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David Littmann, M.D., (July 28, 1906 – January 1, 1981) was an American cardiologist born in Chelsea Massachusetts (born to Ukrainian immigrants from Novogrod Wolyn aka Zwill Ukraine (formally the Russian Empire), Issac Litman and Sadie Zewat Litman) and Harvard Medical School professor and researcher.[1] The name Littmann is well known in the medical field for the patented Littmann Stethoscope reputed for its acoustic performances for auscultation.
With Gus Machlup, Dr. David Littmann founded Cardiosonics, Inc. to sell his stethoscopes. At that time the stethoscope line consisted of two key models, the doctor's stethoscope and the nurse's stethoscope.
3M acquired the stethoscope company on April 1, 1967, and hired Dr. Littmann as a consultant. 3M currently produces the range of Littmann brand stethoscopes.[2]
The 1960s-era Littman Cardiology 3 stethoscope, which is out of patent, became the basis of a 3D-printed stethoscope developed by Dr. Tarek Loubani and a team of medical and technology specialists as part of the open source Glia project.[3]
With Gus Machlup, Dr. David Littmann founded Cardiosonics, Inc. to sell his stethoscopes. At that time the stethoscope line consisted of two key models, the doctor's stethoscope and the nurse's stethoscope.
3M acquired the stethoscope company on April 1, 1967, and hired Dr. Littmann as a consultant. 3M currently produces the range of Littmann brand stethoscopes.[2]
The 1960s-era Littman Cardiology 3 stethoscope, which is out of patent, became the basis of a 3D-printed stethoscope developed by Dr. Tarek Loubani and a team of medical and technology specialists as part of the open source Glia project.[3]
David Littmann - Wikipedia
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stethoscope history | A timeline of the evolution of the Stethoscope | History of Medicine
stethoscope history | A timeline of the evolution of the Stethoscope Rene laennec invented the stethoscope in 1816. Evolution: monaural | binaural | Littmann...
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that July 28 is the anniversary of the birth of American cardiologist David Littmann, M.D., who patented the Littmann Stethoscope which is reputed for its acoustic performances for auscultation.
I expect my heart function was listened to by an earlier stethoscope as a child. However the Littmann stethoscope has been used to listen to my heart function thousands of time.
Before my mitral valve repair surgery, my mitral valve leak had a sound similar to the sound that people who were about to drop dead had [world class athletes who died, etc.] Every time I went to a doctor's visits in the latter 1990s and early 2000s, residents, interns, PAs would all come in to listen to my heart to get a sample of the sound. It was so strong they could hear it through my head and throughout my torso Now my heart sounds normal for somebody who went through mitral valve repair :-)
Image: David Littmann painting with the stethoscope he designed;
Dr. David Littmann designed stethoscope
Background from reddingmedical.com/blog/history-of-littmann-stethoscopes
"More than 175 years ago in the year 1819, the French physician Rene Laennec developed a wooden monaural stethoscope with a large diameter base that was placed on the chest. The sound was funneled through a smaller opening into one ear of the listening physician.
In 1843, George P. Cammann (New York City) developed the first flexible binaural stethoscope from which sound could be heard simultaneously with both ears. By 1855, Cammann's stethoscope was made with an ebony chestpiece and flexible tubing made of spirals of wire covered with layers of silk dipped in gum elastic. The eartips were made of ivory.
In 1890, the original Cammann stethoscope was refined with a steel spring between the metal ear tubes. Several other minor refinements were made to stethoscopes until in the early 1960's Dr. Littmann, a Harvard Medical School professor, created a new stethoscope with vastly improved acoustical performance.
Dr. Littmann was a distinguished cardiologist and recognized international authority on electrocardiography. In 1961, Dr. Littmann described his "ideal" stethoscope in the November issue of the AMA journal. The device included an "open chestpiece for the appreciation of low-pitched sounds, a closed chestpiece with a stiff plastic diaphragm to filter-out low-pitched sounds, firm tubing with a single lumen bore, the shortest practical overall length, a spring with precise tension to hold the ear tubes apart, and light and convenient to carry and use."
Dr. Littmann's description of his invention is what is now referred to as a "combination " or "two-sided chestpiece " stethoscope... a major advancement in stethoscope technology at the time. The current 3M™ Littmann® Classic II S.E. Stethoscope, a very popular 3M product, incorporates many similar features as found in Dr. Littmann's original stethoscope designs.
On April 1st, 1967, 3M acquired Cardiosonics, Inc. a small Cambridge, Massachusetts company. Dr. Littmann was the founder and medical director of this company with his partner, Gus Machlup. At that time the stethoscope line consisted of two key models, the doctor's stethoscope and the nurse's stethoscope.
