Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)As a nurse, I've used my Littmann 3000 stethoscope for almost 2 years on a regular basis. I just recently upgraded to the Littmann 3100 and the difference is unbelievable. Here's a comparison of the two products:
**Littmann 3000**
PROS: The stethoscope is durable, lightweight and easy to clean. It magnifies heart/lung/bowel sounds very well and allows you to easily adjust between volumes, bell/diaphragm modes. It shuts off automatically after 3 minutes from the last button push.
CONS: For some unknown reason, they made the chest piece slightly rounded in a convex shape rather than flat. Because the diaphragm bulges out towards the patient, it is very difficult to keep it flat and still against the patient's skin (especially on thin, elderly or pediatric patients). The shifting causes scratchy artifact sounds that can be hard to distinguish from lung crackles. It also picks up all little movements of your fingers/hand/tube/surface, etc. The other less significant issues include: the a small start up period from the time you turn it on to when you're actually able to listen through it, which can be frustrating in urgent situations; it doesn't tell you when the battery is low (it just doesn't turn on); it takes AAA batteries which are harder to find in a bind; and you have to use a coin/screwdriver to open the battery chamber.
When I got the Littmann 3100, I didn't know if it would fix these issues but I've been extremely pleased with the improvements and even the upgrades, making it well worth the price.
**Littmann 3100**
PROS: The new model has a flat, wider diaphragm that fixes the artifact sound problems and is able to magnify sound even more. It also does a better job of limiting ambient noises from your hands/tube. That in itself makes it worth it. The new power button turns it on immediately and there are multiple auto-on/off/standby modes to choose from, so no more wait time. The LCD screen is an excellent feature and shows you volume, battery life, bell vs. diaphragm modes, and also displays the patient's pulse. The battery chamber now opens by twisting without requiring tools and uses a single AA battery. The construction is again excellent and sturdy but lightweight and flexible.
CONS: None!
Overall, the Littmann 3100 is a vast improvement over the 3000 model and can be purchased for roughly the same price at various medical supply websites. I strongly recommend this stethoscope for anyone that wants to hear better or has significant hearing loss like I do. I'm so glad I switched!
Click Here to see more reviews about: 3M Littmann 3100BK27 Electronic Stethoscope, 27 inch
Littmann 3100 electronic series stethoscope.
Click here for more information about 3M Littmann 3100BK27 Electronic Stethoscope, 27 inch
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