Leonardo da Vinci is considered the father of biomedical engineering because of his extensive studies of the human body and his invention of many medical devices, including the artificial heart.

The first artificial heart was implanted in a human in 1982 by Dr. Robert Jarvik.

The first artificial kidney was called the Artificial Kidney and was invented by Willem Kolff in 1943.

The first pacemaker was implanted in a human in 1958 by Dr. Rune Elmqvist.

The first implantable defibrillator was called the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator and was invented by Michel Mirowski in 1980.

The first cochlear implant was implanted in a human in 1961 by Dr. William House.

The first artificial hip joint was called the McKee-Farrar Total Hip Replacement and was invented by George McKee and John Farrar in 1951.

The first artificial knee joint was implanted in a human in 1968 by Dr. John Charnley.

The first artificial shoulder joint was called the Neer Total Shoulder Replacement and was invented by Charles Neer in 1974.

The first artificial elbow joint was implanted in a human in 1979 by Dr. Charles Engh.

The first artificial wrist joint was called the Swanson Total Wrist Replacement and was invented by Alfred Swanson in 1977.

The first artificial finger joint was implanted in a human in 1981 by Dr. Robert Kleinert.

The first artificial toe joint was called the Swanson Total Toe Replacement and was invented by Alfred Swanson in 1983.

The first artificial skin graft was implanted in a human in 1981 by Dr. John Burke.

The first artificial cornea was called the Boston Keratoprosthesis and was invented by Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris in 1985.