PL207225B1 - Stethoscope head, earpiece and individualizing ring for the stethoscope ring - Google Patents

Abstract

The head of the medical stethoscope comprises a body (2) with an inlet tube (3) and at least one auscultation cup (4) equipped with a diaphragm at its lower surface. At least one individualizing ring (11) equipped with individualizing means (14) is mounted in any area on the upper surface of the auscultation cup (4), opposite to the diaphragm. The individualizing ring (11) on its surface adjacent to the auscultation cup (4) is equipped with at least one retaining element for unambiguously fixing its angular position relative to the axis of the inlet tube (3) of the body (2). In another variant of the invention, the head of the medical stethoscope has an auscultation cup, which on its upper surface has any individualizing means, the auscultation cup is detachably connected to the body by means of at least one fixing and connecting unit, enabling the exchange of the auscultation cup and maintaining a fixed angular position of the auscultation cup (4) relative to the axis of the body inlet pipe.

Description

Description of the invention

The subject of the invention is the head of a medical stethoscope.

A medical stethoscope is still the basic equipment of a doctor and a registered nurse, which means that their daily use is enormous. As a result, health care facilities have a problem with identifying the stethoscope and its user (owner), especially in the case of stethoscopes from a single manufacturer.

Observation of the external appearance of well-known medical stethoscopes from different manufacturers shows that the vast majority of it is difficult to notice differences in their external shapes and basic details, and many of them are exactly the same, even in the smallest elements, despite the fact that their manufacturers they are located in the most diverse and often very distant countries. The above results from imitation, striving to reduce production costs, as well as through the use of unified elements, produced in long series by specialized manufacturers. This applies in particular to the Y-shaped tubes connecting the stethoscope head with its ear part, flexible rings securing the diaphragm to the diaphragm cup, soft caps for a funnel-shaped auscultation cup and lyre.

The misleading similarity of stethoscopes leads to significant inconveniences consisting, in particular, in the unintentional replacement of stethoscopes by their users due to difficulties in distinguishing business stethoscopes from privately owned stethoscopes, in identifying stethoscopes provided by various departments of a health care facility, in identifying the stethoscope by its individual user when it is accidentally placed next to the same model, etc. The owner of the stethoscope feels uncomfortable if he sees more exactly the same stethoscopes in his environment. In addition, it is impossible to use medical stethoscopes by companies, for example pharmaceuticals, for advertising purposes and to label them unambiguously from the equipment used in the advertising campaign of other companies. There is also a demand among stethoscope manufacturers for above-standard distinction and / or decoration of their products in relation to competing products.

There are known attempts to distinguish stethoscopes by using various types of decorative elements. In the patent description US2001001188 and in the international patent application WO 01/13788 there are presented decorative covers in the form of sleeves applied to the entire stethoscopes or to the part connecting the stethoscope head with the ear part, which have a shape imitating the heads of animals and are intended to reduce the stress in children associated with carrying out research.

US 5,920,038 discloses a medical stethoscope head provided with a diaphragm bearing graphical markings. The diaphragm can be replaced in the head and can be selected with regard to the markings for a given patient or user. This solution is also mainly intended for testing children and is intended to reduce stress and reluctance before testing.

US2004 / 0048539 discloses a stethoscope head cover which is in the form of a flexible mesh, preferably knitted, or an animal head flexible cover which is applied to the stethoscope head. The purpose of the cover is to reduce the discomfort of the patient, especially the child, caused by the contact of the cold head of the stethoscope with his body.

Thus, known solutions for distinguishing the heads of a medical stethoscope are mainly aimed at creating a favorable impression in children. On the other hand, there are no solutions of stethoscope heads that would be distinguished by features that would enable the individualization of the stethoscope and their use by serious companies for promotional and advertising purposes.

Known solutions for distinguishing stethoscope heads, in addition to the removable decorative covers described in the previously discussed publications US2001001188, WO 01/13788 and US2004 / 0048539, are not adapted to the repetitive cleaning, disinfection and sterilization procedures that are required for this type of medical equipment. In principle, the manufacturers do not allow stethoscope heads to be immersed in any liquid or subjected to steam sterilization processes, and recommend only external wiping with alcohol or a solution of water and soap and the use of low-temperature sterilization in ethylene oxide. This causes a number of inconveniences. In the event of accidental wetting of the stethoscope head, it is necessary to return the stethoscope to an authorized service center, as their design does not allow the user to disassemble it to remove residual fluid and dry it thoroughly. Also, stethoscope heads

They must be periodically taken to an authorized service center to remove dirt particles from the inside of the head that may get there when carrying the instrument in a pocket or carrying it in a dusty doctor's bag. If sterilization is necessary, the heads must undergo long-term and expensive sterilization processes with ethylene oxide and then 36-hour venting processes in aeration chambers, which are available only in larger hospitals.

