Hendrikje Pauer

Papers

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About

Hendrikje Pauer is a researcher whose work bridges the critical gap between advanced optical sensing and its practical application in minimally invasive surgery. Her primary research areas include 3D shape sensing, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology, and the development of flexible surgical instruments for robot-assisted single port surgery (SPS). Pauer’s major contributions lie in pioneering the miniaturization and fabrication of shape sensors that can track the complex geometry of snakelike instruments, a key challenge for enhancing dexterity and precision in confined surgical spaces. Her 2013 paper, "Towards building a miniaturized shape sensor," which has garnered 9 citations, outlines a foundational process for embedding FBGs into flexible tools, while her 2014 work, "Using ORMOCER® as a casting material for a 3D shape sensor," with 8 citations, introduces a novel polymer-based casting method to improve sensor robustness and accuracy. These efforts address the unmet need for practical, real-time tip position feedback in SPS, directly impacting the safety and efficacy of robotic interventions. Pauer’s research is notable for its translational focus, moving from theoretical design to tangible prototyping, and her work remains a reference point for engineers and clinicians seeking to integrate reliable shape sensing into next-generation surgical systems.