What is a Stethoscope Made Of?

A stethoscope is a diagnostic instrument used by a health care professional to listen to sounds produced within a patient's body.



Whether the device is to be used one ear at a time (monaural) or both ears simultaneously (binaural) often determines the materials used to make it.

Wooden Monaural Stethoscopes

• In 1816, French physician Rene Laennec used sheets of rolled paper to listen to a young female patient's body sounds since he was embarrassed to use immediate auscultation (ear placed on body). The next year, Laennec used a hollowed piece of wood for mediate auscultation (device between physician and patient), eventually calling it a "stethoscope." Monaural stethoscopes are almost exclusively made of wood to this day.

Rubber Binaural Stethoscopes

• Binaural stethoscopes are made of rubber tubing, metal earpieces and a metal chest piece with rubber around the rim for patient's comfort. It has largely been made of the same basic materials since its invention in the 1850s. Binaural stethoscopes outstripped the monaural in popularity and are the most widely used variety.

Other Materials

• It was not uncommon for 19th century binaural stethoscopes to have ivory earpieces, ebony chest pieces and velvet-covered rubber tubes. Sometimes the flared chest pieces were made of wood.