Prof. Peter A. Lewin, MSc., Ph.D.

Chronic wounds, such as venous and diabetic ulcers, cost the U.S healthcare system close to $25 billion annually. Hence, a reduction of healing time directly translates into savings of treatment related expenses.

This talk describes the implementation of patch-like, un-tethered and clinically viable therapeutic ultrasound applicator and stresses the need for interdisciplinary, electro-mechanical approach crucial to achieve this goal. The device uses well-defined non-cavitational and non-thermal levels of ultrasound energy; its peak acoustic output pressure amplitude was intentionally limited to 55 kPa, corresponding to a spatial peak temporal peak intensity of 100 mW/cm². 

A small (n=8) pilot study targeting diabetic ulcers treatment was performed and indicated that with its light weight (<20g), and circular (40 mm dia) disk shape architecture this applicator is suitable to be embedded in wound dressing. The average time to wound closure was 4.7 weeks for subjects treated with the active device, compared to 12 weeks for subjects treated with a sham applicator, suggesting that patients with diabetic ulcers may benefit from the proposed treatment.

[Work supported by the NINR grant 5R01NR015995. The contents of this presentation are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH].

Biography:

Peter A. Lewin, M.Sc., Ph.D. is R.B. Beard Distinguished University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering at Drexel University, Philadelphia. He is also Director of the Ultrasound Research and Education Center in The School of Bioengineering, Bioscience and Health Systems at Drexel University. Dr. Lewin obtained his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1969 and the Ph.D. in Physical Acoustics in 1979 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Before receiving his Ph.D. degree, he was employed by Bruel and Kjaer, Denmark, where he was involved in the development of underwater piezoelectric transducers and associated electronics.

From 1978 to 1983 he was associated with the Danish Institute of Biomedical Engineering (now Force Institutes) and The University of Denmark, Copenhagen-Lyngby, where his research activities primarily focused on propagation of ultrasound waves in inhomogeneous media and development of PVDF transducers. In 1983 he joined the faculty of Drexel University. Dr. Lewin was awarded several patents in the field of ultrasound and has authored or co-authored over 240 scientific publications, most of them on topics in ultrasound and is co-editor of Ultrasonic Exposimetry (CRC Press, 1993), a landmark book in the field. His current interests are primarily in the field of biomedical ultrasonics including the design and testing of piezoelectric transducers and sensors, power ultrasonics, ultrasonic exposimetry, tissue characterization using nonlinear acoustics, biological effects of ultrasound, applications of shock waves in medicine and image reconstruction and processing. He advised numerous Ph.D. students; in this context it may be worthwhile to add that his most recent research results describing the outcome of clinical studies in the field of ultrasonically assisted chronic wound healing are featured on the NIH website:

(http://www.nibib.nih.gov/news-events/newsroom/ultrasound-patch-heals- venous-ulcers-human-trial).

Dr. Lewin is elected Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), Acoustical Society of America (ASA), American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and Elected Fellow of International Academy for Medical and Biomedical Engineering (IAMBE). He has also served as a Chair (1997-1999) of the AIUM's Technical Standards Committee and the AIUM's Board of Governors (2002-2004).

In addition, Dr. Lewin serves as a consultant to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health and was appointed to the US Technical Advisory Group of ANSI to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). He also serves as Associate Editor of the peer-reviewed journal "Ultrasonics" and serves as elected Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Ultrasound, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control. Most recently, he was elected as a resource member of the prestigious Franklin Institute Science and Awards Committee, Philadelphia and in April of 2018 received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Philadelphia Section Benjamin Franklin Key Award. The award recognizes outstanding technical innovations, which contributed to intellectual, industrial and economic development and demonstrated human benefits.

