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The 25 Landmark ‘Milestone’ Papers Published by ASAIO

1955-2003
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Neuroprosthesis

 

1.                  Dobell WH, Mladejovsky MG: The Directions for Future Research on Sensory Prostheses.  TASAIO  20:425-429, 1974.

 

Commentary:  During ASAIO’s 50-year history, many neuroprostheses were introduced.  Among them were cardiac pacemakers, phrenic nerve stimulators, intestinal stimulators and bladder stimulators.  However, attempts to develop sensory prostheses for the blind and deaf awaited the efforts of the University of Utah group headed by Dr. Willem J. Kolff.  Even though Dr. Kolff could be credited with this field of technology, it was possible only after Dr. William H. Dobelle became involved in this field of artificial organs. 

This particular paper was selected as one of the 25 most important papers during the last 50 years of ASAIO history because Dr. Dobelle’s objectives, approaches and possible outcomes of artificial eye and ear were described 30 years ago and predicted today’s prostheses.  This special address at the 20th anniversary of ASAIO introduced Dr. Dobelle’s idea of possible brain stimulation to help blind patients see and deaf patients hear.  Since that time, this once thought impossible dream became reality. They are now clinically beneficial artificial organs. 

All of us can learn from Dr. Dobelle insistence that only this type of artificial organ could be developed through human experiments and by implanting chronic electrodes in the brain to provide electrical stimulation.  All of us including all government regulatory agents can learn from this fact.  If these chronic human experiments had not been attempted before 1979, the current artificial eye and artificial ear prostheses would not exist today.  One of the two patients implanted with an artificial eye in December 1978 is still alive and has improved during these 25 years.  – Yukihiko Nosé, MD, PhD

 

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