Ultrascope Stethascope? Maxiscope Stethascope?

[Summit]

My PoS steth broke.

The company steths are PoS (I can't hear squat in the rig).

I remember a nurse at the clinic was raving about her Ultrascope and how she could even hear right through clothing.

Seems like a good field stethoscope to me and $75 isn't horrendous.

Anyone have any experience or opinions?

Here's the blurb:

UltraScopes are pressure sensitive stethoscopes for assessment of heart / lung sounds in patients and animals. The UltraScope head is machined from an extremely crack resistant modern plastic. The head, tubing and binaural assembly filters external noises while amplifying heart / lung sounds without batteries or electronics. Each head is completely manufactured in the United States and is individually designed, therefore no two are exactly alike. Frequency range 20-35 kHz. Adult head dimension: 2†diameter.

They also make a cheaper one called the MaxiScope, but I don't know what the difference is.

[Tibby]

Everyone here swears by Littmann Stethoscopes. So far, my littmann (which was about $75) has been great!

[Guest]

I have a friend here who has been a nurse for quite a few years in all settings.. she bought an Ultrascope at the EMS Conference in Vegas in 2003... she loved it then, but I haven't seen her use it much lately...

[MedicMal]

It's all about the Littmann steths around here. I've never seen a medic use anything different.

MedicMal

[Aaron]

You have to use a LITTMANN any thing else is just an imitation

Aaron

[Richard B the EMT]

It's kind of funny, but my Paramedics, when they borrow my Littman "ears" say the thing is TOO sensitive.

Also, skill counts, too, as I have been able to get fairly good results with the "el-cheap-oh" "Nurse's" style. There will be days when even the best scope won't do the job for you.

[Summit]

I had changed my mind back to a Litmann... but then it turned out one of our paramedics had a scope. I used it and was amazed. Two intermediates used it too. We are all going to buy Ultrascopes now.

[Summit]

Well I got an ultrascope. I've gotten to use it on two calls. It's pretty phenomenal. It hears through clothes. I've gotten breath sounds that nobody else could hear. Pressures take a little getting used to.

[emsgirl]

We have several nurses who use the ultrascopes at work. And that pressure thing must take some gettign used to. FOr others out there, I also hear that the DRG is a good scope, about half my class got that one.

[Geordon]

We have several nurses who use the ultrascopes at work. And that pressure thing must take some gettign used to. FOr others out there, I also hear that the DRG is a good scope, about half my class got that one.

I can't speak for the UltraScope, but I picked up the DRG PureTone Traditional (tactical black, cuz I'm a dork that way) and love it.

Before mine came in, I borrowed a Litt Classic from one of my classmates, and liked it. But, the DRG earpieces are *it* for me. I have funky shaped ear canals, and the Gel-Seal earpieces just rock.

Comparing the PT Trad and the Litt Classic, I'd say that they're about the same, from what I was able to hear. I'd like to get my hands on the DRG Cardiology, though.