The electronic stethoscope overcomes the low sound levels by amplifying the body sounds through electric energy. Basically, electronic stethoscopes convert the acoustic sound waves obtained through the chest piece into electrical signals and then amplify them for optimal listening.

Additionally, the converted signals can also be digitalized for further transmission or processing. The outcome of electronic stethoscope is the suppression of most breath sounds and noises along with the robust performance to heartbeat rate. The emergence of the electronic stethoscope has opened a new field named “computer-aided auscultation or CAA”. CAA is a digital form of auscultation that includes recording, visualization, storage, analysis, and sharing of digital recordings of heart or lung sounds.

The growing incidences of cardiac and pulmonary disorders, rising healthcare expenditure and technological advancements associated with the healthcare device, increasing geriatric population who are highly susceptible to chronic conditions, increasing investment by government in healthcare facilities, and on-going digitalization trend in the healthcare industry are some of the major factors driving the market growth. In 2016, a Spain-based company Ekuore has got official certifications to produce and commercialize the first digital wireless stethoscope, eKuore Pro in the health system.

Segment Instance

The global electronic stethoscope market is segmented on the basis of product type, technology, end-user, and geography. Based on product type, the market is bifurcated into amplifying stethoscope and digitizing stethoscope. By technology, market segments include integrated chest-piece system, wireless transmission system, integrated receiver head-piece system, and other. Additionally, the end-user of electronic stethoscope includes hospitals, clinics, medical institutes, ambulatory surgical centers, and others.

In 2019, North America held the major share (%) of the global electronic stethoscope market. The increasing cases of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the major economies of the region including the US and Canada is supporting the regional market value. Additionally, the presence of major players in the region is further bolstering the regional market value. Moreover, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 610,000 people die from heart disease every year in the US that is equal to 1 in every four deaths. In addition, approximately 735,000 Americans have a heart attack annually

Key Market Players

Some of the leading competitors are 3M, Cardionics, Inc., Contec Medical Systems, Eko Devices, Ekuore, HD Medical, Meditech Equipment Co., Think Labs Medical LLC, and Welch Allyn among others. Electronic stethoscope companies have announced mergers and acquisitions, collaborations and partnerships, and new product development to expand their position in the electronic stethoscope industry. Major players are also moving into new regions with advanced technologies for taking the advantage of available opportunities.

Some of the key observations regarding the electronic stethoscope industry include:

Northwestern Medicine has partnered with a startup Eko in 2019. Eko has developed a cardiac monitoring platform. This partnership is intended to conduct a study to demonstrate that Eko’s digital stethoscopes and AI algorithms can interpret heart sounds accurately to help screen for pathologic heart murmurs and valvular heart disease.

The eKuore has launched a new device eKuore ONE in 2018. The new launch device provides stethoscopes that digitalize and record the auscultation sound through smartphones or tablets.

The Mayo Clinic has launched a mHealth project in 2018 to determine whether a digital stethoscope can be used to screen for damaged hearts. The health system is also collaborating with the Eko to test the company’s Duo Digital Stethoscope on patients diagnosed with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. 

Steth IO has launched a smartphone-based digital stethoscope in August 2018 and has also received FDA approval in 2016 for the same. The device is intended to help doctors to listen and measure heart rates or lung sounds just by operating an app on phone and by placing it close to the patient’s chest.

Market Segmentation

Market By Product

Amplifying Stethoscope
Digitizing Stethoscope

Market By Technology

Integrated chest-piece system
Wireless transmission system
Integrated receiver head-piece system
Other

Market By End-User  

Hospital
Clinics
Medical institutes
Ambulatory surgical centers

Market By Geography

North America
•    U.S.
•    Canada

Europe
•    U.K.
•    Germany
•    France
•    Spain
•    Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific
•    China
•    Japan
•    India
•    Australia
•    South Korea
•    Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America
•    Brazil 
•    Mexico
•    Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa
•    GCC
•    South Africa
•    Rest of Middle East & Africa

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