Sound (medical instrument)
In medicine, sounds are instruments for probing and dilating passages within the body, the best-known examples of which are urethral sounds and uterine sounds. Some men and women enjoy using them for urethral play.
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Urethral sounds
Urethral sounds are designed to be inserted into the male or female urethra, for the purpose of stretching or unblocking a stricture. There are a number of different types of urethral sounds:
- Bakes sounds, also known as rosebud or bullet sounds, have a long thin metal rod with a bulbous bud on the end.
- Dittel sounds have a flat end and a rounded end.
- Henk sounds have a more pronounced curve at the ends, as well as a metal rib on each end.
- Pratt sounds are longer urethral dilators (double ended ones are usually almost a foot long) with rounded and slightly bent ends.
- Van Buren sounds have a very pronounced curve at each end, specifically for the purpose of reaching the bladder.
Uterine sounds
These sounds or dilators are intended for probing a woman's uterus through the cervix, to determine the level of dilation or to induce further dilation.
- Hegar dilators have two rounded ends, are fairly short, and are mildly curved in shape.
- Sims sounds have a flat end and a rounded end.
Related
- Probe
References
- 'Sounds', BME Encyclopedia, viewed 14 May 2007, [1]