Prior art stethoscope heads with replaceable diaphragm cups, including diaphragms, are not able to fully overcome the aforementioned drawbacks because they are screwed onto the threaded pins of the stethoscope head bodies and thus are not fixed on the head body. in an unambiguous, always the same position in relation to the axis of their inlet pipes. This makes it impossible to personalize them properly by applying distinctive graphic or design elements to them, such as the user's initials or the company logo, which would always be located in the same place in relation to the inlet tube.

From US Pat. No. 5,747,752, a medical stethoscope head is known to include a body, an inlet tube extending from the body and having an axis, an auditory portion having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a diaphragm held against the lower surface of the auditory portion by a fastening ring. The head is adapted to disassembly into individual elements for periodic cleaning, washing and sterilization at high temperature.

There is a market demand for such stethoscope heads which, when equipped with distinguishing elements, would allow the users to clean and wash the stethoscopes themselves and could be fully steam sterilized if necessary.

The object of the invention is to provide a medical stethoscope head with a design that allows it to be easily, reproducibly and unambiguously individualized to other serially produced stethoscope heads of the same type from a single manufacturer, and easy to identify by a user or group of stethoscope users.

Another object of the invention is to provide a medical stethoscope head, the appearance of which could be easily changed, also at a retail or wholesale point of sale or by the stethoscope user himself, using simple and readily available tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a medical stethoscope head that can be easily individualized, also at retail points or by the users themselves, according to their preferences and wishes, while being capable of being completely disassembled for complete and disassembled cleaning and disassembly. sterilization required for this type of medical equipment, including steam.

According to the invention, a medical stethoscope head comprising a body, an inlet tube extending from the body and having an axis, an auscultatory portion having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a diaphragm held against the lower surface of the auditory portion by means of an attachment ring, the head being adapted to disassembling into individual components for periodic cleaning, washing and high-temperature sterilization thereof, characterized in that it comprises at least one stamping ring having an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer surface and an inner surface, the distinctive ring being disposed with its lower surface positioned on the upper surface of the auscultatory portion at a predetermined angular position with respect to the axis of the inlet tube, and on the upper surface of at least one discriminating ring, distinguishing features for marking the head of the stethoscope.

Preferably, on its lower surface, the distinctive ring is provided with at least one locating element adapted to cooperate with elements on the auditory portion for setting the angular position of the distinctive ring with respect to the axis of the inlet tube.

A fastening element, preferably a thread, hook or recess, may be provided on one side of the side surface of the distinctive ring for detachably securing the distinctive ring to the earpiece.

On one of its top surface or bottom surface, the distinctive ring may be provided with at least one threaded hole into which a fastening element is provided for attaching the distinctive ring to the auscultatory portion.

PL 207 225 B1

The distinctive ring preferably consists of at least two separate members. The distinctive ring can be made of any material or set of materials bonded together in any combination.

The fixation ring is preferably flexible and the distinctive ring is integrally formed with the fixation ring.

The auscultation part may be releasably connected to the body by means of retaining and fixing means to maintain a predetermined angular position of the auscultation piece with respect to the axis of the body inlet tube.

The retaining and fastening elements may be selected from a threaded joint, a pin joint, a bayonet joint and a snap joint.

An annular recess may be formed in the upper surface of the diaphragm cup for receiving the distinctive ring.

An advantage of the invention is that the appearance of the medical stethoscope head can be changed in a simple manner, either by attaching an interchangeable marker ring with a distinguishing element to the upper surface of the diaphragm cup. Such marking of the stethoscope head is possible not only by the manufacturer but, using simple tools, by the user himself or another service point. The user can select a highlighting ring (or a cover cup with a ring) from the catalog of ready-made elements made of the base material of the manufacturer of the given stethoscopes on an individual order.

