MDF Stethoscope Vs Littmann Classic III
Doctor reviews the MD One Stethoscope
The stethoscope is a vital tool in the doctor’s bag. In this article I explore the MD One Stethoscope from MDF Instruments and see how it compares to my Littmann Classic III.
Stethoscope History
Traditionally doctors used their ears on a patient’s chest to hear the heart sounds. However, french physician René Laennec invented the stethoscope in 1816 due to his discomfort of listening to the heart in his female patients.
The stethoscope underwent a number of generations until it became our most commonly recognised version in the 1940’s.
The stethoscope, when placed correctly on a patient can identify numerous issues with the human body. It can, when placed on the valves of the heart, hear murmurs — where blood flow is turbulent. It can also detect added sounds on the heart such as fluid. The stethoscope is also used to listen to the sounds of the lung, detecting infection, fluid and asthma to name a few.
MDF Stethoscope
The MDF stethoscope is a product of MDF Instruments who also sell other medical equipment such as blood pressure monitors and reflex hammers. The MD One is part of their comprehensive range of stethoscopes. It is most useful for general diagnostic purposes, which is suited for a General Practitioner. Unlike traditional stethoscopes, you can select a number of different colours including multi-coloured options.
Out of the box, the MD One stethoscope tubing is much softer and pliable than the Littmann Classic III. It is also slightly longer in length. This could be useful for maintaining a reasonable distance from patients whilst examining them. Or, particularly useful if you have longer arms.
Upon examining the diaphragm, it is slightly larger than the Littmann Classic III. The advertising markets the diaphragm as being ‘ultra sensitive’, which will be interesting to see how it performs compared to the Littmann. The bell on the other hand appears to be a similar size as the Littmann. To switch between the bell and diaphragm you can simply turn the chest piece and a green marker will show you which side is activated. This is similar to the Littmann Classic III which has a divot to demonstrate this. Both stethoscopes have their logos printed onto the diaphragm, however the MDF logo stands out a little more due to its colour and font.
Comfort
As a doctor who has used a Littmann stethoscope for well over 10 years, I am very used to the comfort levels, the ear tips are the classic grey colour and are fairly pliable in the ear canal, ensuring comfort. The MD One also has pliable ear pieces, however they are clear, allowing you to assess for cleanliness easily before putting the stethoscope on. In terms of comfort, the MD One does feel comfortable, although, one issue that I had when using it was that the stethoscope itself, twisted slightly into my ear canal. I inspected the frame for any kinks but was not able to find any. After some slight micro-adjustments, I was able to place it in my ears more comfortably, however I am unsure if this problem will persist or if this was an issue with my particular stethoscope.
Aesthetics
Wearing a stethoscope brings pride to many, it can be viewed as a life achievement and certainly, how the stethoscope ‘looks’ whilst wearing it, is also an important consideration. The MD One, when placed around the neck hangs slightly longer than the Littmann Classic III. It is also heavier in weight. This can be both a pro and a con. The increased length may benefit taller people and the weight can be useful for those who are worried that the stethoscope may fall off. However, the weight may also be a hinderance in terms of neck pain if worn for a long period of time.
Performance
Ultimately, the most important aspect of a stethoscope is how it performs. Both stethoscopes were quite comparable with one another. The MD One stethoscope was ever so slightly louder when listening to the heart sounds through the diaphragm in comparison to the Littmann Classic III. This could be owing to the slightly larger size. When it came to listening to the heart sounds with the bell, both were similar, however the Littmann Classic III sounded just that little bit louder. Both stethoscopes produced clear heart sounds that were easy to listen to. The MD One is marketed to have a non-chill ring, however, when I compared it to my Littmann, they were quite similar. This could be due to the ambient temperature being quite warm. It will be interesting to review this again in the cooler climates.
Conclusion
The MD One stethoscope performs well, my main irk was the twisting of the frame in my ears, though, this may have just been my particular device. It does however, give slightly louder heart sounds with the diaphragm than the Littmann Classic III.
What do you think about the MD One Stethoscope? I would love to hear your thoughts.
I hope that you have found this article helpful.
Take care and stay healthy,
Dr Nora x
Please note that the contents of this article are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or medical condition.
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