The basic technology behind the stethoscope hasn’t changed much since its invention in 1816. Nearly 150 years later, electronic stethoscopes took a shot at improving the basic design using an electronic amplifier and microphone, but those efforts didn’t go far—until today.

3M Littmann’s electronic stethoscopes have fundamentally changed how these familiar tools are used. New amplification and ambient noise reduction technologies reduce background noise so that critical body sounds can be heard for better diagnostics. And reliable, high-performanceBluetooth® technology instantly communicates patient sounds to a computer, allowing clinicians to record and analyze those sounds, or even consult with specialists across the globe in real time.

And recently, 3M put a whole new spin on the sound of a beating heart.

The 3M LifeLab took place at the 2015 SXSW festival, letting attendees experience a hundred years of 3M innovations through interactive demos. As a highlight of the festival, DJ TOKiMONSTA used a 3M Littmann electronic stethoscope to record tracks of her breathing and heartbeat. Bluetooth technology communicated those tracks to her computer so she could mix the beat of her own heart into the music she was spinning.

The stethoscope has been in use for more than 200 years, but Bluetooth technology has opened up innovative new avenues for its use. 

(Credit: IVT)