Another advantage of the invention is that the head of a medical stethoscope, equipped with a marking ring, enables easy and unambiguous association of a specific stethoscope with its user and allows for the individualisation of a specific model of a medical stethoscope according to the personal preferences of its future user on the day of its purchase or in the future, if personal preferences have changed because the way the distinguishing ring and the diaphragm cup are attached allows them to be easily exchanged for others. This allows the user of the stethoscope to distinguish their stethoscope from other models of the same model, meets its aesthetic requirements and allows companies using stethoscopes in advertising campaigns to distinguish the stethoscope head in such a way that the stethoscopes differ significantly from the stethoscopes of the same models used in other campaigns.

A significant advantage of the invention is that the personalized stethoscope head according to the invention can undergo the cleaning and sterilization operations required for this type of medical equipment, and can be sterilized in its entirety or disassembled, which is very simplified. The reassembly of the head ensures a clear, repeatable positioning of all elements in a predetermined angular position with respect to the axis of the outlet tube of the body and is therefore possible to be performed not only by the manufacturer, but also by the user himself or by the distributor.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in the drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a medical stethoscope head with a distinguishing ring according to the invention mounted on it, in a perspective view, Fig. 2 - the stethoscope head of Fig. 1, in a view from 3 is an exploded perspective view of the stethoscope head of Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4 to 7 show successive modifications of the first embodiment of the stethoscope head in sectional view, showing alternative designs of the marking ring and its attachment to the auscultation cup, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the distinctive ring with a partial section view, Fig. 9 - a second embodiment of a medical stethoscope head with an individualizing element in the form of a auscultation cup according to the invention, in perspective view, Fig. 10 to Fig. 20 show further modifications of the stethosk head 9, cross-sectional views showing various preferred variants of the fixing-connecting assembly of the diaphragm cup and body, Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the replaceable diaphragm cup for the stethoscope head of Fig. 9.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3, the head 1 of a medical stethoscope comprises a body 2 provided with an inlet tube 3 and a diaphragm cup 4 with a diaphragm 5 (shown in Figs. 2-7). In the embodiment shown, the body 2 is provided with an insulating ring 6. The diaphragm 5 is held on the diaphragm cup by a fastening ring 7, and the inlet tube is seated in the body 2 using a handle 8 and a spiral spring 9. The head 1 of the stethoscope may have any desired shape. shape, such as, for example, the heads of cardiology, medical, pediatric stethoscopes, and the like.

PL 207 225 B1

According to the invention, on the upper surface 10 of the diaphragm cup 4 of the stethoscope head 1, opposite the lower surface 10 'adjacent to the diaphragm 5, is mounted a distinctive ring 11 having an upper surface 12, a lower surface 12' and outer 13 and inner side surfaces 13 ', constituting a separate part and fixed in any chosen area of the upper surface 10 of the diaphragm cup 4 and in a fixed position in relation to the axis 31 of the inlet tube 3. The marking ring 11 has distinguishing elements 14, which can preferably be the distinctive color of the entire marking ring 11 or / and such distinguishing elements as prints, engraved emblems and inscriptions, ornaments attached to part or all of its upper surface, and the like. These distinguishing elements 14 can be selected individually at the request of the stethoscope user and can be made on ready-made distinguishing rings 11 either at the stethoscope head manufacturer or at specialized service points.

The stamping ring 11, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 2, 3, is seated on the upper surface 10 of the diaphragm cup 4, preferably in a recess 13 that matches the shape and dimensions of the stamping ring 11 and houses completely or partially the stamping ring 11. In In the example illustrated in Figs. 1-3, a recess 13 extends from the peripheral edge of the diaphragm cup radially in the direction of its axis. In order to establish the exact position of the distinguishing ring 11 on the diaphragm cup 4 with respect to the axis 3 'of the outlet tube 3 and thus the unambiguous position of the distinguishing elements 14 on the diaphragm cup 4, the distinguishing ring 11 has at least one retaining element 16 for positioning it in a definite angular position. relative to the axis 3 'of the inlet tube 3. In the example shown in Figs. 2, 3, the retainer 16 is in the form of a metal ball, the lower part of which is seated in a seat 162 in the upper surface 10 of the diaphragm cup 4, and the upper part of which is seated in the seat 161 shaped in the lower surface 12 'of the distinctive ring 11.

