Medical devices that help the world seem to be invented every day. Devices like MRI machines, joint replacements and robotic surgeries.
We did some research to come up with our top 6 medical devices that help the world. Some of them were invented hundreds of years ago.
The people at Healthcare Digital had a list of 10 top medical devices.
The folks at Interesting Engineering had a list of 13 top medical inventions, including medical devices.
Our Top 6 Medical Devices
1 – Hypodermic Needle
Charles Provaz and Alexander Wood invented the hypodermic needle around the mid- 1800s. We can’t imagine how they used to do things like draw blood.
2 – X-Ray Machine
Wilhelm Roentgen discovered X-rays in 1895. This medical device sees through the skin to problems like tumors and broken bones. Before this invention, the only way to see was to cut open the body.
3 – MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Machine
The X-ray machine led to the CT scanner which led to the MRI machine. MRI machines can tell the difference between good tissue and bad tissue. It also gives a much clearer picture than X-ray. The person that invented the MRI machine is a bit unclear, but the starting point seems to be Raymond Damadian in the 1970s.
4 – Cardiac Defibrillator
In 1947, Dr. Claude Beck performed the first successful use of an electric defibrillator on an exposed human heart. In 1957, the first portable external defibrillator was invented by a team at Johns Hopkins. These medical devices simply save lives. The whole history of CPR (Cardiovascular Pulmonary Resuscitation) is very interesting.
5 – Stethoscope
Much like X-ray and MRI machines allow you to see under the skin, stethoscopes allow you to hear sounds under the skin. It was invented by Rene Laennec in 1816.
6 – Spectacles / Eyeglasses
This choice may seem odd, but excellent eyesight is helpful when you work at a precision CNC machine shop. The person that invented spectacles is a bit unclear, but it seems the invention process started in the 13 th or 14 th century.
Honorable Mentions
Some excellent medical devices that did not make our top 6 include pacemakers, Electrocardiogram (EKG) machines, medical thermometers, ventilators and joint implants.
About C&C Machine
We are a precision CNC machine shop located in Oklahoma. It was an honor to help our healthcare workers by 3D printing surgical mask straps during the time of the Covid- 19 pandemic.
