Head Foetoscope This is a binaural head-mounted foetal stethoscope, also known as a head fetoscope or DeLee-Hillis head foetoscope. It features a metal headband attached to a cone-shaped chest piece, where two black India rubber tubes would have been connected to the spring, folding earhooks. Each earhook features an eartip made of India rubber. The item is heavily damaged, with one India rubber tube missing, the earhooks detached from the headpiece, and the tube freckled. Inside, the earhooks are stamped with 'PAT. No 346146' and 'Fannin Dublin'. This type of stethoscope was first designed by David Hillis, a physician working with DeLee at the Chicago Lying-in Hospital between 1917 and 1922. It is part of the Dr Diarmuid O'Driscoll Collection. The stethoscope was worn by placing the metal headband over the head, allowing the cone-shaped chest piece to rest on the abdomen of the pregnant woman. The earhooks, fitted with India rubber eartips, were inserted into the physician's ears to listen to the foetal heartbeat. This stethoscope was used by obstetricians to listen to the foetal heartbeat and other internal sounds of the body, a practice known as auscultation. The head-mounted design allowed the physician to have both hands free to move the foetus and detect different sounds. 1925-1975