Using Low Cost Embedded Systems for Respiratory Sounds Auscultation

With technology advances, trying to replace expensive devices with cheaper, but efficient, systems is a promising approach to pursuit in the future. The main objective of this paper is to compare the Littmann 3200 (state-of-the-art electronic stethoscope) with a prototype built for this purpose (with an electric microphone as the sensor, and an Arduino Mega as a controller), in terms of sound quality, cough detection, and costs. Regarding sound quality, the Littmann is better, especially because of all the technology behind the stethoscope. The costs of both devices are significantly different: the prototype costs 90% less than the Littmann. In terms of cough detection, the Littmann has a sensitivity of 75.4±32.0% and a specificity of 99.6±2.5%, and the prototype has a sensitivity of 71.7±32.1% and a specificity of 98.0±11.0%, but the differences are not significant.