In the example shown in Figs. 2, 3, the distinctive ring 11 on its outer side surface 13 is provided with a fastening element 17 in the form of a thread on which is screwed a fastening ring 7 with a thread on its inner side surface, a fastening ring 7 supporting the diaphragm 5 against the diaphragm cup 4. In this way, the distortion ring 11 and the diaphragm 5 are simultaneously held on the diaphragm cup 4.

Figures 4-7 show other preferred variants of the fixation of the distinguishing ring 11 on the auscultation cup 4.

In the variant shown in Fig. 4, the marking ring 11 is attached to the diaphragm cup 4 by at least one fastening element 17 in the form of a screw inserted from below into the through-hole in the diaphragm cup 4 and screwed into a threaded hole 17 made in the lower surface 12 'of the marking ring. 11. In this case, the screw also acts as a retainer. The fixation ring 7 is not connected to the discriminant ring 11. Instead of a screw, a pin (not shown) may be used as a fixture 17 that fits snugly in the through-hole of the diaphragm cup 4 and the unthreaded hole in the lower surface 12 'of the discriminant ring 11. Such solutions are preferred. when the distinguishing ring 11 is to be positioned away from the peripheral edge of the diaphragm cup 4 or when the fastening ring 7 cannot fulfill the function of holding the distinguishing ring 11 on the diaphragm cup 4.

In the variant shown in Fig. 5, the distinguishing ring 11 is attached to the diaphragm cup 4 by means of a fastening element 17 in the form of a flexible fastening ring 7, which tightly embraces the lower edge of the diaphragm 5, the side surface of the diaphragm cup 4, the outer side surface 13 of the distinguishing ring 11 and overlaps onto the upper surface 12 of the stamping ring 11. Preferably, at its periphery, the stamping ring 11 is formed with a step in which the upper part of the flexible clamping ring 7 is received.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a stethoscope head similar to that of Fig. 7, with the outer side surface of the marking ring 11 attached an integral part of the fixing element which is also the membrane fixing ring 7. The marking ring 11 has on its inner side surface 13 ', an additional fastening element 17' in the form of a circumferential protrusion 18, continuous around the circumference or dotted, placed in a groove 18 'formed in the side surface of the recess 15 for the distinctive ring 11 in the diaphragm cup 4, ensuring the retention of the distinguishing ring 11 and attachment ring 7 on the diaphragm cup 4.

PL 207 225 B1

In Fig. 7, another embodiment of a stethoscope head is shown, which comprises a distinctive ring 11 attached to the diaphragm cup 4 by means of a snap ring fastening element 17. The snap ring is seated in a seat formed between the discriminant ring 11 and the diaphragm cup 4. The snap ring seat is a circumferential groove in the inner side surface of the discriminant ring 11 and a circumferential groove in the side surface of the recess 15 in the diaphragm cup 4. Outer side surface 13 of the distinctive ring 11 is in contact with the fastening ring 7 supporting the diaphragm 5. In this construction, at least one through-hole 17 is made in the diaphragm cup 4 between its upper 10 and lower 10 'surfaces to enable the distinguishing ring 11 to be pushed out and detached from the diaphragm cup 4 by its ejection with a tool in the form of a mandrel.

In any event, the distinctive ring 11 may be one piece, or it may be split and composed of any number of members, as long as it is capable of being retained on the surface of the auscultatory cup 4 to form the distinctive ring.

Of course, the embodiments of the distinctive ring 11 shown in FIGS. 1-7, as well as its fastening elements and retaining elements, are only shown by way of example. A person skilled in the art is able to envisage various other means for attaching the distal ring 11 to the diaphragm cup 4 and the positioning means of the distinctive ring 11 relative to the axis 3 'of the inlet tube 3 of the stethoscope head 1, such as elements of various snap joints, pins and the like. In special cases, the distinctive ring 11 may be glued to the auscultation cup 4.

The stamping ring 11 according to the invention shown in Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the stamping ring described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The stamping ring 11 for the medical stethoscope head has on its upper surface 12 a distinguishing element 14, in the case shown the distinguishing mark, and on the upper surface 12 its lower surface 12 ', intended to abut the diaphragm cup 4, is provided with at least one positioning element 16 for uniquely determining the angular position of the distinguishing ring 11 with respect to the axis 3' of the inlet tube 3 of the body 2 after mounting in the head 1 of a medical stethoscope. In the example shown in Fig. 8, the retainer is an upper seat 161 formed in the lower surface 12 'of the distinctive ring 11 for receiving a ball (shown in Figs. 2 and 3). A threaded fastener 17 is formed on the outer side surface 13 for holding the distinctive ring 11 on the diaphragm cup 4 via the fastening ring 7 of the diaphragm 5.

