Joan Ortega Alcaide
Papers
6
Total Citations
110
H-Index
4
About
Joan Ortega Alcaide is a pioneering roboticist whose work is reshaping the future of gastrointestinal endoscopy. Her research centers on the design, modeling, and control of soft robotic systems, with a particular focus on developing safer, more effective alternatives to traditional colonoscopy. Her most impactful contribution is a soft, three-modular-section biomimetic robot actuated by Shape Memory Alloys (SMA), detailed in a 2017 paper that has garnered 69 citations. This work directly addresses the discomfort and risk of bowel perforation associated with conventional colonoscopes. To further enhance diagnostic capabilities, she developed an endoscopic tactile capsule equipped with miniaturized MEMS force sensors, designed to automatically detect non-polypoid colorectal tumors—a particularly dangerous and hard-to-find lesion type. Her research also includes foundational work on soft material adhesion for in vivo locomotion and closed-loop force control strategies for magnetically-driven capsules, aiming to reduce patient pain and simplify procedures. With a growing body of work spanning from biomimetic design to human-robot interaction safety, Ortega Alcaide is a leading voice in the drive toward a new generation of intelligent, patient-friendly endoscopic tools.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2Endoscopic Tactile Capsule for Non-Polypoid Colorectal Tumour Detection15 citations · 2020
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