Christopher R. Forrest
University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, SickKids Foundation
Papers
6
Total Citations
104
H-Index
5
About
Christopher R. Forrest is a leading researcher at the intersection of pediatric surgery and medical robotics, with a primary focus on developing robotic solutions for cleft palate repair. His major contributions center on demonstrating the feasibility of using the da Vinci surgical system for infant cleft palate surgery, a procedure requiring extreme precision in a confined oral workspace. Forrest pioneered the use of realistic cleft palate simulators to assess robotic techniques, and his work on a novel 3 mm wristed instrument—featuring four degrees of freedom and cable-guided articulation—represents a significant miniaturization breakthrough for small-cavity surgery. He has also advanced surgical safety through anatomical mesh-based virtual fixtures that dynamically constrain robotic tool motion to protect delicate tissues. With his most-cited paper (42 citations) establishing the foundational feasibility of robotic cleft palate repair, and subsequent studies on tissue cutting forces and teleoperated suturing, Forrest’s cumulative impact is shaping the next generation of minimally invasive pediatric surgery. His achievements include pioneering the first robotic suturing trials on palatal simulators, positioning him as a key innovator in translating robotic assistance from adult to infant surgical care.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Anatomical Mesh-Based Virtual Fixtures for Surgical Robots16 citations · 2020
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