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The first prosthetic was a right big toe made of wood and leather. It was found on the foot of an ancient mummy.
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This was the second known version of a prosthetic toe. It was made of a type of plaster or paper mache
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This is the oldest artificial leg found. It was made of iron and bronze with a wooden core
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The Dark Ages brought about prosthetics specific to helping knights return to battling. These were fitted by craftsmen and very expensive, but if constructed correctly, could help a soldier walk again or carry their shield into battle.
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A German soldier lost his right arm in battle and a pair of iron hands were created for him. It used springs and leather straps to move the hand and was the first prosthetic that had some sort of mobility or flexing abilities.
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Surgeon Ambroise Pare created a device placed above the knee with a foot prosthetic and the ability to flex and extend the knee. This allowed for better mobility.
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James Potts created a leg with a steel knee joint and a way to control the foot with tendons attached to the knee. This built off previous models to make for more efficient mobility.
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Prosthetic Limbs throughout World War II and after were made of wood and leather. They were also very heavy and hard to clean.
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Carbon fiber began to be used in the creation, making the prosthetic limbs much lighter. Also, each limb was custom made for each patient to create a comfortable and individualized fit.
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Created by a team of bio-engineers in Edinburgh, the bionic limb combines robotics, electronics, and biotechnology to create a machine that helps amputees function similar to non-amputees.
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In the past 20 years, prosthetic technology has come a long way. We now have prosthetic limbs that can feel things and that can be controlled by your brain.
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In the future, the technology of prosthetic limbs will become so advanced that they will be able to function as well as actual limbs and perhaps even better.
