James McEwen

James McEwen (born June 10, 1948) is a Canadian biomedical engineer and the inventor of the microprocessor-controlled automatic tourniquet system, which is now standard for 15,000-20,000 procedures daily in operating rooms worldwide. Their widespread adoption and use has significantly improved surgical safety, quality and economy. He is also an adjunct professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering, in the Department of Orthopaedics and in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia.

In 2020, to recognize his invention of automatic tourniquets for surgery and other applications he was inducted to the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame, The National Inventors Hall of Fame, in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 'honors the visionaries whose patented inventions have changed our world'. Inductees 'must hold a U.S. patent for an invention that is groundbreaking or a significant advancement in their field' and their 'inventions have been put into widespread use and have improved societal well-being, provided economic benefits to the country and advanced scientific understanding'.

Career McEwen received the B.A.Sc. degree in electrical engineering (biomedical) from the University of British Columbia in 1971. He received the Ph.D. degree in the same field in 1975.

McEwen also served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the ALS Society of British Columbia.

Currently, he is President of Western Clinical Engineering Ltd., a biomedical engineering research and development company that he founded, and he is a director of Delfi Medical Innovations Inc., a company he founded to commercialize some results of that research and development. In that capacity, he worked with like-minded individuals to help increase public awareness of the importance of innovation and innovators to the economy and to society. He also created and funds a number of scholarships and bursaries annually at various high schools to recognize outstanding students who overcome adversities to achieve excellence while at the same time helping others, and to advance public education.

Recognition McEwen was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contribution to biomedical engineering as an inventor and entrepreneur, in December 2011. Appointment as an Officer 'recognizes a lifetime of achievement and merit of a high degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large'.

In April 2012, McEwen received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

In 2009, he was awarded a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) degree from Simon Fraser University.

Subsequently, in 2011, he was awarded a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) degree from the University of British Columbia.

In 2016, he was awarded the Dean's Medal of Distinction from the Faculty of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia 'for outstanding contributions to applied science'.

McEwen also received the Research and Innovation Award in 2018 from the UBC Alumni Association for his biomedical inventions, for founding several medical technology companies, for establishing the non-profit Medical Device Development Centre, and for having taken the lead on important issues to create positive social change.

In 2020 he was inducted into the United States National Inventors Hall of Fame.