3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope FAQ

The 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope is a 3M™ Littmann® Cardiology IV™ analog stethoscope that is pre-assembled with the Eko CORE Digital Attachment.

The stethoscope is manufactured and tested by 3M™ Littmann®. The CORE Digital Attachment is manufactured and tested by Eko and works with most traditional stethoscopes.

The CORE Digital Attachment can be purchased individually and is compatible with most popular stethoscope models from 3M™ Littmann®, ADC, WelchAllyn, MDF, and Medline with no tubing cutting necessary.

The 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope is a high-performance stethoscope designed for any clinician who performs diagnostic assessments or auscultation, works in settings with background noise, or performs both in-person and virtual telehealth exams. It's also ideal in school settings for educators and students to teach and learn body sounds.

Recommended for:

Yes, we encourage students to use Eko stethoscopes to learn auscultation skills and how to identify heart, lung, and body sounds.

Eko stethoscopes and software are purpose-built for telemedicine. Eko supports virtual care or telehealth programs for individual providers, small clinics, and multi-site hospitals. A subscription may be required for telemedicine live streaming.

Speak with a telemedicine consultant.

The 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that stays charged with 8 hours of continuous use, and generally lasts 2 weeks between charges with normal use. The stethoscope still functions as an analog cardiology-grade stethoscope when the power is off.

There are three main ways the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope supports clinicians with hearing loss:

To learn more, see this section of our Help Center: Wireless listening and hearing loss support.

View our Stethoscope Guide for Healthcare Workers with Hearing Loss and watch a video explaining how to configure the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope with different types of hearing aids.

Eko has not tested all wireless headphones or earbuds. However, see this list of wireless listening compatible devices.

The 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope provides wireless functionality using Bluetooth technology when using the Eko App for iOS and Android. The app pairs with Bluetooth-enabled headphones, hearing aids, and speakers. Note that the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope itself doesn’t pair directly with wireless listening devices. The pairing is through the Eko App.

We don't recommend cutting or ripping the tubing off the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope.

To learn more, see Set up wireless listening for hearing loss or headphones.

Yes, the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope connects with the Eko App. Download the Eko App for free (for iOS from the Apple App Store, and for Android devices from the Google Play Store).

See Overview of the Eko App.

The CORE™ is an electronic stethoscope that enables amplification, filtering, and transmission of auscultation sound data (heart, lungs, bowel, arteries, and veins), whereby a clinician at one location on network can listen to the auscultation sounds of a patient on site or at a different location on the network. Eko CORE™ is intended for use on pediatric and adult patients. The Eko CORE™ is intended to be used by professional users in a clinical environment or by lay users in a nonclinical environment. The device is not intended for self-diagnosis.

The 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope has adult and pediatric diaphragms.

The 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope and the Eko App are cleared for use on pediatric and adult patients. Eko Analysis Software is cleared for use on adults 18 years and older.

While the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope’s clinical performance and safety is cleared for human patients, it can also be safely used on animals under the use of veterinarian professionals for animal auscultation.

See these policies:

Yes, the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope and Eko Analysis Software is FDA cleared and CE marked.

View all certifications.