Reassemble by inserting the flexible end into the rim groove, then slowly and gently roll it over the edge. 2. So this is how many times your heart beats in one minute of time. Whether it is just for play or a science experiment, making your own stethoscope is easy and inexpensive. It's Nurse Appreciation Day! This is easy in that there is no math, but it can be hard for little ones because it means staying still and focused for one whole minute. Pull it tightly enough so that it is stretched taut over the funnel, like a drum. And in those long years of use, the healthcare professionals that use them every day have also been cleaning them regularly using a variety of different methods and cleaners. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. You can buy plastic tubing in hardware stores, garden supply shops, and in the aquarium section of a pet store. Why do you think one stethoscope would work better than another? So heres everything you need to know about cleaning your most trusty piece of medical equipment: First, the things you should NEVER do when cleaning your stethoscope: Here are the things you can safely clean your stethoscope with: Ok, now you know what to clean your stethoscope with, lets talk about how to take it apart so you can clean all the places where cooties and gunk can hide. If it is hard to put the funnels in the tubing, soak the tubing in warm water to soften the plastic and try again. Tape it into place all around where the funnel and tube touch. And it can be simple to see a quick change. Tubing replacement is important when cracking has occurred. Measure the heart rate of a person standing or sitting still. Shortness of breath. Here is how we have made ours, and I will add ideas for other ways to make them. Put a small funnel in one end of the cardboard tube, and a large funnel in the other end. If two balloons are available, repeat previous step but wrap the balloon around the wide end of the funnel. Your stethoscope is now ready to use! Keep your stethoscope away from extreme heat, cold, solvents and oils. You can learn more about the Ultrascope personalized stethoscopes on our homepage. I have been having trouble hearing breath sounds because of tinnitus, and with my new MDF stethoscope I can hear them very well! This is the correct way to wear the stethoscope earpieces.Wear the earpieces gently and then twist them softly to make sure they are angled forward towards the nose. The headset should be adjustable for individual fit and comfort. They are commonly used by doctors and nurses, but make popular science experiments as well. How do you think the differences make the real stethoscope work better or make it easier to use all of the time. 12x16 Inch(Unframed) $7.99 . However, its still good practice to wear your stethoscope over a collar whenever possible. First, draw two curved lines coming from the end of that horseshoe shape that you started in the previous step. Make one of the stethoscopes again but find something to change. Apply just enough . Many nurses and healthcare professionals that (hopefully) are religious about washing their hands between patients might not even think about cleaning their stethoscope. Place the earpieces of your stethoscope into your ears and place the large round circle hanging in the middle onto the left side of your chest, which is where your heart is. Though this may not the best option in keeping the stethoscope germ-free, it'll provide some level of cleanliness. If you used plastic wrap, you will definitely need to do this; you can also use a rubber band instead. Mild soap and water (Best for cleaning the tubing), 2% bleach solution (But may discolor the tubing), Clean thoroughly, making sure to get into all the small places. You can see that the procedure and rules are quite simple and when followed, you can never go wrong with this medical equipment. This is due to the justified fear that quality may be tampered with. Refer to your Littmann stethoscope owners manual for detailed instructions on removing and cleaning parts, and reassembly. If there are other noises in the room, it can be difficult to hear using the stethoscope, so make sure you are in a quiet place. Look at Figure 1 below to see a photograph of a stethoscope. some brands are known to fall apart after repeated use of hand sanitizer. Using a pair of headphones may make your stethoscope look more like one your doctor would use, but it won't actually work. Once you get a new tubing, it might feel like you are getting back your new stethoscope without having to spend as much money. By using our site, you agree to our. Trim the ends of the tube down so that the extend past the wires by about. Where the hose lines up with the other end of the cardboard tube, mark this point on the hose with a pen. Then lets get to the Dos and Donts of how to properly clean your stethoscope that wont damage it or affect its performance. Ultrascope - The Stethoscope Your Eyes AND Ears Will Love! To investigate how you can improve on a stethoscope design, visit. Learn about how the heart beats with this fun STEM project for kids! Stethoscopes are tools that doctors and healthcare workers use to check on patients. The tubing is slick and would not hold the paint well, leaving toxic black paint on your fingers and other places it rubs against. You can count beats for just 30 seconds and then double that. Dry all parts thoroughly before reassembly. Do you always give it a quick wipe with an alcohol wipe between patients to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other HAIs (hospital-associated infections) between patients? Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV4lR9EWGlY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-xKZKxXuu0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPYt10zrclQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bxiOMJAMW8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkGOGzpbrCk. 