Headset: The headset is the metal part of the stethoscope onto which the tubing is fitted. The headset is made up of the two ear tubes, tension springs, and the eartips. All Littmann stethoscope headsets are set at an anatomically correct angle so that they fit correctly into the wearer's ear canals. The wearer can adjust the tension to a comfortable level by pulling the eartubes apart to loosen the headset or crossing them over to tighten.
Chestpiece: The chestpiece is the part of the stethoscope that is placed on the location where the user wants to hear sound. The chestpiece of the Cardiology III Stethoscope is an innovative design that offers a patented tunable diaphragm on each side of the chestpiece. The large side can be used for adult patients, while the small side is especially useful for pediatric or thin patients, around bandages and for carotid assessment.
Eartip: The Cardiology III Stethoscope is fitted with 3M™ Littmann® Snap-tight soft-sealing eartips. Soft-sealing eartips offer increased comfort, seal and durability, and feature a surface treatment that increases surface lubricity and reduces lint and dust adhesion.
Eartube: The eartube is the part to which the eartips are attached. The Cardiology III Stethoscope is fitted with a ribbed eartube. Note: all Littmann Stethoscopes manufactured after 1994 are fitted with a ribbed eartube that gives a "Snap-tight" fit between the eartube and eartips.
Tunable Diaphragm: A traditional stethoscope consists of a bell and a diaphragm. The bell is used with light skin contact to hear low frequency sounds and the diphragm is used with firm skinn contact to hear high frequency sounds.
Littmann stethoscope's patented tunable dipahragm technology alternates between bell and diaphragm modes with a simple pressure change on the chestpiece. Use light contact to hear low frequency sounds. Press firmly for high frequency sounds.
The small side of the Cardiology III Stethoscope can be converted to a traditional bell. The tunable diaphragm can be easily replaced with the nonchill bell sleeve that is included with each stethoscope.
Stem: The stem connects the stethoscope tubing to the chestpiece. On the Cardiology III Stethoscope the stem is used to index, or open, the side of the stethoscope that the practitioner wants to use.
Tubing: The Cardiology III Stethoscope has double lumen tubing - if you were to view a cross section of the tubing you would see two openings. The tubing on all LIttmann stethoscopes is manufactured from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The tubing does not contain either natural rubber latex or dry natural rubber (with the exception of the 3M™ Littmann® Anesthoscope).
