>> WJW wrote:
>>> Hello...a quick question looking for a good suggestion/solution/answer,

>>> 1) I have a small rural nursing school;
>>> 2) I have a $500 electronic stethoscope (micro-battery powered) that can
>>> hear/play/record sounds using an I-Pod by using a direct wire/plug into
>>> the I-Pod external microphone jack;
>>> 3) I-Pod sounds are very weak and you have to be within inches to hear
>>> the sound during playback;
>>> 4) I need a room full of 10 students to hear the sounds from the
>>> stethoscope;
>>> 5) I connected it to a wall-plug store-bought powered I-Pod speaker
>>> sound system and it worked great...everybody in room could hear the
>>> sounds fine!;
>>> 6) Was then informed it could possibly be a major shock hazard (110
>>> power from wall through speakers to stethoscope to person wearing (ear
>>> pieces) and to patient's chest (diaphragm);
>>> 7) So...now I'm back to Step 1 & 2...

>>> Any suggestions on how I could truly prevent a surge danger for under
>>> $100 bucks so that I can safely use the stethoscope and the powered
>>> speaker system? Would an automotive quick-jump power pack with 110
>>> inverter work or would the danger still be present?  Is there really
>>> even a danger in the first place?

>>> Thank you very much for your wisdom, advice and expertise!

>>> William in Colorado

>> Just isolate the patient electro-mechanically from the stethoscope by
>> placing the probe in a Plastic Baggie.  The probe is most likely Plastic
>> or Bakelite with a plastic  or rubber hose anyway, A thin layer of
>> plastic sheeting will not affect the acoustics !

>> Yukio YANO

> Let's say you were the patient... Would you wnat your life to depend
> on a plastic baggie? I don't think so.

> The correct solutions (either battery operated, or proper medical
> device) has been given.