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The theoretical framework for this breakthrough x-ray technology that is used in hospitals around the world was developed by African physicist, Alan MacLeod Cormack during the 1960’s. X-ray source and electronic detectors are rotated about the body and is then analysed to produce a sharp map of the tissues within a cross-section of the body.
Educated at Rondebosch Boys High and the University of Cape Town, Cormack became a professor at Tuft’s University in the US. The calculations that he developed while at UCT and Groote Schuur Hospital were used by Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield in the production of the first commercial CAT scan machine prototype in 1971. Cormack shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Hounsfield in 1979.
The world's first heart transplant was performed by Dr Chris Barnard in Cape Town on 3 December 1967. This is arguably one of South Africa’s most renowned innovations, preparing the way for what is now virtually a routine lifesaving procedure around the world.
This new form of breast uplifment surgery was invented by Jonathan Hamilton who engineered aviation and security products. But with the request from his wife, he started to develop a new form of breast surgery as the previous methods were painful and left scarring. The result is Breform, an implant that does not make your breasts bigger, but lifts them higher, acting as a permanent internal bra.
Gervan Lubbe from Boksburg invented a device that sends electronic impulses throughout the body to alleviate pain. This invention electronically stimulates the body's natural nerve impulses to relieve pain. Lubbe formed the company Tech Pulse in 1993 to produce, market and distribute the Action Potential Stimulation (APS) device.
These reinforced concrete blocks, shaped like children’s jacks, with anchor-like ends offset from each other, provide immovable breakwaters that now protect harbours worldwide from the force of the open sea. They work by dissipating the energy of the water, rather than by trying to block it. It was named after the Afrikaans word meaning ‘knuckles’ as it literally resembles the knuckles of an ox. It was invented by EM Merrifield in 1963 in East London, South Africa. He refused to patent it, as a gift to all the harbours of the world.
In the land of year-round sunshine, swimming pools are ubiquitous, along with the labour of keeping them clean. Ferdinand Chauvier from Springs, South Africa invented the first fully automatic self-operating pool vacuum in 1974. The brand has become a household name worldwide.
Sasol the South African chemical and fuel company is a global player in supplying the world with energy. It is the world's first and largest oil-from-coal refinery. It is situated in Sasolburg in South Africa and provides 40% of the country's fuel. Sasol has developed world-leading technology for the conversion of low-grade coal into value-added synfuels and chemicals.
The South African-made speed gun, developed by Somerset West inventor Henri Johnson, was formally launched at The Oval in England during the 1999 Cricket World Cup. The device accurately measures the speed and angles of speeding objects such as cricket and tennis balls.
South Africa pioneered the invention and introduction of mine-protected military vehicles. Variations on this technology are now in service in the armed forces of dozens of armed forces around the world. The technology and design are credited with saving thousands of lives. Most recently, the RG-31 developed by Land Systems OMC in South Africa was singled out for high praise by the US Army for its “superior design and manufacturing”, and is cited as “the best mine-protected vehicle in the world” in its class.
This famous glue was invented by Krugersdorp engineer, George Pratley when he was looking for a glue to hold components of an electrical box together. Little did he know that this invention would be used in 1963 to hold bits of the Apollo XI mission's Eagle landing craft together. It is the only South African invention that has been on the moon.
A South African device originally designed to detect the theft of diamonds by mineworkers is saving the lives of critically injured patients around the world. This device takes just 13 seconds to provide a full-body x-ray and saves precious time. It is useful in the diagnosis of a wide range of traumatic injuries and the full body overview means injuries can be quickly identified.
This device is made from a used tin can and section of bicycle spoke soldered into a special connector which can connect to another point with a similar antenna up to five kilometres away. It was developed by the Meraka Institute in Pretoria and is able to give poverty-stricken communities with little or no infrustructure access to the internet. This in-turn allows people access to information, knowledge and communication.
Entrepreneur Rajan Harinarain came up with the idea of a foldaway house after thousands of informal homes were lost to fires in a township in Durban. Complete with doors, windows, walls and electric fittings the house can be erected in five minutes. The waterproof, 14-square metre dwelling weighs little more than 800kg, providing the basic requirements for emergency shelter. Made from galvanised metal, it is easily transportable; being just 24 centimetres high when folded, and can be erected by a handful of people.
Johannesburg telecoms engineer Ivo Lazic came up with the idea of making otherwise unsightly cellphone masts look like giant palm trees. The cell phone network Vodacom, needed to come up with an idea to solve an environmental problem of camouflaging the cell phone masts and cellular sight towers to make it more aesthetically pleasing. The ‘trees’ are made from environmentally friendly material and are fully recyclable. This South African product is now in international demand.
Peter Ramsay and Mark Beagle from KwaZulu-Natal developed the world's first automatic popcorn vending machine. It dispenses a fresh hot-popped 100g pack of microwave popcorn at the push of a button. The machine dispenses four different flavours and hygienic packs are sealed with popcorn oil and flavouring. On selection the pack is pushed into the uniquely-designed microwave and dispensed after 90 seconds.
Ken Hall has been given an accolade by Time magazine for his plastic mini-oven which he invented to reduce the risk of fires in squatter camps. He said he designed his oven, called the 'Cobb', after realising how people and children in squatter camps were burned because of exploding paraffin stoves. The "oven" uses six charcoal brickets which provide heat for more than two hours.
Capetonian Cobus Cronje invented an exhaust vibration balancer which solves the problem of stress and fatigue on vehicles caused by the vibration from heavy diesel engines.
Source: SouthAfrica.info
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