SPUDs could bring stethoscopes to the modern era

Stethoscopes that most clinicians use have remained essentially the same for decades. They’re not exactly rigid, but their flexibility is limited in emergency situations when accessing a person’s chest is a challenge. A company called Stethoscope Technologies has developed a sound pick-up device (SPUD) that’s basically just a chestpiece that can be connected to any pair of headphones. The device is intended for use by paramedics who will be able to slide the SPUD down the person’s neck and onto the chest without removing layers of clothing. The attached headphones, having a cord much more flexible than on traditional stethoscopes, can remain comfortably on the person doing the auscultation and hopefully allow for a much quicker diagnosis of whether the heart is beating.