Source for stethoscope membrane in Europe?

[BoxTrot]

The report cover used as the membrane in GliaX is unfortunately not available in Europe, and I have had difficulty finding a replacement.

The .35mm PVC sheets available from many eBay sellers are far too pliable; I tried these in my printed copies of the stethoscope and the membrane was completely useless. Are any sources apart from this specific Staples product recommended or usable, and procurable within the EU?

[BoxTrot]

In fact, from a search (admittedly a short one) for the linked Staples® Swing-Lock Report Cover, it seems this same model is only available in Canada.

[tareko]

Hi Boxtrot,

It is very difficult to comment on what PVC sheets are 'approved', since part of our team is in Canada and the other part is in Gaza. However, these came from PVC folders rather than simple sheets. We can only approve parts that we have tested.

I'm happy to take in any sheets you want to test and test them for you. However, have you been to a local office shop and bought some PVC folder covers that look similar to those from staples? That might be a good start.

[abitofalchemy]

The thickness of the report covers is not listed on the Office depot products, but I opted for a Swingline GBC self-seal laminating sheets these stat the thickness, but they come in 3mil flex(too flimsy) and 5mil, and a GBC Impact Hidden Switch Clip Report Cover. And the report cover is definitely thicker, I just don't know how thick until I get a hold of a caliper.
Would old-fashioned Transparencies (sheets, the ones you can write on vs the ones you can laser-print on) be any better?

[abitofalchemy]

About this membrane... should I glue it to the head along the outer edge of the head see this figure or use shrink-tubing? Any details you can offer on attaching the membrane will be very helpful.

[tareko]

I haven't tested transparencies, but I think they would be too thin. If you can get a hold of X Ray film, that should be about the right thickness that was used in the very first stethoscopes. If you have a littmann diaphragm available to you, you can cut it and use it as a standard to compare. If you really have no luck at all, we might be able to send you some of what we use.

[BoxTrot]

@abitofalchemy, as for attaching the membrane, you should be able to just drop it into the printed ring and friction-fit the head into it. I haven't seen or encountered anything to suggest otherwise.