Technology Timeline
- Ancient Times- Peg Leg
- 600 B.C.- First Artificial limb was created from strong, heavy, inflexible iron, so the amputee could easily control the prostheses. Created by Armorers in the middle ages.
- 1500's- Ambrosia Pare invented articulated joints for the artificial limbs, but it was difficult for the amputee to flex at will.
- 1812- Peter Bailiff of Berlin developed upper limbs for below the elbow amputees.
- 1844- Van Peterson made artificial limbs for above the elbow amputees, but were not that ideal yet.
- 1861- J.E. Hanger, an engineer student, lost his leg in the civil war. Hanger designed a leg for himself and opened a company to manufacture prosthetic legs. J.E. Hanger's company is still operating today.
- 1888- A.A. Winkley with the help of Cowell Jepson created a slip-socket below-knee device for himself. Winkley then founded the Winkley Company where they sold legs to the National Civil War Veterans.
- 1909- Amputee D.W. Dorrance invented a device to take the place of his hand when he lost his right arm in an accident. He was unhappy with the prosthetic arms available, so he invented a split hock. The hook was anchored to the opposite shoulder and opened with a strap across the back then closed with a rubber band. His device restored pretension abilities and is still used today.
- 1940's - 1960's - The twentieth century brought the development of electric prosthetic limbs from West Germany. Myoelectricity uses electrical signals from the amputee's arm muscle to move the limb.
- Recent years - Computers today can fit amputees with prosthetic limbs that came from a design model that helped mold the patient's arm or leg. Laser-guided measuring and fitting is also used. The materials to make artificial limbs are stronger and lighter than the earlier limbs that were made of wood and iron. Realistic looking skin also has progressed because of new plastics and better pigments
