Ultra Stethoscope by Highland Innovation Centre Ltd :: Stethoscope capable of operating through clothing
User Feedback

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NEW!

USE OF THE ULTRA-STETHOSCOPE

IN SKI PATROL MEDICINE

Dr Mike Langran

GP, Aviemore Medical Practice

Doctor, CairnGorm Mountain Ski Patrol

I have been using Highland Innovation’s Ultra-stethoscope on the ski slopes of CairnGorm Mountain for several years now. Snow sports casualties in Scotland, rather like those of mountain rescue teams, tend to be injured in cold and windy environments. This presents unique challenges to rescuers, as we have to be able to adequate assess the casualty’s injuries quickly and effectively without placing either ourselves or the casualty at further risk. One of the main risks in this sort of environment is over-exposure to the prevailing elements. Casualties are often wearing multiple layers of clothing and in order adequately examine the chest (in particular) we previously had to balance the risks of undoing layers of clothing in order to access the chest wall against the risks of the cold.

The introduction of the ultra-stethoscope has revolutionised our management of these individuals. It’s ability to listen through multiple layers of clothing allows us to make a rapid and safe assessment of the vital parameters - breath and heart sounds – without the need to open the casualty’s protective clothing at all. Respiratory rate can also be assessed in this way. This allows us to exclude potentially serious traumatic injuries such as a tension pneumothorax with confidence on the mountain slopes. The stethoscope also allows for easy monitoring of the patient during their transfer off the slopes.

I have tested the ultra-stethoscope in ambient temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees C and wind speeds of up to 50 mph. Its performance has remained good in all conditions. Battery life is excellent and the unit has proven to be robust and reliable.

I would recommend this unit to anyone who regularly needs to assess for serious injuries in an outdoor environment.

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"Just today, I used the stethoscope on two casualties - both high speed incidents with chest injuries as a result. So good to be able to listen in on the hillside without exposure. A member of a mountain rescue team was involved in one case and he was mightily impressed too as were the ambulance crew who both had a listen once we got to the base station."


"Its a great device that makes a real difference when assessing and managing casualties at the ski area"

Dr Mike Langran
GP Aviemore Medical Practice, Scotland

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"Heart murmurs are the sounds of the heart that can be indicative of deformities of the heart valves and also possible early indicators of heart disease in some instances. One problem is that it is very difficult to hear certain abnormal sounds using a standard stethoscope. Certain studies, including Mangione 2001, suggest that many common abnormal heart murmurs are very difficult to hear. With its large gain, the heart sounds recorded with the Ultrastethoscope can be heard very clearly. From consultations with heart specialists, one improvement that could be made is that the size of the device would ideally be as small as possible. However this aside, the device is an excellent tool for recording heart sounds onto a PC, and the internal battery lasts for many hours following its initial charge. A recording produced using the Ultrastethoscope and LabVIEW software is included."

Richard Boyle RSE/SE
Enterprise Fellow
Bioengineering Unit and Electronic and Electrical Engineering (CeSIP)
University of Strathclyde

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Ultra Stethoscope

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