The Stethoscope Today Enjoys An 3G Phone Software
Monday, October 11th, 2010A new iPhone app that mimics a stethoscope might help doctors and nurses out.
More than 3 million doctors have the new app downloaded onto their phone for $0.99, called iStethoscope, that turns it into a stethoscope.
The creator of this app is a researcher at the University College of London named Peter Bentley and he says, “smart phones are capable of saving lives, saving money and improving health care in a dramatic fashion.”
Bentley, who initially made the app as a “fun toy,” now hopes that in the future smart phones could become mobile vital sign monitors, “fully-fledged integrated designs capable of taking ultra sound scanners or monitor a patient’s blood pressure.”
Over 80% of all doctors polled said they expected to be using a smart phone by the year 2012. The iPhone’s FaceTime chat app has already been used by many physicians for doing consultations. While the stethoscope app is certainly handy, it might be somewhat awkward to use until you get used to it.
It is recommended that you not use the very popular iPhone white ear buds while using this stethoscope app to increase the quality of sound since heart sounds are deeper in quality and cant be fully heard with them. Also they suggest removing any iPhone case you may be using as they can get in the way of the app giving you the best results. To listen to a heartbeat all that’s required is to place the microphone located on the bottom side of your Apple iPhone to the skin directly.
Bentley also warns that it takes physicians years to learn how to use stethoscopes correctly and that the Apple device’s microphone is smaller than a conventional stethoscope. With a little practice, Bentley promises that you should be able to get a “wonderful, clear sound.”
And just think: more precocious kids can learn to play doctor using their parent’s iPhones.
While the stethoscope app is certainly handy, it might be somewhat awkward to use until you get used to it. An iPhone app that works as a stethoscope may change the way doctors work in a heartbeat. Littman Cardiology Ii Stethoscope Over 80% of all doctors polled said they expected to be using a smart phone by the year 2012.