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100
3500 BC First record of a Prosthetic Limb
3500 BC- An Indian poem tells about Queen Vishpla who lost a leg in battle. It was later replaced by an iron leg and she could return to the battlefield. -
500
Limbs in the Dark Ages
In the Dark Ages, knights often had to have amputations due to battle. Their limbs were replaced by heavy, iron limbs which served to hide the injury. -
Jan 1, 1508
Berlichingen's Advanced Arms
Gotz von Berlichingen, a German knight lost his right arm in the Battle of Landsut. The arm was replaced by a mechanical metal arm which was the first of its kind because it could actually be controlled. He was able to move the joints in the prosthetic fingers because of straps and springs. -
Jan 1, 1529
Amputation becomes lifesaving.
French surgeon, Ambroise Pare introduced the idea of amputating limbs in the medical field. -
Peter Verduyn: below knee prosthesis
Peter Verduyn invented the first non-locking, below the knee prosthesis which allowed people with an amputated leg to walk more easily. -
Pirate Peg Legs
In the 1700s, Pirates used wooden pegs and hooks as replacements for lost limbs. Since in the harsh storms at sea legs could easily be caught in ropes, whatever was around had to be used as a prosthetic. -
Jame's Potts' "Ansley Leg"
James Potts invented a prosthesis with a steel knee joint that could be controlled by catgut tendons. It was known as the "Ansley Leg" or the "Selpho Leg" -
Anesthesia is used
Anesthesia started to be used in surgeries during the 1840s. This way surgeons could perform longer, better amputations on patients. -
Sir James Syme
Sir James Syme discovered a more advanced method of ankle amputation. Before this, a person's leg starting at the thigh had to be cut off if the ankle needed to be amputated. Now people could walk with just a foot prosthesis instead of a leg prosthesis. -
Benjamin Palmer improves the Selpho Leg
Benjamin Palmer made advancements to James Potts's invention by making it smoother looking and more natural looking when a person walked on it. -
Prosthetic Leg Found in Capua, Italy
This leg is was believed to have been made as early as 300 B.C. It was made out of bronze, iron, and wood. This may be the first prosthetic leg recorded. -
The Civil War
With so many soldiers losing limvs in battle, the american Civil War provided advancements in prosthetics. This is the time when prosthetics and amputations became bigger in the medical field. -
Dubois Parmelee
During the Civil War, Dubois Parmelee invented a socket to attatch to prosthetic limbs which used suction to stay in place. This made them more comfortable to wear. -
First aluminum leg.
Brothers Marcel and Charles Desoutter make the first prosthetic leg made out of aluminum. The idea had first been suggesteg by Gustav Hermann in 1868 to make the limbs lighter. -
American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association
During and After the World Wars, people realized that the prosthetics field needed more attention. This was and is a government funded group that helps in the advancement of prosthetics. -
World War II and Plastic Eyes
Before World War II, artificial eyes were most commonly made of glass. During the war, glass became harder to access but soldiers were needing them more and more. Therefore, plastic became the new material for eyes and they are still used today. -
First Paralymic Games
For the first time, athletes in wheel chairs or with prosthetic limbs could represent their country as Paralypmic athletes.400 athletes from 23 countries competed there in Rome, Italy. -
Ysidro M. Martinez' invention
His below knee prosthesis avoids some of the common problems with other prosthesis. It is lighter and reduces friction. -
Egyptian Toe Found
Archeologists found a prosthetic toe that had belonged to an Egyptian woman somewher between 1065-740 BC. It was a metal big toe attached to some leather that would be laced onto her foot like a shoe. -
Winter's Dolphin Tail
In 2005, a dolphin named Winter lost her tail after it was stuck in a crab trap. In 2007, she recieved a prosthetic tail that worked just as well and it was the first of its kind. -
Bluetooth
Bluetooth began to be used in prosthetics in 2007. Bluetooths are used in pairs of prosthetic legs so that they can "communicte" to eachother about walking speed and pressure in the legs. -
Modular Prosthetic Limb
Sgt. Joe Delauriers became the first person to use this device. This is a very human-like prosthesis and has very advanced technology. -
218 B.C. Marcus Sergius
This roman general lost his right arm and it was replaced by an iron hand.