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100
An Idea Is Born 424 B.C. to 1 B.C.
An artificial leg dating to about 300 B.C. was found. It was made of bronze and iron, with a wooden core, apparently for a below-knee amputee. -
476
The Dark Ages 476 to 1000
The Dark Ages saw little advancement in prosthetics other than the hand hook and peg leg. Most prostheses of the time were made to hide deformities or injuries sustained in battle.Outside of battle, only the wealthy were lucky enough to be fitted with a peg leg or hand hook for daily function. -
Aug 17, 1400
The Renaissance 1400 to 1800
The Renaissance began a new perspectives of art, philosophy, science and medicine. Prostheses during this period were generally made of iron, steel, copper and wood. -
Dean Kamen's DARPA-Funded Prosthetic Arm Gets FDA Approval
The new DEKA arm is the first FDA-approved arm that can move multiple joints at once by receiving commands from electromyograms. -
1800 to 1900
James Potts, designed a prosthesis made of a wooden shank and socket, a steel knee joint and an articulated foot that was controlled by catgut tendons from the knee to the ankle. -
Modern Prosthetics 2000-
Now, lighter, patient-molded devices, the advent of microprocessors, computer chips and robotics in today's devices are designed to return amputees to the lifestyle they were accustomed to, rather than to simply provide basic functionality or a more pleasing appearance. Prostheses are more realistic with silicone covers and are able to mimic the function of a natural limb more now than at any time before.
