Avraham Shitzer, Ph.D.

Avraham Shitzer is the James H. Belfer professor of mechanical engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. His bioheat transfer work started with studies of cooling garments for astronauts. Later he investigated protection against cold exposure for the body. He designed a life support system for armored vehicle crew that provides individual heating/cooling to each crew member, via a quick-disconnect, air-cooled torso worn vest. He also has contributed to cryosurgery by analyzing the temperature field around various probe configurations, resulting in better cryosurgical devices. He created a controlled liquid nitrogen-based cryosurgical unit with process control achieved by a feedback loop, which activates an offsetting heating element. This is a key element in improving the final outcome of the cryosurgical process, aimed at eradication of malignant tumors.