Kanako Harada
The University of Tokyo, Piaggio (Italy), Waseda University, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Tokyo University of Science, National Center For Child Health and Development, Italian Institute of Technology, Mitsui (Japan), Bunkyo University, Computer Research Institute of Montréal, Politecnico di Milano
Papers
72
Total Citations
1,084
H-Index
20
About
Kanako Harada is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of surgical robotics, medical device engineering, and minimally invasive intervention. Her research spans micro-neurosurgery, fetal surgery, endoluminal robotics, and ophthalmic procedures, consistently addressing the fundamental challenge of enhancing surgical precision in constrained and delicate anatomical environments. Harada's early contributions include developing MRI-compatible robotic systems for intrauterine fetal surgery targeting spina bifida, alongside a miniaturized bending laser manipulator capable of 90-degree deflection in just 2.4 mm diameter — work that has accumulated over 100 combined citations. Her master-slave robotic platform for micro-neurosurgery (76 citations) directly tackled surgeon hand tremor and dexterity limitations under microscopic conditions, while her reconfigurable modular endoluminal systems (totaling over 110 citations) reimagined how miniaturized robots could be assembled and deployed within the gastrointestinal tract. More recently, Harada has advanced robotic eye surgery quantification, virtual reality surgical simulation, and machine learning-based trajectory planning for automated surgical tasks. Her SmartArm system demonstrates her continued commitment to versatile robotic solutions for deep, narrow workspaces. With over 480 total citations across her most impactful work, Harada stands as an influential figure shaping the future of intelligent, minimally invasive surgical robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Micro Manipulators for Intrauterine Fetal Surgery in an Open MRI60 citations · 2006
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- 5Wireless reconfigurable modules for robotic endoluminal surgery42 citations · 2009
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