>>Actually, at one time they did. Many surgical tools were designed and actually manufactured (the first prototypes) by surgeons and dentists. For instance, the hypodermic syringe, anesthetics, the air_powered dental drill, forceps, etc. Many were invented by a Polish professor at a teaching hospital during the 19th century and some even earlier by a French surgeon during the mid-1700s. By the way, wasn't it a slave that actually had the idea of giving a sample of an infection to people to build up their immunity? I think his owner got the credit for it though.
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>Actually, doctors still do. I know a man - Dr George Flynn - who invented the ultrasound. He now also owns 17 radio stations, is on the Shelby County Commission, and has many other business interests. I'm not sure if he does much doctoring anymore though! Then there's Al Gore, who invented the internet<vbg> Sorry, I couldn't resist!

I heard a story that the 'lithotriptor(sp?)' - the device that pulverises kidney stones - was invented by a doctor who was stuck in winter at an airport. He was told that deicing was being done by sound waves and figured the same could be used on kidney stones.