Bionics

By shelley.groves1
  • 800 BCE

    First prosthetics

    First prosthetics
    The earliest-known prosthetic toe made from wood and leather was discovered in the 1800s attached to an Egyptian mummy.
  • 300 BCE

    First prosthetic leg

    First prosthetic leg
    The oldest known prosthetic leg; the Capua leg, was crafted by Romans from bronze and iron with a wooden core.
  • 800

    The middle ages

    The middle ages
    Peg legs and hand hooks were common for those who could afford to have them fitted. An increasing number of tradesmen crafted prosthetics during this time period.

  • Cosmetic rubber hand

    Cosmetic rubber hand
    During the American Civil War, the U.S. started to see advancements in the field of prosthetics. The cosmetic rubber hand was introduced with fingers that could move and various attachments, such as brushes and hooks.

  • Heart-lung device

    Heart-lung device
    M. von Frey and M. Gruber created and used the first heart-lung device. Their device included heating and cooling chambers, manometers and sampling outlets.

  • Artificial limb program

    Artificial limb program
    The Artificial Limb Program was designed to improve the design of prosthetics, because the U.S. was trying to improve the life of soldiers living with amputations.

  • First heart surgery

    First heart surgery
    Dr. J Gibbon Jr. performs the first cardiac surgery using a clinical heart and lung machine.

  • First artificial heart

    First artificial heart
    Dr. Willem Kolff and his research team implant the first total artificial heart into a dog.

  • Kidney transplant

    Kidney transplant
    Joseph Murray performs the first kidney transplant using an organ from a donor who has no relations with the recipient.

  • First heart transplant into a human

    First heart transplant into a human
    Dr. Denton Cooley performs the first artificial heart transplant into a human.

  • Synthetic sockets

    Synthetic sockets
    Synthetic sockets were custom fitted for each patient to provide an individualized, comfortable, and hygienic fit.

  • Target muscle reinnervation (TMR).

    Target muscle reinnervation (TMR).
    Researchers at the university of Pittsburgh have been studying brain-computer interface technology. This technology allows an amputee to send brain signals to the artificial limb's computer, which moves the arm.

  • Trachea implant

    Trachea implant
    A 39 year old man in Sweden was the first ever to get a fully synthetic trachea implant. He was suffering from cancer in his throat.