James McEwen (engineer)

James McEwen is a biomedical engineer and the inventor of the microprocessor-controlled automatic tourniquet system.[1][2][3] It is estimated that his invention is used in 15,000-20,000 surgical procedures daily, worldwide.[2][3] The widespread use and adoption of automatic tourniquet systems has significantly increased safety, speed and quality of surgical procedures.[3][4][5] McEwen is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Orthopaedics and the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia.[6][7][8]

Career

McEwen received his Bachelor of Applied Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia in 1971 and 1975, respectively.[9] After completing his Ph.D in 1975, McEwen founded and established the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Vancouver General Hospital and served as its first director until 1990.[2][8][9]

During his tenure at the Vancouver General Hospital, McEwen and his team invented the automatic tourniquet system for surgery.[1][5][9] McEwen's invention improves patient safety by providing more accurate control over the cuff pressure, audio-visual alarms, and safety features not possible in older mechanical tourniquets.[10] The automatic tourniquet system has become standard equipment in operating rooms and is used in 15,000-20,000 surgical procedures around the world daily.[2][3] His improvements to tourniquet systems in general have led to greater safety and their wider acceptance as the de facto standard for procedures involving bloodless surgical fields and Bier block anaesthesia.[2][11]

McEwen holds more than 220 patents and patent applications on medical devices.[12] He has founded several companies built around his inventions.[9] Currently, he is the President of Western Clinical Engineering Ltd., a Vancouver-based biomedical engineering R&D company.[12]

Affiliations

McEwen is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Orthopaedics and the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia.[6][7][8][13]

He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).[13][14]

McEwen is one of the founders and serves as a director of the Medical Device Development Centre (MDDC).[12] MDDC is a "non-profit British Columbia society whose mandate is to advance the collaborative development, evaluation and commercialization of need-oriented medical technology."[15]

McEwen is the Vice President on the Board of Trustees of the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation.[16] The Manning Innovation Awards rewards and recognizes "deserving Canadians who aspire to do good for the common good".[17]

Recognition

In 1997, McEwen received the Principal Award from the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation for his invention of the microprocessor-controlled automatic tourniquet system for surgery.[18]

In 2006, he became a Fellow of the Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society (CMBES).[19]

In 2009, McEwen received the degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from Simon Fraser University for "technological innovation, combined with an entrepreneurial spirit and a profound commitment to the public good".[20]

In 2011, McEwen was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada for "his contributions to biomedical engineering, notably as an inventor and entrepreneur."[9][12] In 2011, he also received the degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from the University of British Columbia for "developing new medical technologies, for guiding the growth of Canada's biomedical engineering fields and for helping improve health care".[5]

In 2012, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal[21], a "commemorative medal served to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians."[22]

In 2016, he was a Dean's Medal Recipient from the Department of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 McEwen, James (1981). "Complications of and improvements in pneumatic tourniquets used in surgery". Medical Instrumentation. 15: 253–257.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "SFU News Online - Six of Canada's finest to receive honorary degrees - May 28, 2009". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Saving an arm and a leg". Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  4. ↑ "Measurement of hazardous pressure levels and gradients produced on human limbs by non-pneumatic tourniquets" (PDF).
  5. 1 2 3 "Dr. James Allen McEwen | Graduation at UBC". graduation.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  6. 1 2 "UBC Applied Science Faculty James McEwen".
  7. 1 2 http://orthopaedics.med.ubc.ca/our-department/faculty/
  8. 1 2 3 "Dr. James McEwen Receives Order of Canada for Engineering | Electrical and Computer Engineering | UBC". www.ece.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Engineering Alumni Awards 2013 | UBC Engineering". engineering.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  10. ↑ "Introduction to the best Tourniquets | Tourniquets.org". tourniquets.org. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  11. ↑ http://www.med.ubc.ca/about_us/Awards_and_Honours/Awards_and_honours_-_February_2011.htm#McEwen
  12. 1 2 3 4 "James A. McEwen named to the Order of Canada". Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia. 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  13. 1 2 "Jim McEwen | APSC Centennial". 100.apsc.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  14. ↑ "About the Author". tourniquets.org. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  15. ↑ "MDDC | The Medical Device Development Centre". mddc.org. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  16. ↑ "Canadian Innovation Awards | Manning Awards". www.manningawards.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  17. ↑ "Canadian Innovation Awards | Manning Awards". www.manningawards.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  18. ↑ "Canadian Innovation Awards | Manning Awards". www.manningawards.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  19. ↑ Lizard, Visual. "Awards & Nominations | CMBES". www.cmbes.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  20. ↑ "Citation-McEwen" (PDF).
  21. ↑ General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  22. ↑ General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  23. ↑ "Dean's Medal Recipients | APSC Centennial". 100.apsc.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
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