A San Francisco orthopedic surgeon’s invention has been named one of Popular Science magazine’s 10 best inventions of 2009. Dr. Kevin Stone invented the Rescue Reel after 9/11. The device allows the user, wearing a harness and controlling a braking system on the device, to rappel to the ground at a rate of 6 feet per second. The $1,500 device has been tested by the Vallejo Fire Department and is expected to come to market next year.
