Learning cardiac or pulmonary auscultation has never been easier than it is now with the advent of the SAM, The Student Auscultation Manikin.

For example, can your students tell the difference between a pleural rub of the lung and a pericardial friction rub. Innocent systolic murmurs often sound like the murmur of mitral regurgitation. Can the student tell the difference? What is the best method to determine if the patient has an atrial septal defect? With SAM, these and other sounds are presented along with a complete teaching guide.

SAM, the Student Auscultation Manikin, will provide a means for the instructor to teach cardiac and pulmonary auscultation to students at any level. The students can be taught as a group using the optional SimulScope or Classroom Infrared Emitter. Later the students can practice on SAM using their own stethoscope.

SAM consists of a male manikin, a SAM Sounds Trainer, and a series of "Plug-in" Sound modules containing heart breath and bowel sounds, a carotid pulse timed with the first heart sound and carotid bruits. An Operator's Manual and program guide is also included. It is easily moved from location to location.

There are 20 heart sounds, 21 breath sounds, 18 bowel sounds and 4 carotid bruit sounds directed to the correct anatomical location on the chest, back, abdomen and neck. The instructor has control over the sound and the volume of the sound going to each location. Additionally, a carotid pulse in the neck is timed with the first heart sound and a carotid bruit sound is also part of the system.

In some instances, breath sounds are superimposed on the heart sounds. For example, when listening to splitting of the second heart sound, breath sounds are superimposed so student will learn the split S2 in inspiration and coming together of this sound during expiration. Where appropriate, other sounds such as atrial septal defect also have breath sounds superimposed on the heart sounds.

SAM may be used by a student using his or her own stethoscope. In a classroom for group instruction, the optional Classroom Infrared Emitter or SimulScope Bedside Auscultation System and Heartman Infrared Headphones can be used to allow all students to hear the sounds simultaneously.

SAM can also be used with the CardioSim Digital Heart Sound Simulator. When used with the simulator, it is possible to select the sounds from a menu and view the phonocardiogram on the monitor of the CardioSim. It is also possible to view all four heart sound locations simultaneously to allow the student to understand the different sounds at different locations.

SAM may be used:

• For group teaching using the SimulScope
• For group teaching using the Classroom Infrared Emitter
• For group teaching using the CardioSim Digital Heart Sound Teaching System
• For individual instruction using the E-Scope electronic stethoscope (supplied)
• For individual instruction using a student's own stethoscope