The practical issues in using existing digital stethoscopes for telehealth

[Abstract]: The aim of this paper is to highlight the inability of many existing digital stethoscopes to properly integrate with a specific telehealth setting. A simulation was conducted to determine the problems that may be associated with existing digital stethoscopes when used in this specific telehealth environment. In assessing existing models of stethoscopes a number of practical issues were encountered. This assessment used three existing models of digital stethoscope, through the usage of a point-to-point video conferencing system, in a laboratory setting. It became evident, through this simulated test, that an ‘echo’ was prominent in the sound received from the digital stethoscope. A delay in the transmission of the heart beat sound across the telehealth network was also prevalent in the simulated test. Both body noise and friction were heard through the existing model of stethoscope in accordance with the background noise from where the sample heart beat was obtained. It was determined through the simulation that a combination of the previously described aspects associated with existing digital stethoscope models compounded the quality of the sound received from the devices. In conclusion, through examining the practical issues in using existing digital stethoscopes in a telehealth environment the quality of the sound transmitted by the device was determined to be very poor. This proved to be of concern due to the importance associated with sound quality and the diagnosis provided by physicians. We report and demonstrate these concerns through this paper to highlight the practical difficulties that can be encountered while integrating an existing market product with a proprietary telehealth setting.