By 1970, the doctor's "combination stethoscope" line had grown to 10 models... in stainless steel and aluminum featherweight, gold-plated and pediatric size chestpieces. Tubing color was still limited to gray and black, but lengths were 22 and 28 inches.
By the end of a four or five year period of new product activity, there were six major lines of stethoscopes and a total of 40 models available. In the late 70's, the 3M™ Littmann® Cardiology Stethoscope was born. The product was developed by asking fifty of the world's leading cardiologists to help 3M "design the ultimate stethoscope." This "cardiologists' dream stethoscope", as it was called, had a revolutionary two-tubes-in-one design, new softer eartips and a deeper bell for improved low frequency response.
Throughout the years, product improvements continued. In 1987, 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Master Cardiology Stethoscope as its new top of the line product. This product, invented by 3M engineer Tom Packard, represented a significant leap in stethoscope technology and appearance since Dr. Littmann's doctor's stethoscope was developed in the early 1960's.
The Littmann Master Cardiology Stethoscope is a unique single-sided chestpiece stethoscope which features 3M's tunable diaphragm technology. As opposed to conventional "two-sided" or "combination" chestpiece stethoscopes, the Master Cardiology is able to capture high and low frequency sound ranges by alternating pressure on the chestpiece.
In 1999, 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Electronic Stethoscope Model E2000 and in 2001 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Electronic Stethoscope Model E4100. With state-of-the-art amplification and filtering systems in an ergonomic design, the Littmann Electronic Stethoscopes are exceptional tools for advanced auscultation. Both superior acoustics and enhanced clarity make normal and difficult sounds easier to hear. These electronic stethoscopes are specially designed to pick up difficult-to-hear heart and other body sounds. The chestpiece houses the electronic stethoscope’s innovative technology, including microphone and low-noise amplifiers, that offers up to 14 (E2000) to 18 (E4100) times the amplification of the most advanced conventional Littmann stethoscope.
In 2003, 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Lightweight II S.E. Stethoscope. This stethoscope replaced the 3M™ Littmann® Lightweight Stethoscope. It was designed as a general-purpose stethoscope with an improved design that provides reliable acoustics for basic blood-pressure and limited physical assessment.
In 2004, 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Educational CDs which offer computer-based auscultation learning opportunities. "An Introduction To Heart Sounds" and "Learning Lung Sounds" are multimedia, software programs that integrate textual, audio and visual waveform examples of the most common normal and abnormal heart or lung sounds.
Today Littmann stethoscopes are used worldwide. A wide variety, in both traditional and single-sided tunable diaphragm chestpiece designs, are available to meet virtually every auscultation need. Littmann stethoscopes' amenities for doctors and patients include nonchill rims, patented 3M™ Littmann® Snap Tight Soft-Sealing Eartips, anatomically correct eartubes, excellent warranty and service programs, and a choice of contemporary tubing colors. The standards for stethoscope performance, sound transmission, efficiency and comfort for both wearer and patient have come a long way from Rene Laennec's rolled paper. Listening to body sounds and interpreting their meaning is truly an art in the hands of a trained health care professional using today's advanced acoustical stethoscopes."
stethoscope history | A timeline of the evolution of the Stethoscope
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSew213FAKY
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins Cpl Gabriel F. CW5 Jack Cardwell LTC (Join to see)
I expect my heart function was listened to by an earlier stethoscope as a child. However the Littmann stethoscope has been used to listen to my heart function thousands of time.
Before my mitral valve repair surgery, my mitral valve leak had a sound similar to the sound that people who were about to drop dead had [world class athletes who died, etc.] Every time I went to a doctor's visits in the latter 1990s and early 2000s, residents, interns, PAs would all come in to listen to my heart to get a sample of the sound. It was so strong they could hear it through my head and throughout my torso Now my heart sounds normal for somebody who went through mitral valve repair :-)
Image: David Littmann painting with the stethoscope he designed;
Dr. David Littmann designed stethoscope
Background from reddingmedical.com/blog/history-of-littmann-stethoscopes
"More than 175 years ago in the year 1819, the French physician Rene Laennec developed a wooden monaural stethoscope with a large diameter base that was placed on the chest. The sound was funneled through a smaller opening into one ear of the listening physician.
In 1843, George P. Cammann (New York City) developed the first flexible binaural stethoscope from which sound could be heard simultaneously with both ears. By 1855, Cammann's stethoscope was made with an ebony chestpiece and flexible tubing made of spirals of wire covered with layers of silk dipped in gum elastic. The eartips were made of ivory.
In 1890, the original Cammann stethoscope was refined with a steel spring between the metal ear tubes. Several other minor refinements were made to stethoscopes until in the early 1960's Dr. Littmann, a Harvard Medical School professor, created a new stethoscope with vastly improved acoustical performance.
