Question
Are there any Bluetooth-enabled amplified stethoscopes available?
Answer
There are several companies working on introducing Bluetooth-enabled amplified stethoscopes but there do not appear to be any commercially available at this time that I am aware of;one of the products includes the Freedom Scope which is scheduled for product production sometime in mid 2011. It appears that most of the wireless designs, however, are incorporating the standard earpieces of traditional stethoscopes and it remains unclear as to what practical solution these companies will offer in terms of an option for hearing instrument wearing professionals.
A.U. Bankaitis, PhD, is Vice President of Oaktree Products, Inc., a multi-line distributor of audiology and hearing-related products based in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Bankaitis is an audiologist who has been involved in educating colleagues about various practical aspects of clinical practice. Access and subscribe to Dr. Bankaitis' blog for the latest info on product solutions and other topics related to audiology at aubankaitis.wordpress.com
More information about Oaktree Products, Inc. can be found by visiting the Oaktree Web Channel on AudiologyOnline or at www.oaktreeproducts.com. Stay current on the latest happenings at Oaktree on Facebook and Twitter!
