The prosthetic hand. The first use of prosthetics goes back over 2,000 years, but it was not until 1971 that Canadian scientist Helmut Lucas created the first electric prosthetic hand. 

What makes Lucas' innovation especially unique is that it utilized signals from patients muscles and nervous system to actually move and position the prosthetic hand. This made it possible for those requiring prosthetics to perform actions such as turning a doorknob or picking up a glass.