YORICK, The Bionic Skeleton

YORICK, The Bionic Skeleton

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Description
Yorick is a plastic male skeleton imbedded with electronic and mechanical devices used to replace worn body parts. Yorick was created by Ed Mueller, an engineer in the Division of Mechanical and Material Sciences at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in Washington, D.C.
Yorick often made appearances at schools, Scout meetings, and hospitals to educate students about bionics and current research on implant design development.
Some of the devices implanted in Yorick are: cranial plate, silicone nose, carbon tooth root, interocular lens, cochlear implant, heart valve, artificial heart, cardiac pacemaker, infusion port, vascular grafts, urinary sphincter prosthesis, artificial patella, bone plate, artificial tendons, bone growth stimulator, and artificial hip, knee, elbow, and finger joints.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
skeleton
date made
1970s-1980s
maker
Mueller, Edward
Physical Description
synthetic polymers, plastic and rubber (overall material)
metals, titanium and stainless steel (overall material)
synthetic polyester fiber, dacron (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 164 cm x 36.5 cm x 21.5 cm; 64 9/16 in x 14 3/8 in x 8 15/32 in
ID Number
2003.0205.01
accession number
2003.0205
catalog number
2003.0205.01
Credit Line
Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services
subject
Artificial Organs
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Medicine
Health & Medicine
Government, Politics, and Reform
Industry & Manufacturing
Science & Mathematics
Artificial Hearts
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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