10 seconds is a decent amount of time little ones can hold still for. Fabric paint, puffy paint, and acrylic paint will all work great. As unbelievable as it may seem, something as inconsequential as your natural body oils can make your tubing crack. They all have the same general goal, to observe how the heart is behaving. (Or run in place, or do jumping jacks. What is more interesting than ourselves? A stethoscope tubing is that part of a stethoscope that is soft and flexible. You need one person to listen to the heartbeat and one person to provide the heartbeat. "It's so simple, but it's eluded me for weeks.". It transmits and maintains the diaphragm or bell transmitted frequencies to the ears. If you have seen and felt a real doctor's stethoscope before, think about how the best homemade design you tested is different from a real stethoscope. https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/diy-stethoscope-tutorialscience-experiment-for-kids.html, https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/hearts-and-homemade-stethoscopes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=20s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=25s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=35s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=1m, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=1m16s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=1m25s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=1m30s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=1m37s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=1m43s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8c-FNMlsA&t=2m3s, http://www.serving-pink-lemonade.com/2016/05/diy-toy-stethoscope-and-giveaway-of.html. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Do not put the stethoscope in your ears while the tips point towards them. Share it with us! Feeling the heart beat is a concrete way for children to understand that they have parts inside of them that work to keep them alive. Tape the funnel and cardboard together using duct tape. If you will be using this stethoscope around patients I would say no. Try to tap the rhythm back! Can Vets Use Stethoscopes on Small Animals? If you are buying a stethoscope for the first time, ask around for recommendations. Make it as taught as possible and secure well with tape. Tunable diaphragms can be removed from the chestpiece and their surfaces wiped with alcohol or soapy water. Immersing it into a liquid. Are Doctors and Veterinarians Using Different Stethoscopes? The process of replacing the new tube is a lot easier than that of the old tube removal. Stethoscope and accessories are not included. Place your ear against the other end and listen CLOSELY to hear the volunteers heartbeat or breath. Stethoscope Fun If you have access to a stethoscope, let the children listen to their own and others heart beats. Picking one with a not-so-common color will clearly make you stand out, and who wouldn't want this? But that stethoscope you have hanging around your neck and are sticking in your ears all day might not only be swarming with infectious bacteria it probably also has all kinds of gross organic matter, ear wax. If you want to clean the tubing, mild soap and water is the best. Just like it is with all the things that we use daily, wearing out of a stethoscope tubing is normal as healthcare workers would attest to. This is due to the shape of the bell being a funnel shape that allows sound to bounce down the tube. Lay the tubing flat against the cardboard tube. Rapid, shallow breathing. Copyright NurseHive Technologies LLC document.write(new Date().getFullYear()), https://www.linkedin.com/company/65468502, 10 Anytime Gifts Every Nurse Wants (And Needs), Essential Tips For Surviving The Night Shift From Real Nurses, What Every Nurse Needs To Know About The Night Shift, Best Laptops For Nursing Students: Everything You Need And More, To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, To keep your stethoscope working properly. A stethoscope is a long, thin plastic tube that has a small, flat disc or hollow cup on one end and earpieces on the other end. The positioning produces a slight anchor that keeps them in place. When you replace the tubing, you'll basically be removing the bond that holds the original tubing and the other parts of the stethoscope. Another common cause of tube cracking is the regular use of rubbing alcohol during cleaning. Do you want to see how YOU can paint a stethoscope - Simple little still life daily painting of a stethoscope TUTORIAL VERSION. Competent in Incompetence. You can easily make your own stethoscope right at home using a few basic supplies. Position the earpieces correctly. Used under license in Canada. We use cookies and those of third party providers to deliver the best possible web experience and to compile statistics. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Learn how your comment data is processed. However, there are some things you cant use on your stethoscope and things to keep in mind. (Note: We have a cat. Make sure that the tubing is secure. Alternatively, you can pop a set of silicone earbud covers onto the ends of the tubing, then secure them with hot glue, if needed. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Best midrange . Have the other person put their ear to the opposite end and listen. Sound can also be considered a pressure wave since the areas of compression have high pressure (since a lot of particles are pushing closing on each other) and areas of rarefaction have low pressure (due to the molecules being able to spread out a bit more). 3M, Littmann, the L Littmann logo, the L, and Cardiology IV are marks and/or registered marks of 3M. it takes 1 hour to paint these little daily paintings and about 5 hours + of editing and uploading lol VIDEO CREATED THANKS TO FILMORA! These . Here are a few suggestions! About 2 millimeters will do just fine. Cardiology IV Stethoscope. That means a lot of tape. It is interesting to see how their heart rates compare to ours as people. Diaphragm - a thin sheet of material forming a partition; a taut flexible membrane in mechanical or acoustic systems. If using a longer tube, cut down to the size of a toilet paper tube. It however takes some good level of knowledge and time to undertake the replacement procedure. Doctor Games and Activities. Stethoscope: Have the children paint each the cupped areas of a egg carton (cut up one for each child) then poke a hole and put a piece of yarn through for their stethoscopes! Also, adjust them to make sure they are not