10 Big Advancements in Medical Equipment in the Last 100 Years

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Ryan Frank asked:


Over the last 100 years, medical equipment technology has undergone many big transformations, as the speed at which scientific and technological advancements are made increased exponentially with the advent of the computer. Here are 10 of the biggest breakthroughs in medical equipment made in the past 100 years.

1. The Ultrasound Machine

The modern ultrasound machine was a result of many decades of research and invention. One of the biggest breakthroughs came in 1963 when Joseph Holmes, Ralph Meyerdirk and William Wright created the first commercially viable, portable ultrasound scanner.



2. The Laser Scalpel


The first successfully tested laser was built in 1960. In 1964, the carbon dioxide laser made possible the invention of the laser scalpel, which completely transformed the field of medical surgery. The laser scalpel was capable of making extremely precise incisions that instantly cauterized the blood vessels even as it cut them.

3. The Jarvik Heart

American scientist Robert Jarvik completed the first ever artificial heart implant in 1982. It was meant as a temporary replacement for patients waiting to receive a transplant.

4. Portable Defibrillator

Scientist Frank Pantridge was the creator of the first portable defibrillator in 1960. The defibrillator is the most effective tool against cardiac arrests.

5. The Pacemaker

Researcher Wilson Greatbatch built the first implantable cardiac pacemaker in the late 1950s, building on the work of engineer John Hopps.

6. Balloon Catheter

Thomas Fogarty invented the first ever balloon catheter in 1963. His device became an industry standard, as it allowed for the bladder to be drained continuously, a critical advantage during surgery.

7. The Portable EKG

The Frank Sanborn company was responsible for the invention of the first portable EKG machine in 1961, based on its earlier table model.

8. Fetal Monitor

Professor K. Hammacher worked with Hewlett-Packard to create the first non-invasive fetal monitor in 1968. It enabled doctors to monitor fetal distress during the labor.

9. CT Scanner

Sir Godfrey Hounsfield was the man who came up with the first commercially viable CT scanner in 1971. Today, the CT scanner is still the gold standard of medical imaging.

10. The AbioCor Heart

The AbioCor artificial heart, made by AbioMed, marked a breakthrough in a variety of fields, and was a culmination of decades of advancements in computer technology, and medical miniaturization especially. Unlike the Jarvik heart, the AbioCor is a permanent heart implant, not simply a temporary replacement for patients waiting on biological heart transplants.

Looking for good medical equipment manufacturers could be hard to come by these days, but because of the breakthroughs over the years it has become easier to look for the right one.



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