Papers
85
Total Citations
1,579
H-Index
24
About
Kenji Kawashima is a leading robotics engineer whose research bridges pneumatic systems, surgical robotics, and human-machine interaction. His work has fundamentally advanced two major domains: minimally invasive surgical robotics and pneumatically actuated robotic systems for hazardous environments. In surgical robotics, Kawashima has made pioneering contributions to haptic feedback and force sensing in teleoperated systems — a critical gap in commercially available platforms. His development of the IBIS IV pneumatic surgical manipulator and subsequent forceps designs incorporating flexible distal joints and backdrivable pneumatic cylinders have directly addressed surgeon dexterity and patient safety during robotic surgery. His 2022 investigation into telesurgery communication delay thresholds and his 2018 work on automated suture needle relay demonstrate a sustained commitment to making robotic surgery clinically viable. A 2019 review of laparoscopic surgical robots further cements his role as a field synthesizer. Equally notable is his work applying pneumatic artificial rubber muscles to construction machinery remote operation, enabling safer disaster-response excavation. Together, his ten most-cited papers have accumulated over 630 citations, reflecting substantial influence across surgical engineering, control systems, and applied robotics — making his profile essential reading for researchers in medical robotics and intelligent pneumatic systems.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Development of a Pneumatic Surgical Manipulator IBIS IV63 citations · 2010
- 5Robots in laparoscopic surgery: current and future status59 citations · 2019
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- 7Remote control of backhoe at construction site with a pneumatic robot system58 citations · 2008
- 8Maximum acceptable communication delay for the realization of telesurgery55 citations · 2022
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