Bowles Stethoscope

The Bowles Stethoscope developed by Robert C. M. Bowles designed a diaphragm type of chestpiece on a stethoscope. He originally patented his design in 1894 and made several improvements to the design thereafter. The Bowles Stethoscope was designed so sound would not be obstructed and to detect high frequencies. The modern day Bowles Stethoscope we see often is the result of Robert C. M. Bowles and his improvements to the Cammann binaural stethoscope. Bowles’ stethoscope provided better sound and a non-compressible stem (the part that connects to the tubing). Stems made of compressible material, like flexible rubber, could be bent. This interrupted sound to the earpieces. In his patent, Bowles noted that the incompressible stem allowed physicians to listen for heart and lung sounds without requiring patients to remove their clothing (A useful feature during the modest Victorian era). It would have also been useful when trying to monitor an anesthetized patient without disrupting the surgical team. In 1901, he patented a newer version that became the standard bowles stethoscope.