M. Nakazawa
Papers
3
Total Citations
83
H-Index
3
About
M. Nakazawa is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of dental medicine and robotics, whose work has fundamentally advanced the field of medical rehabilitation robotics. His primary research areas include dental robotics, soft robotics for human-robot interaction, and clinical training simulators. Nakazawa’s most significant contribution is the development of a mastication robot that serves as a mechanical simulator of human jaw motion, enabling the first-ever quantification of masticatory efficiency—a breakthrough that has garnered 49 citations and established a new paradigm in dental biomechanics. He further advanced safe human-robot interaction by creating a soft manipulator with a smart flexible joint (31 citations), addressing the critical need for compliant robots in medical and domestic settings where physical contact is inevitable. His practical impact is demonstrated through the WY-3 mouth-opening and -closing training robot, a direct clinical application combining oral-maxillofacial surgery principles with robotics to aid patient rehabilitation. Nakazawa’s work uniquely bridges engineering and clinical practice, providing both foundational methodologies for evaluating human mastication and tangible therapeutic devices that improve patient outcomes.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Quantification of masticatory efficiency with a mastication robot49 citations · 2002
- 2
- 3Clinical training with mouth opening and closing training robot WY-33 citations · 2003