Joseph F. Maida, PE, P.Eng. LEED AP

The course will describe:

• How electrical power systems operate under normal and abnormal conditions.
• The reliability of electrical power system from a utility and end user’s prospective.
• The equipment that controls the operation of and protects electrical power system.
• What happens to electrical power systems when electrical faults occur, or normal power is lost.
• How changes in technology will affect future designs of electrical power systems both at home and in the workplace”

Biography:

Joseph F. Maida, PE, P.Eng. LEED AP provides engineering and design services for large and small projects in a number of disciplines. Since starting Maida Engineering, Inc. in 1978, Joseph has provided engineering and design and project management services for commercial, industrial, governmental design projects and many design/build projects for industrial power and control systems. Joseph has also performed numerous power system studies and arc flash analyses.

Large or small, simple or complex, Joseph approaches every project with the same attention to detail and strives to develop or oversee the development of the most feasible designs that meet building codes, that provide a high degree of safety, and that will function reliably, while meeting the client’s budgets ad schedules.  

Joseph manages a company that provides harmonious working environments and utilizes the technical and managerial talents of its employees and subconsultants, thus enabling them to provide the highest quality of engineering and design to its clientele.

Joseph has dedicated his career to learning and developing his engineering and management talents enabling him to fill various roles on different types of projects. Joseph prepared the functional specifications describing both existing systems, when applicable, and new systems, and the specifications and related drawings for the removal of existing systems, when applicable, and for the installation of new state of the art systems for the St. Louis Arch Tram Motor and Drive Replacement Project, for NFPA 86 Gas Furnaces and Forehearth Upgrade Projects, for various Theme Park Attractions and for Wind Tunnels. Examples of some the projects he has worked on follow.

The St. Louis Arch Trams Motor and Drive Replacement Project - The Trams, which are very similar to elevators and are currently controlled by a 125 HP Ward Leonard Systems. Because of the difference between the Tram, which operates at different speeds and rotates the passenger capsules the higher owner requirement, standard elevator controllers and machines could not be used. Joseph engineered and designed custom controllers using VFDs and custom machines using AC motors for the Trams.

Aerospace Projects have included the replacement of the motors, drives, lubrication systems and controls for two helicopter blade, 4050 HP dynamic balancing towers; the replacement of an existing wind tunnel’s AC wound rotor and DC motors with a 18,000 HP synchronous motor and a 22,000 HP, 36 pulse VFD.

Hospital and Power Projects have included the engineering and design for a 6 MW, 13.2 KV Mission Critical Electrical Power Generation and Distribution Systems for the Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center, the installation of 5 MW Standby Power Distribution System and Priority Load Management Control System for a Pharmaceutical R&D campus; a new cement plant’s 34.5 KV and 4,160 Volt, 20 MVA power distribution system; a hazardous area analysis for areas containing fossil fuel dust. Studies have included numerous power system studies including load flow, voltage drop, short circuit, equipment evaluation, TCC Coordination, motor starting, harmonics, and arc flash analyses;

Commercial projects have included the remodeling of numerous commercial kitchens; the power distribution and control of new outdoor and indoor lighting; a new Command Center; the study for upgrading a large data center’s standby and interruptible power supplies; and the installations of new services, feeders and branch circuits for pharmaceutical, fiberglass and cement plants and commercial buildings, HVAC/mechanical equipment and renovations to building and processes.

Joseph Maida has overseen and prepared bid and construction documents that have been used by its clients for design/build projects and by Maida Engineering to perform design/build projects utilizing the services of both in-house and outside engineers, fabricators and contractors. Some of these design/build projects have included: a new fiberglass manufacturing plant and warehouse, the engineering, fabrication, installation and PLC programming for a large textile manufacturing line with 56 DC drives and motors; the engineering, fabrication, installation and PLC programming for the electrical and control portions of a new cement terminal; the engineering, fabrication, installation and PLC programming of PLC based, HVAC control systems for a 100,000 square foot Class 1 Clean Room (total project, concept to startup was completed in 5 months).

Joseph Maida has extensive experience in the interpretation and application of building and fire codes. He has performed many electrical hazardous areas classification studies within chemical, pharmaceutical and cement plants and within oil refineries. He has contributed to the writing of a section of NFPA 70, National Electrical Code.

Societies:  NSPE member, PSPE – Philadelphia Chapter member, Practicing Engineering Institute, IEEE Member and NFPA member.