The individualization ring 11 of the stethoscope head 1 according to the invention may have the structures as described with reference to FIGS. 4-7. As shown, the fastening element for the distal ring 11 to the diaphragm cup 4 can be, for example, at least one hook, thread or recess provided on the side surfaces 13, 13; or a hole for receiving a screw or stud located on the lower face 12 '.

As shown in Fig. 6, an additional flexible ring may be attached to the outer side surface 13 of the distinctive ring 11 as an integral part, which acts as an attachment element for the distinctive ring 11 to the diaphragm cup 4 and, at the same time, for the attachment ring 7 supporting the diaphragm 5.

The distinctive ring 11 can be made of any material or set of materials combined in any combination as long as they meet the requirements for cleaning and sterilizing the stethoscope head.

Distinctive ring 11 may also be of any width and thickness, and may be single-layer, double-layer, composed of one, two or more elements depending on the design of the diaphragm cup on which it is to be fitted and the application.

Fig. 9 shows a second embodiment of the stethoscope head 1, which, like the example shown in Figs. 1-3, can have any shape and consist of the same parts.

The difference is that according to the invention, the stethoscope head 1 shown in Fig. 9 has a auscultation cup 4 which on its upper surface 10, opposite to the lower surface 10 'adjacent to the diaphragm (not shown), has a distinguishing feature 14 for distinguishing the head from the diaphragm. other heads of the same type, and the diaphragm cup 4 is detachably connected to the body 2 by means of at least one fixing-connecting unit 20 enabling the exchange of the diaphragm cup 4 and maintaining a fixed angular position of the auscultation cup 4 with respect to the axis 3 'of the tube inlet 3 of the body 1.

The distinguishing feature 14 of the auscultation cup 4 may be a highlighted area by any technique, for example as indicated with respect to the distinctive ring 11. The distinctive feature 14 may also be a distinctive ring 11 embedded in any area on the upper surface 10 of the auscultation cup 4 and provided with at least one locating element for uniquely determining its angular position with respect to axis 3; inlet tube 3 of the body 2.

Different variants of the fixing and connecting unit 20 of the diaphragm cup 4 and the body 2 are shown in Figs. 10-20. The stethoscope head of Fig. 10 has a locating and connecting unit 20 constituting a bayonet joint, the stethoscope head of Fig. 11 has a locating and connecting unit 20 including a mounting circumferential spring ring and at least one locating pin axially disposed. The stethoscope head of Fig. 12 has a locating and connecting assembly 20 including a mounting circumferential snap ring and at least one axial locating pin. The stethoscope head of Fig. 13 includes a locating and connecting unit 20 that is an axially disposed at least one expansion pin. The stethoscope head of Fig. 14 has a locating and connecting assembly 20 including a centrally and axially located clamping screw and at least one axial locating pin. The stethoscope head of Fig. 15 has a retaining and connecting device 20 in the form of a nut mounted on the threaded lower end of the body 2 and at least one axial locating pin. The stethoscope head of Fig. 16 has a locating and connecting unit 20 including a threaded joint between the diaphragm cup 4 and the body 2 and a latch positioned laterally between the diaphragm cup 4 and the body 2. The stethoscope head of Fig. 17 has a locating and connecting unit 20 similar to that of the diaphragm cup 4 and the body 2. 16, except that the latch extends over the entire diameter of the threaded portion of the body 2. The stethoscope head of FIG. 18 has a locating and connecting assembly 20 including a pin extending transversely through the projection of the diaphragm cup 4 and the body 2. The stethoscope head of FIG. 19 has a particularly advantageous locating and connecting device 20, the same as also shown in Figs. 2 and 3, including axially arranged screws which pass through the diaphragm cup 4 and thread into the body 2. The stethoscope head of Fig. 20 has a locating and connecting device 20 comprising a threaded joint between diaphragm cup 4 and body 2; and a latch axially located between diaphragm cup 4 and body 2.

