Dr. Frank Gunston, the Flin Flon-born physician credited with developing an internationally renowned knee-replacement system, has died. He was 82.
Gunston passed away in his home in Brandon on Monday, Feb. 15, the Brandon Sun reported. No cause of death was mentioned.
Born in Flin Flon in 1933, he was a curious youth. In his eulogy, his sister recalled how a teenage Gunston completely disassembled, then successfully reassembled, a car, according to the Sun.
Gunston earned an engineering degree from the University of Manitoba in 1957 and worked as an engineer for HBM&S, now Hudbay.
Eager to use his methodical mind to help patients, he later returned to the U of M and became a medical doctor in 1963.
According to his obituary in the Winnipeg Free Press, Gunston designed and developed his revolutionary knee prosthesis during further study in England.
The prosthesis remains one of the most-used and successful orthopaedic operations in the world, the Sun reported, decribing the prosthesis as combining “plastic and metallic elements in a set of tracks, attached to the top of the tibia with matching set of metal inserts fastened to the femur, allowing the joint to work together by moving along a runner.”
Gunston could have patented the system but famously and selflessly chose to make it available to all.
He received numerous accolades during his nearly 40 years in medicine, and following his retirement in 2000. Among them were the Order of Canada, Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee medals, Principal Manning Award for Innovation, and being named Distinguished Surgeon by the Canadian Orthopaedic Association.
Locally, Gunston has been honoured with a spot on the Wall of Honour at the Flin Flon Station Museum.
