Pinard Horn

A Pinard horn is a medical tool used to determine the position of a fetus during pregnancy. 

Invented in 1895 by Adolphe Pinard, this wood, trumpet-shaped device is a type of stethoscope that features a hole through the center that grows in diameter. 

By placing the open end of the horn onto the pregnant abdomen and listening with an ear against the flat end, vibrations are transferred through the air and faint sounds, such as a fetal heartbeat, can be detected efficiently.

A trained listener, such as a doctor, nurse, or midwife, can use the fetal heartbeat to determine the fetus's position.

Although it is the world's oldest tool for hearing fetal heartbeats, Pinard horns are still commonly used in impoverished areas where modern healthcare technologies like ultrasound are too expensive or unavailable.