A stethoscope that works in-flight

Published: 10 December 2012

Aeromedical equipment update

The US Army's Aeromedical Research Laboratory is evaluating a novel stethoscope using Doppler technology.

In normal stethoscopes, a quiet background is needed for health care professionals to listen to a patient's heart or lungs. These stethoscopes become useless when noise levels exceed 90 dBA. This then becomes a problem for medical personnel on helicopters and airlines.

A USA research firm developed the stethoscope using sophisticated electronics, sensors and Doppler technology.

The design means that, after noise reaches a certain level, the stethoscope switches to Doppler mode to detect the motion of the heart and lungs.

The device which has passed a series of comprehensive tests has already seen action. It was deployed to Afghanistan for field evaluation in late 2011 and is FDA (US) approved.

The military is expected to be the primary user for this device. Deterrents to its mass civilian use include the high price and need for advanced training. However, this stethoscope could prove invaluable in a civilian aeromedical environment where there is a presence of high background noise.

Original information sourced from an article published 19 September 2012 by Doug Smock in the journal Plastics Today.