Key Developments in Medical Equipment in the Last 100 Years

Medical equipment technology has made incredible leaps in the last 100 years. The advent of computer technology especially led to an exponential increase in the speed with which new scientific and technological discoveries were made. Today, medical equipment continues to build on the advances of the past and into future innovations. Here are ten of the most significant breakthroughs in medical equipment in the last 100 years.

1. The Balloon Catheter

Thomas Fogarty's balloon catheter, invented in 1963, became the industry standard. Fogarty's catheter allows for continuous draining of the bladder, which is immensely important during an operation.

2. Laser Scalpels

The first laser was created in 1960. A few short years later, there were many different kinds of lasers being tested and modified. The carbon dioxide laser invented in 1964 was the one that made the laser scalpel possible. The laser scalpel revolutionized medical surgeries by enabling doctors to make fine, ultra-precise incisions.

3. First Artificial Heart

The Jarvik Heart, so named after creator Robert Jarvik, was finished in 1982 and marked a major touchstone in both science and medicine. The device was intended as a temporary replacement only, for people awaiting transplant surgery.

4. Fetal Monitor

Began in the early 1960s, the first commercially viable fetal monitor was completed in 1968 by Professor K. Hammacher who worked in conjunction with Hewlett-Packard. The monitor let doctors detect fetal distress during labor.

5. Portable Defibrillators

Portable defibrillators are almost as common as first aid kits now-a-days. They are and have been since their invention in 1960, the most effective tool for resuscitating a person from cardiac arrest. The inventor was Frank Pantridge, a scientist from Belfast.

6. The Ultrasound Machine

One of the biggest breakthroughs in ultrasound technology came in 1963, when the first portable ultrasound scanner, made by Joseph Holmes, William Wright and Ralph Meyerdirk; became commercially available.

7. The Portable EKG

The first portable electrocardiogram was completed in 1961, by Frank Sanbron, whose company eventually became part of Hewlett-Packard.

8. The AbioCor Heart

Created by AbioMed in 2001, the AbioCor heart was the biggest development in artificial heart technology since the Jarvik 7. AbioCor uses internal batteries and does not require external cables or wires. Also, the AbioCor is the first artificial heart meant as a permanent heart replacement. It was revolutionary in its use in miniaturization technology.

9. The Pacemaker

The first implantable pacemaker was invented by Wilson Greatbatch in the late 1950s. It built on the developments of electrical engineer John Hopps earlier in the decade.

10. CT Scanner

Godfrey Hounsfield, a renowned U.K. scientist, invented the first commercially viable CT scanner in 1971. The CT scanner today is the highest standard of medical imaging.

Looking for used medical equipment 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.