The ds32a electronic stethoscope from Thinklabs, Denver (www.thinklabsmedical.com), can amplify sounds up to 50x, giving physicians and healthcare workers flexibility in dealing with patients and clinical environments. The device can also electronically change the characteristics of the amplification to mimic a bell or diaphragm type acoustic stethoscope. In bell mode, low frequencies are more prominent, making it suitable for cardiac exams, while in diaphragm mode, higher frequencies dominate, which is good for pulmonary exams. And noise-rejection circuitry can reduce background noises in loud environments.

The instrument is powered by two AAA batteries, said to provide months of operational use. The stethoscope is made of lightweight aluminum alloys and polymers, and steel. The device can also be hooked to an iPod, mp3 player, and electronic notebook to record heart sounds and other audio clips. Software included with it lets users graph audio clips to visually analyze the characteristics.