Leonardo S. Mattos

About

Leonardo S. Mattos is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of medical robotics, surgical automation, and human-machine interaction, with work that has fundamentally advanced the capabilities of minimally invasive and remote surgical systems. Based primarily at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Mattos has made landmark contributions to robot-assisted laser microsurgery, developing intuitive surgeon-machine interfaces — including the influential "virtual scalpel" concept — that dramatically improve precision and usability in delicate procedures such as transoral laser phonomicrosurgery. His research spans robotic telesurgery, where he achieved a milestone by demonstrating 5G-enabled remote vocal cord microsurgery on a cadaver (accumulating nearly 100 citations across two related publications), validating a transformative vision for distance surgery. Mattos has also advanced virtual reality teleoperation through the Vicarios platform, automated cell microinjection systems, and active handheld instruments for neurosurgery. With over 470 citations across his top works alone, his research portfolio reflects both technical depth and real-world clinical relevance. His contributions continue to shape how surgeons interact with robotic systems, making complex, high-precision interventions safer, more accessible, and increasingly viable across geographical distances.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   A novel computerized surgeon–machine interface for robot‐assisted laser phonomicrosurgery

   67 citations · 2013
2. 2
   The Vicarios Virtual Reality Interface for Remote Robotic Teleoperation

   57 citations · 2021
3. 3
   A Fully Automated System for Adherent Cells Microinjection

   52 citations · 2013
4. 4
   5G Robotic Telesurgery: Remote Transoral Laser Microsurgeries on a Cadaver

   49 citations · 2020
5. 5
   Microsurgery robots: addressing the needs of high-precision surgical interventions

   45 citations · 2016
6. 6
   Operating From a Distance: Robotic Vocal Cord 5G Telesurgery on a Cadaver

   45 citations · 2020
7. 7
   Dense soft tissue 3D reconstruction refined with super-pixel segmentation for robotic abdominal surgery

   43 citations · 2015
8. 8
   Towards a Virtual Reality Interface for Remote Robotic Teleoperation

   41 citations · 2019
9. 9
   A virtual scalpel system for computer-assisted laser microsurgery

   40 citations · 2011
10. 10
    Toward Improving Safety in Neurosurgery with an Active Handheld Instrument

    37 citations · 2018

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links