Dr. Littmann was a distinguished cardiologist and recognized international authority on electrocardiography. In 1961, Dr. Littmann described his "ideal" stethoscope in the November issue of the AMA journal. The device included an "open chestpiece for the appreciation of low-pitched sounds, a closed chestpiece with a stiff plastic diaphragm to filter-out low-pitched sounds, firm tubing with a single lumen bore, the shortest practical overall length, a spring with precise tension to hold the ear tubes apart, and light and convenient to carry and use."
Dr. Littmann's description of his invention is what is now referred to as a "combination " or "two-sided chestpiece " stethoscope... a major advancement in stethoscope technology at the time. The current 3M™ Littmann® Classic II S.E. Stethoscope, a very popular 3M product, incorporates many similar features as found in Dr. Littmann's original stethoscope designs.
On April 1st, 1967, 3M acquired Cardiosonics, Inc. a small Cambridge, Massachusetts company. Dr. Littmann was the founder and medical director of this company with his partner, Gus Machlup. At that time the stethoscope line consisted of two key models, the doctor's stethoscope and the nurse's stethoscope.
By 1970, the doctor's "combination stethoscope" line had grown to 10 models... in stainless steel and aluminum featherweight, gold-plated and pediatric size chestpieces. Tubing color was still limited to gray and black, but lengths were 22 and 28 inches.
By the end of a four or five year period of new product activity, there were six major lines of stethoscopes and a total of 40 models available. In the late 70's, the 3M™ Littmann® Cardiology Stethoscope was born. The product was developed by asking fifty of the world's leading cardiologists to help 3M "design the ultimate stethoscope." This "cardiologists' dream stethoscope", as it was called, had a revolutionary two-tubes-in-one design, new softer eartips and a deeper bell for improved low frequency response.
Throughout the years, product improvements continued. In 1987, 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Master Cardiology Stethoscope as its new top of the line product. This product, invented by 3M engineer Tom Packard, represented a significant leap in stethoscope technology and appearance since Dr. Littmann's doctor's stethoscope was developed in the early 1960's.
The Littmann Master Cardiology Stethoscope is a unique single-sided chestpiece stethoscope which features 3M's tunable diaphragm technology. As opposed to conventional "two-sided" or "combination" chestpiece stethoscopes, the Master Cardiology is able to capture high and low frequency sound ranges by alternating pressure on the chestpiece.
In 1999, 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Electronic Stethoscope Model E2000 and in 2001 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Electronic Stethoscope Model E4100. With state-of-the-art amplification and filtering systems in an ergonomic design, the Littmann Electronic Stethoscopes are exceptional tools for advanced auscultation. Both superior acoustics and enhanced clarity make normal and difficult sounds easier to hear. These electronic stethoscopes are specially designed to pick up difficult-to-hear heart and other body sounds. The chestpiece houses the electronic stethoscope’s innovative technology, including microphone and low-noise amplifiers, that offers up to 14 (E2000) to 18 (E4100) times the amplification of the most advanced conventional Littmann stethoscope.
In 2003, 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Lightweight II S.E. Stethoscope. This stethoscope replaced the 3M™ Littmann® Lightweight Stethoscope. It was designed as a general-purpose stethoscope with an improved design that provides reliable acoustics for basic blood-pressure and limited physical assessment.
In 2004, 3M introduced the 3M™ Littmann® Educational CDs which offer computer-based auscultation learning opportunities. "An Introduction To Heart Sounds" and "Learning Lung Sounds" are multimedia, software programs that integrate textual, audio and visual waveform examples of the most common normal and abnormal heart or lung sounds.
Today Littmann stethoscopes are used worldwide. A wide variety, in both traditional and single-sided tunable diaphragm chestpiece designs, are available to meet virtually every auscultation need. Littmann stethoscopes' amenities for doctors and patients include nonchill rims, patented 3M™ Littmann® Snap Tight Soft-Sealing Eartips, anatomically correct eartubes, excellent warranty and service programs, and a choice of contemporary tubing colors. The standards for stethoscope performance, sound transmission, efficiency and comfort for both wearer and patient have come a long way from Rene Laennec's rolled paper. Listening to body sounds and interpreting their meaning is truly an art in the hands of a trained health care professional using today's advanced acoustical stethoscopes."
stethoscope history | A timeline of the evolution of the Stethoscope
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSew213FAKY
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins Cpl Gabriel F. CW5 Jack Cardwell LTC (Join to see)
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LTC Stephen F.
You are very welcome, my friend 1SG Carl McAndrews I always try to do research before I respond to historical posts.
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CPT Barbara Smith
Excellent brand of stethoscope and most popular among my nurse friends! Interesting history, thank you. Barb
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