The History of the

Stethoscope

Jonathan Davis
Introduction
The word ‘stethoscope’ comes from two greek words: ‘stethos’ meaning chest and
‘scopos’ meaning examination. Today, the stethoscope is one of the most useful and
widely used diagnostic tools in the medical profession, having numerous applications.
The stethoscope has been in use in some form for over 200 years and has greatly
improved our ability, as physicians, to correctly diagnose and treat illnesses.
What is a stethoscope?
The stethoscope is an acoustic device used for auscultation. The modern stethoscope
consists of the following parts: eartips, binaurals, binaural spring, tubing, bell and
diaphragm.
The first stethoscope
The first stethoscope was developed in 1816 by French physician René Laennec at
the Necker-Enfants Maladie Hospital in Paris, France. This stethoscope, unlike its
modern counterpart, consisted simply of a hollow wooden tube. Laennec invented
this device in order to eliminate the need to place his ear directly on his patients’
chests when auscultating, which was the common practice of physicians up to the this
point (known as immediate auscultation).
Improvements to the stethoscope
● 1840 - British physician Golding Bird develops the flexible tube monaural
stethoscope
● 1851 - The binaural stethoscope was invented by Irish physician Arthur Leared
● 1852 - Leared’s invention was refined by George Camman for commercial use
● 1858 - Somerville Scott Alison invented the stethophone, which had two
separate bells, which allowed users to auscultate two locations simultaneously
● 1940 - Rappaport and Sprague design a stethoscope consisting of two sides, one
for the respiratory system and the other for the cardiovascular system
The Modern Stethoscope
In the early 1960’s, David Littman, American cardiologist and Harvard Medical
School professor developed a stethoscope which was lighter than its predecessors
and had improved acoustics. He founded Cardiosonics Inc. to sell his product. In 1967
3M acquired the company and hired Littman as a consultant. To this day, Littman
brand stethoscopes are used by medical personnel all over the world.
Conclusion
The stethoscope is a diagnostic tool that has become invaluable to the practice of
medicine. It has revolutionized the diagnostic process and has significantly improved
patient care. Furthermore, this instrument is so widely used and well recognized that
it has become, somewhat, a symbol of the profession itself.