Bat clip is an ideal accessory for medical practitioners who do not like the stethoscope around the neck. It keeps the stethoscope accessible yet out of the way.
Tape holder
The tape holder is essential for carrying a roll of tape on the stethoscope. This makes the tape more accessible when needed. The holder is flexible and can attach to any size of a stethoscope. Additionally, it can hold a roll of one-inch medical tape. Since it snaps on the stethoscope in a matter of a second, it does not get in your way when working — at least until when needed.
Watch
This black plastic clip-on watch attaches itself to the tubing for accurate and convenient reading of pulses. It is battery-operated and features a 24-hour dial with step second hands. Its surface usually bears medical symbols and graphics. The case is also water-resistant.
Nonchill bell sleeves
These accessories are used with traditional two-sided chest pieces. They come in different sizes, which fit Littmann stethoscope models. They are mostly available in grey and black colors to match ear tips and diaphragm rims.
Stethoscope heart and lung CDs
These educational CDs provide a self-paced learning through with audio, textual and waveform information. These essential components allow you to differentiate between abnormal and normal lung and heart sounds. They also explicate the characteristics and origins of murmurs and heart sounds. The visual presentations of time-amplitude plots of different sounds are offered in time expansion mode, which allows you to discern the sound details. In addition, they provide a full description of the fundamental heart sound mechanisms. Lung and heart CDs also have additional features such as multimedia CD-ROM.