The solutions of the fixing and connecting unit 20 presented above do not exhaust all possible constructions that are obvious to the skilled person. Any mechanical structure can be used, provided that they unambiguously determine the position of the diaphragm cup 4 in relation to the axis 3 'of the outlet tube 3, and also ensure that the diaphragm cup 4 is detachably fastened to the body 2 and that the diaphragm cup 4 can be replaced with simple and easily accessible tools so that such replacement could be done at the point of sale and by the user himself.

An embodiment of a replaceable diaphragm cup for a stethoscope head is shown in Fig. 21. The diaphragm cup 4 has a concave bottom surface 10 'on which the diaphragm 5 is attached, and an opposite top surface 10, the top surface 10 being provided with a distinguishing element 14. Cup the auscultator 4 also has at least one element 21 for releasably connecting it to the body 2 of the stethoscope head 1, and further has at least one element 22 for locating its angular position with respect to axis 3; the inlet tube 3 of the body 2 after installing the stethoscope in the head 1.

The distinguishing feature 14 of the diaphragm cup is, for example, a highlighted area by any means and by any technique, similar to that described in relation to the distinguishing ring.

The element 21 of the diaphragm cup 4 for detachable connection is, for example, a hole for receiving screws (shown in Figs. 2, 3, 19, 21), a groove for receiving a snap ring (shown in Figs. 11, 12), a thread on the surface of the central opening of the cup auscultatory device (Fig. 15), a snap aperture (Figs. 16, 17, 20), and the like.

The positioning component 22 of the diaphragm cup 4 may be a hole for receiving a screw or pin (Figs. 3, 11, 12, 13, 19), a hole for receiving a clip, locating lugs, etc.

On its outer surface, the diaphragm cup usually has a thread for screwing on the ring 7 for the diaphragm 5.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, on its upper surface, the diaphragm cup 4 is provided with an annular recess for receiving the distinctive ring 11.

PL 207 225 B1

The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments which should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications and variants of the presented solution are possible within the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

Patent claims 1. A medical stethoscope head comprising the body, an inlet tube extending from the body and having an axis, an auditory portion having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a diaphragm held against the lower surface of the auditory portion by a fastening ring, wherein the head is disassembled into individual elements for periodic cleaning, washing and high-temperature sterilization, characterized in that it comprises at least one marker ring (11) having an upper surface (12), a lower surface (12 '), an outer surface (13) and an inner surface (13 '), the distinctive ring (11) being placed with its lower surface (12') on the upper surface (10) of the earpiece (4) at a predetermined angular position with respect to the axis (3 ') of the tube the inlet (3), and on the upper surface (12) of at least one marking ring (11) are distinguishing elements (14) for marking the head (1) of the stethoscope. 2. A medical stethoscope head according to claim 1; The distinctive ring as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, on its lower surface (12 '), the distinctive ring (11) is provided with at least one retaining element (16) adapted to cooperate with elements on the auscultatory portion (4) for setting the angular position of the marker ring ( 11) in relation to the axis (3 ') of the inlet tube (3). 3. A medical stethoscope head according to claim 1; A fastening element (17), preferably a thread, hook or recess, is provided on one side of the side surface (13, 13 ') of the distinctive ring (11) for releasable attachment of the distinctive ring (11) to the earpiece. (4). 4. A medical stethoscope head according to claim 1; The marking ring (11) is provided with at least one threaded hole (17) in which the fixing element (17) is placed on one of its upper surface (12) or lower surface (12 '). for attaching the marker ring (11) to the auscultation part (4). 5. The head of the medical stethoscope according to claim 1; 3. The means of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distinguishing ring (11) consists of at least two separate members. 6. A medical stethoscope head according to claim 1 A material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the distinguishing ring is made of any material or set of materials bonded together in any combination. 7. The head of a medical stethoscope according to claim 1; The clamping ring as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the clamping ring (7) is flexible and the distinctive ring (11) is integrally formed with the clamping ring (7). 8. The head of the medical stethoscope according to claim 1; The auscultatory part (4) is detachably connected to the body (2) by means of retaining-fixing means (20) for maintaining a predetermined angular position of the auscultatory part (4) with respect to the axis (3 ') of the inlet tube (3). body. 9. The head of the medical stethoscope according to claim 1; The method of claim 8, characterized in that the locating and fixing means (20) are selected from a threaded joint, a pin joint, a bayonet joint and a snap joint. 10. The head of a medical stethoscope according to claim 1. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that an annular recess (15) is formed in the upper surface (10) of the diaphragm cup for receiving the marker ring (11).