too tight or too loose. I'm a mom of three and STEM enthusiast. As a nurse, Anna and her stethoscope have been through a lot together. You can also bring the door inside on a cold day and paint it. My goal is to encourage moms, find practical parenting solutions, and help moms with the unique challenges twins bring! Knowing how to keep your tubing functional for a long time is very important. If you are a practicing health practitioner, do some research on which one suits you best. Insert the long end of one funnel into one end of the tubing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRrCGs0Q98c. Before deciding on whether or not you can change your stethoscope tubing, let's take a look at how the stethoscope is made. You can also use 1in (2.5cm) strips of felt instead. So it only makes sense that your children should listen to the heartbeats of their family! Use stickers, paint, markers, or whatever you have to personalize your stethoscope. When using the stethoscope, place the diaphragm directly onto the skin for better sound transmission. For a more girlish stethoscope, consider using pink instead. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. DocUnlock: Why Do Doctors Use a Stethoscope? All you need to do is count beats for 6 seconds and then multiply by 10. Our stethoscopes can be cleaned with soap and water or with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe. These sounds are also called systolic and diastolic. A deep cleaning, where you take the stethoscope apart, is recommended at least once a week. Best budget stethoscope: FriCARE Dual Head. If you stretch out the slinky and move it back and forth on one end (not up and down) you will see a compression, or wave, go through. Ultrascope - The Stethoscope Your Eyes AND Ears Will Love! Check Price. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. DOODLE HOG Dinosaur Paint Your Own Squishies Kit. 3M Littmann CORE Digital Stethoscope. This amplified sound travels up the stethoscope's tube to the ears of the doctor, who hears the sound through the earpieces. 12x18 Inch(Unframed) Lay the hose flat against the cardboard tube. Clean thoroughly cotton swabs work great. Now before you nuke your stethoscope in an autoclave or go out and buy a new one wait there are some very simple steps you can take to effectively and safely clean your stethoscope. Insert the long end of the funnel into one open end of the tube. Push the small end onto the ear tube until it snaps back into place. Additional stethoscope maintenance and cleaning tips. Tips on how to clean your stethoscope correctly. Gmudwoe Lung Stethoscope Canvas Print Painting Frameless Doctor Office Inspirational Poster Home Decor Wall Decor Vintage Inspirational Wall Art 12x16 Inch(30x40cm) Brand: Gmudwoe. If you suddenly can't hear through your scope, make certain the head is turned the correct way. Though you may be able to purchase tubing from most sites which you can install by yourself to your stethoscope, most experts do not advocate for this. Grip the diaphragm with one hand and gently twist the rim off. Celebrate our nurses by drawing a stethoscope and a heart! If you don't like the color of the headband, wrap ribbon or colorful tape around it. Our bodies are a perfect way to encourage STEM learning in little kids too. Periodically giving it a routine cleaning helps ensure optimal acoustic performance, helps extend the life of the stethoscope, and leaves it looking shiny and new. 28. Wearing the stethoscope incorrectly will cause it to feel uncomfortable. Make sure that the circles align perfectly. In this part of the science project, you will make three different homemade stethoscopes. This can be seen when singing a note with the higher the pitch the more the throat vibrates (frequency). Find everything you need to keep your Ultrascope running smoothly. Something around 24 inches (61cm) would work great, however. Wave - repeating and periodic disturbance that moves through a medium from one location to another, Frequency the number of waves that pass through a point over a given amount of time; associated with the pitch (note) of a sound, Amplitude the displacement of a wave; associated with the volume of a sound, Longitudinal a wave in which the particles of the medium are displaced in a direction parallel to the direction of energy transport; a wave vibrating in the direction of its origin, Compression the pushing together of molecules in a medium. (This can be a real plus because it encourages your kids to be quiet.). However, the stethoscopes that contain red pigments in the tubing color (Burgundy, Pink, Plum, Peach, Raspberry, Orange, etc.) How does it work? She is 16 and was not open to running around on command, even in the name of science. In order to use this stethoscope, you need a buddy. stickers or colorful tape. This is especially so because of the regular contact when the stethoscope is hanging around the neck. There are a few ways you can calculate this. "Make Your Own Stethoscope.". For example, use longer or shorter tubing, or tubing of a different material or size, or a different size funnel. Did it make it better or worse? Use your best homemade stethoscope and measure your helper's heart rate. Go to 3M Littmann Stethoscopes Navigation, 3M Littmann Cardiology IV Stethoscope User Manual (PDF, 1.31 MB). I love coming up with simple and fun learning and STEM activities for kids. When your child is finished with their drawings, you could take a pic. The model is what determines the type of tubing. Editor's choice: 3M Littmann Classic III. Tape the area around the opening of tube and the funnel ends as tight as possible. If you're using a funnel, then you don't need to drill any holes. I have nerve damage on the right side of my face and have trouble finding one that is comfortable this one is the best one Ive ever had! Last Updated: October 6, 2020 {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/Make-a-Homemade-Stethoscope-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Homemade-Stethoscope-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/Make-a-Homemade-Stethoscope-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/aid2527378-v4-728px-Make-a-Homemade-Stethoscope-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"