Ergonomic chestpiece

1. An ergonomic chestpiece for a stethoscope adapted to receive auscultatory sounds from a patient, comprising:

a bottom surface which is generally planar adapted to be placed near the patient for receiving auscultatory sounds;

a raised center portion defining first and second lateral indented gripping surfaces, the raised center portion having a top surface opposite the bottom surface; and

a stem portion extending distally from the raised center portion;

wherein a first lateral indented gripping surface is defined by a first wall comprising a first concave surface arcuate about a first axis,

wherein the second lateral indented gripping surface is defined by a second wall comprising a second concave surface arcuate about a second axis,

wherein the first axis and the second axis form a V-shape comprising an apex oriented in a direction of the stem portion; and

wherein the first and second lateral indented gripping surfaces each comprise a protruding edge on the top surface, wherein a horizontal distance of the protruding edge relative to a median-most point of the first concave surface is from 1 to 4 mm (inclusive) measured along a plane parallel to a plane formed from the bottom surface.

2. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 , wherein the stem portion is generally parallel to the bottom surface.

3. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 , wherein the V-shape comprises an angle of between 5 and 35 degrees.

4. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 3 , wherein the V-shape is between 12 and 14 degrees.

5. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 , wherein the first or second concave surface is continuous along an entire wall.

6. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 , wherein the first or second concave surface has a radius of curvature of no greater than 20 mm.

7. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 , wherein the raised center portion further comprises a front indented gripping surface defined by a front wall, wherein a portion of the front wall comprises a third concave surface arcuate about a third axis, wherein the third axis is parallel to a plane formed by the bottom surface.

8. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 7 , wherein the third axis, the second axis, and the first axis form a triangle.

9. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 , wherein the chestpiece comprises a polymeric material.

10. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 9 , wherein a radius of curvature of the first or second lateral indented gripping portion is at least one-fourth of a radius of curvature of an outer perimeter.

11. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 , wherein the first concave surface is also arcuate about an elliptical shape.

12. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 11 , wherein the elliptical shape is an elliptical prism oriented along the first axis.

13. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 12 , wherein the elliptical prism comprises an ellipse, wherein the ellipse has a minor radius and a major radius, wherein the major radius has dimensions between 5 to 9 mm (inclusive), and the minor radius has dimension between 1 to 5 mm (inclusive).

14. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 , wherein the top surface is an ellipse and the outer perimeter is circular.

15. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 14 , wherein a ratio of a first radius of the outer perimeter of the chestpiece to a second radius of the top surface is at least 1:9, wherein the second radius is a minor radius.

16. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 7 , wherein the third concave surface is arcuate about an elliptical prism oriented along the third axis.

17. The ergonomic chestpiece of claim 16 , wherein the elliptical prism comprises an ellipse and the major radius has dimensions between 5 to 9 mm (inclusive), and the minor radius has dimension between 1 to 5 mm (inclusive).

18. A stethoscope comprising:

the ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 ;

a diaphragm removably attached to the ergonomic chestpiece;

a headset; and

tubing that couples the headset to the ergonomic chestpiece.

19. A method comprising:

contacting a portion of the ergonomic chestpiece of claim 1 with a first patient, and

disposing of the ergonomic chestpiece without contacting the ergonomic chestpiece to a second patient.